POLAR

TUNDRA
TAIGA
BOREAL FORESTS
MONTANE GRASSLANDS/SHRUBLANDS
ALPINE TUNDRA

TEMPERATE
CONIFEROUS FORESTS
BROADLEAF MIXED FORESTS
GRASSLANDS, SAVANNAS AND SHRUBLANDS
STEPPS, SMALL GRASS PRAIRIES
(SUB)TROPICAL
CONIFEROUS FORESTS
MOIST BROAD LEAF FORESTS
DRY BROAD LEAF FORESTS
GRASSLANDS, SAVANNAS, SHRUBLAND
DRY
MEDITERRANEAN FORESTS
DESERT XERIC SCRUBLANDS
CONIFEROUS FORESTS
MOIST BROAD LEAF FORESTS
DRY BROAD LEAF FORESTS
GRASSLANDS, SAVANNAS, SHRUBLAND
DRY
MEDITERRANEAN FORESTS
DESERT XERIC SCRUBLANDS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecozone

Tundra: Top of the world

Taiga: Below the Tundra, but above 50 degrees latitude north
Temperate Forests: Identified as having four complete seasons, found in places similar to the eastern
Grasslands: Found on every continent except Antarctica. They are found on either side of the desert b

Deserts: Deserts are very specialized but are identified by being very dry with little precipitation. Antarc
Rainforests: Tropical rainforests are found along the equator. Temperate rainforests are found along s
Alpine: Alpine tundra is a harsh climate that is not affected by position on the globe, but by altitude.
Chaparrals: Coastlines usually facing west.
Wetlands: Found along low-lying areas and along rivers, lakes, and streams. See later article.

Taiga or Boreal Forests:

Just below the Arctic Tundra is the taiga, a lonely pla

summer. The extreme changes in temperatures make
but most plants are coniferous, such as pine, spruce, h
stands, sometimes miles wide. Fires are common
evergreens and short-lived tre

Alpine:

On mountains 10,000 feet or more, the air is thinner, th

freeze. Plants consist of small perennial groundcover
10,000 foot mark are thick-trunked, warped, and ancie
although adventurers may be able to find wild pot

Grasslands:

These areas are usually large and rolling regions of gra

latitudes. The average annual precipitation is enoug
droughts and wildfires that prevent forests. The soil is
grasslands: tall-grass areas that are humid and very w
winters. The steppes are a particularly cold, dry grassla
these land

Deciduous Forests:

Deciduous forests have four distinct seasons and the t

five zones in the forest: the highest contains the tallest
zone, herb zone, and the ground zone of moss and lich
densely populated by people using the wood for build

Chaparrals:

These regions are found along the coasts and are char
hills, and mountain slopes. Fires and droughts are com
the Mediterranean chaparrals. Besides cacti, many succ

Chaparrals:

These regions are found along the coasts and are char
hills, and mountain slopes. Fires and droughts are com
the Mediterranean chaparrals. Besides cacti, many succ
run deep and many of the leafy plants hav

Deserts:

Most deserts are hot and dry with a few low-lying pla
woody trees as well as the cacti deserts are commonly
change from the dry heat of the summer to snow in th
grow. In the summer, the cold desert has many spiny-l
in color as many seeds of annual plants burst into blo
median of scrub grasses and dry

Savannah:

Similar to grasslands, the savannahs are usually found

the savannah to support forests, but there are lots of
usually two seasons, a long dry winter and a short
specialized for the long droughts. The eucalyptus lives

Rainforests/Jungles:

These regions consist of forests that grow in warm te

Celsius, or colder than 20 degrees, and receive over 10
any other area in the world. Trees are typically straight
bark. There are four distinct layers to a tropical forest:
the canopy; the upper canopy of 60- to 100-foot ta
understory of 60-foot tall trees that is most humid an
shaded with few shrubs or trees. Unless a canopy tre
overabundance of vines and the floor always appears
exception of vines, most deep rainforests are not diffi

exception of vines, most deep rainforests are not diffi

Rainforests/Jungles:

