Life Science

7 February 2008

Biomes

Sonoran Desert-
Rainfall: less than 10 inches, all deserts get less than 16 inches per year
Temperature: 20- 25 degrees C
Animals: rattlesnakes, road runners, bob cats, very few insects
Plants: cactus and desert willow, and a few other small plants

Two driest biomes are the desert and the tundra.

Northern Coniferous/Taiga- mostly cold

Rainfall: 40 inches per year
Temperature: 58-85 degrees F, 30-50 degrees Celsius
Animals: grizzly bear, black bear, wolverine, bald eagle
Plants: spruce, evergreen trees

Temperate Grasslands- no tress or shrubs

Rainfall: 20-35 inches per year
Temperature: 40-100 degrees F
Animals: bison, wild turkey, eagles, rabbits, coyotes, dung beetles
Plants: grasses, very rich soil, asters and sunflowers grow here
Fire keeps trees from overtaking the grass.

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Rainfall: 30-60 inches a year
Temperature: 50 degrees F
Animals: bears, raccoons, snakes, frogs, turtles, squirrels
Plants: ferns, oak trees, mushrooms
Seasons: yes, four

Temperate Rainforest
Rainfall: minimum amount is between 50-60 inches per year, can exceed that amount
Temperature: mild-rarely below freezing in winter, seldom above 80 degrees F in summer
Animals: turtles, spotted owls, black bear, deer, elk, lynx
Plants: conifers, Douglas ferns, grasses

Tropical Deciduous Forest

Rainfall: approximately 100 inches of rain
Temperature: 68-77 degrees F. Located in the mountains, which prevents the temp. from
being too hot, two seasons
Animals: leopards, snakes, toucans,
Plants: orchids, elephant ear plants, hibiscus plants
Savanna
Rainfall: 10-30” from February to November
Temperature: 68-86 degrees F
Animals: zebras, lions, African elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, boa snakes
Plants: grass, baobab tree (fire resistant trees, appear to be upside down)
Locations: Africa, Australia, India, South America

Tundra-coldest and driest biome, two seasons, world’s youngest biome. Divided into
Arctic tundra (less moisture in the soil)/Alpine tundra
Rainfall: 6-10 inches, mainly from snowfall
Temperature: -30 F in winter, 37-54 degrees F in summer
Animals: snow wolves, snowy owl, grizzly bear, arctic fox, musk ox, caribou
Plants: shrubs, moss, lichen, small flowering plants, reindeer moss (which is actually a
lichen).
A very simple food chain might consist of reindeer moss  caribou wolf.

Tropical Rainforest
Rainfall: 250 cm a year, about 100 inches (50% is from its own evaporation)
Temperature: 77 degrees F to 64 degrees F – if it drops below 64 degrees F, vegetation
will die because it is suited for higher temps.
Location: 15-20 degrees north and south of equator
Animals: frogs, insects, birds, tigers, panthers, monkeys, snakes
Plants: shrubs, orchids, trees
Tree bark is adapted by being smooth and thick. This makes it difficult for other plants to
grow on the surface. Leaves have drip tips, to prevent moisture from collecting on leaves
and rotting them. Most biologic functions occur in the canopy. The soil is not well suited
for growing crops. Trees have deep tap roots.

Mountains- Many biomes are located on a mountain, and depend on your latitude and
location, often have unpredictable weather
Rainfall: depends on where you are located, Smokey Mountains have about 14”
Temperature: -35 degrees F or below at night, 43 degrees F to 28 degrees F
Animals: black bears, squirrels, white tailed deer, raccoons, wild turkeys, woodchucks,
diverse salamander population in Smokey Mountains due to it being the epicenter of
salamander evolution
Plants: deciduous forest plants, fields, coniferous forest plants, black chokeberry,
dogwood tree, golden currents, oaks, pines, moss

Assignment: Divide Science Standards, look over your standard and be thinking of what
you could do with it.
Grade 1 Grade 4
Std. 1- Charles Std. 1-2- Brandy
Std. 2- Andrea Std. 3-4- Anna
Std. 3-4 – Andy Std. 5- Nancy
Std. 5- Anita
Grade 5
Grade 2 Std. 1 and 3- Penny
Std. 1-2 – Alexis Std. 2- Pamela
Std. 3- Alisa Std. 4- Dana
Std. 4- Allison Std. 5-Katherine
Std. 5- Yolanda
Grade 6
Grade 3 Std. 2- Lynne
Std. 1-2- LeAnne
Std. 3- Romannita Grade 7
Std. 4- Amanda Std. 1- Faith
Std. 5- Debbie Std. 3- Riley
Std. 4- Jackie

Grade 8
Std. 5- Eden