Just below the Arctic Tundra is the taiga, a lonely pla

summer. The extreme changes in temperatures make
but most plants are coniferous, such as pine, spruce, h
stands, sometimes miles wide. Fires are common
evergreens and short-lived tre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tundra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boreal_forest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boreal_forest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montane_grasslands_and_shrublands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montane_grasslands_and_shrublands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_coniferous_forest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_broadleaf_and_mixed_forest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_grasslands,_savannas,_and_shrublands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_grasslands,_savannas,_and_shrublands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_coniferous_forest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_moist_broadleaf_forests
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_dry_broadleaf_forests
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_grasslands,_savannas,_and_shrublands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_forests,_woodlands,_and_scrub
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deserts_and_xeric_shrublands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_coniferous_forest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_moist_broadleaf_forests
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_dry_broadleaf_forests
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_grasslands,_savannas,_and_shrublands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_forests,_woodlands,_and_scrub
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deserts_and_xeric_shrublands

und in places similar to the eastern side of the United States, Europe, Canada, China, Japan, and Russia.
found on either side of the desert belts. Closer to the equator they are "tropical" grasslands and include savannahs. Further from

y dry with little precipitation. Antarctica is as much a desert as the Sahara. Most deserts are found between the 30 degree latitu
erate rainforests are found along some coasts in the temperate zones.
on on the globe, but by altitude.
streams. See later article.

Tundra is the taiga, a lonely place with six months of frozen winters and 100 days of warm, humid
hanges in temperatures make it very difficult for plants to survive. There are some lichens and moss,
ferous, such as pine, spruce, hemlock, and fir. These evergreens tend to be thin and grow together in
miles wide. Fires are common occurrences, after which the forest floor is exposed allowing baby
evergreens and short-lived trees such as poplars and white birches to grow.

et or more, the air is thinner, the sun more intense, and the soil weaker. Trees would get blown over or
f small perennial groundcover plants which grow and reproduce slowly. The rare trees to grow at the
ck-trunked, warped, and ancientusually evergreens like the bristlecone pine. Edible plants are rare,
rs may be able to find wild potatoes at those heights on mountain ranges nearer to the equator.

large and rolling regions of grasses, flowers, and herbs. They are typically found inland in the middle
e annual precipitation is enough to support grass and the occasional tree, but is erratic, leading to
hat prevent forests. The soil is also too thin and dry for most trees to survive. There are two types of
eas that are humid and very wet and short-grass regions that are drier with hot summers and colder
a particularly cold, dry grassland region. Rather than vegetation-producing farms, people tend to use
these lands as pastures for animals.

four distinct seasons and the trees change color in the autumn, and are bare in the winter. There are
he highest contains the tallest trees at 60 to 100 feet, then the sapling and small tree zone, the shrub
e ground zone of moss and lichen. Plants have adapted by leaning towards the sun. These regions are
people using the wood for buildings and fuel, and many areas are clear-cut to make room for farms.

along the coasts and are characterized by a very hot and dry climate. There can be flat plains, rocky
es. Fires and droughts are common. Two examples that people might recognize are the California and
rrals. Besides cacti, many succulents and aromatic herbs are well-adapted to heat and drought. Roots

and dry with a few low-lying plants to forage for--just some ground-hugging shrubs and some short
the cacti deserts are commonly known for. Cold deserts are closer to the arctic and have an extreme
at of the summer to snow in the winter, too cold for anything other than a few grasses or mosses to
e cold desert has many spiny-leaved plants. In the rainy seasons these deserts can suddenly explode
of annual plants burst into bloom in a desperate attempt to reproduce. Surrounding the deserts is a
median of scrub grasses and dry sedges that can shade herbs and other plants.

e savannahs are usually found between the deserts and tropical rainforests. Not enough rain falls on
ort forests, but there are lots of grasses and the occasional shrub or tree scattered about. There are
, a long dry winter and a shorter wet monsoon-ridden summer. Plants in these regions are highly
droughts. The eucalyptus lives in the Australian Savannah just as the acacias make up the Serengeti.

of forests that grow in warm temperatures year-round. The temps are rarely hotter than 34 degrees
0 degrees, and receive over 100 centimeters a year. A tropical rain forest has more kinds of trees than
rld. Trees are typically straight for up to 100 feet or more before branching out and have thin, smooth
inct layers to a tropical forest: emergent trees of 100 to 240 feet tall spaced widely apart to make up
er canopy of 60- to 100-foot tall trees that still get plenty of light and have the most animals; the
tall trees that is most humid and with little air movement; and the forest floor, which is completely
s or trees. Unless a canopy tree falls, trees growing up from the forest floor are stunted. There is an
s and the floor always appears to have rain from the water dripping off the plants above it. With the
st deep rainforests are not difficult for people to walk through because of the sparseness of the floor
vegetation.

Tundra is the taiga, a lonely place with six months of frozen winters and 100 days of warm, humid
hanges in temperatures make it very difficult for plants to survive. There are some lichens and moss,
ferous, such as pine, spruce, hemlock, and fir. These evergreens tend to be thin and grow together in
miles wide. Fires are common occurrences, after which the forest floor is exposed allowing baby
evergreens and short-lived trees such as poplars and white birches to grow.

nas,_and_shrublands

nas,_and_shrublands

, and Russia.
and include savannahs. Further from the equator they have harsh winters and are called prairies or steppes.

found between the 30 degree latitude marks on a globe. Some deserts are caused by nearby mountainsthe mountain knocks

of warm, humid
e lichens and moss,
nd grow together in
d allowing baby

uld get blown over or

rees to grow at the
dible plants are rare,
to the equator.

nland in the middle

erratic, leading to
ere are two types of
ummers and colder
s, people tend to use

Also known as the Taiga, Boreal forests ring the artic cap and consist most of
temperature is freezing or below for six months out of the year. Animals ge
although a few have accommodated. Although there are less animals here, ins
Birds often migrate here to feed on them. There are some herbivores

Alpine biomes are found in the mountain regions all around the world, usually
just below the snow line of a mountain. In the summer, average temperatu
temperatures are below freezing. The winter season can last from October to
September. The temperatures can also change from war

Alpine animals have to deal with two types of problems: the cold and too muc
rays from the sun. There are only warm-blooded animals and insects. Alpin
migrating to lower, warmer areas, or insulating their bodies with layers of fat. A
and ears, in order to reduce heat loss. Alpine animals have larger lungs, mor
increase of pressure and lack of oxygen at higher altitudes. This is also true for
time

These are lands dominated by grasses rather than shrubs or trees. Generally t
by mountains that push up and make the climates windward of them favorab
leading, leading to droughts and fires that make trees impossible to grow.
temperate grasslands are called prairies or steppes. In temperate regions
temperatures stay between -40 F and 70 F. In tropical and sub-tropical grass
25 and 60 inches per year. Herd animals like bison live readily on the grasslan
such as wolves.

he winter. There are

tree zone, the shrub
n. These regions are
ke room for farms.

Deciduous, or temperate forests generally have four seasons and trees tha
generally hibernate during the winter and forage for food the other three sea
plants to see if theyre good for food. Trees provide shelter, water, and food.
ground.

be flat plains, rocky

e the California and
t and drought. Roots

The west coasts of most continentswhere the winds often come onto shore, o
are characterized as being very hot and dry. The winter is very mild and is usu
at 40 C that fires and droughts are common. The animals are all mainly gr

s and some short

d have an extreme
asses or mosses to
n suddenly explode
ng the deserts is a

enough rain falls on

d about. There are
gions are highly
ke up the Serengeti.

r than 34 degrees
e kinds of trees than
d have thin, smooth
ly apart to make up
ost animals; the
hich is completely
unted. There is an
above it. With the
seness of the floor

The west coasts of most continentswhere the winds often come onto shore, o
are characterized as being very hot and dry. The winter is very mild and is usu
at 40 C that fires and droughts are common. The animals are all mainly gr
weather.

Deserts occur where precipitation is under 50 cm a year. Although most desert

occur in basin and range areas. There can be four types of desert: hot and
specialized plants and animals in order t

A savannah is a rolling grassland sparsely covered with shrubs and trees. Ther
long dry season and a very wet season. In the dry season only an average of
and February no rain falls at all. The temperatures rem

In the summer there is lots of rain. The monsoon season begins in May. An av
time. It gets hot and very humid during the rainy season. In the afternoons on
hours. The African savannas have large herds of grazing and browsing hoofed
habit that reduces competition for f

Most of the animals on the savanna have long legs or wings to be able to go on
avoid the heat or raise their young. Birds of prey have a clear view of their pre
is the occasional tree to rest on or nest in. Animals don't sweat to lose body h
large areas of exposed skin, or ears. Each predator species has its own prefere
not be in competition for food.

The temperatures in tropical forests, or rainforests, generally stay warm, aver

They are also humid; the average humidity is between 77 and 88% and rainfa
usually a brief season of less rain. In monsoonal areas, there is a real dry sea
There are complex layers to the land, from the ground all the way to the tops
stay in their layer for lifetimes.

of warm, humid
e lichens and moss,
nd grow together in
d allowing baby

e artic cap and consist most of needled trees. The winter is long and cold. The
ths out of the year. Animals generally hibernate or leave during the winter,
here are less animals here, insects are very abundant throughout the summer.
em. There are some herbivores and the predators that feed on them.

s all around the world, usually at an altitude of about 10,000 feet or more but
e summer, average temperatures range from 10 to 15 C. In the winter the
ason can last from October to May. The summer season may last from June to
ures can also change from warm to freezing in one day.

roblems: the cold and too much UV rays. There is less atmosphere to filter UV
oded animals and insects. Alpine animals adapt to the cold by hibernating,
heir bodies with layers of fat. Animals will also tend to have shorter legs, tails,
animals have larger lungs, more blood cells, and hemoglobin because of the
er altitudes. This is also true for people who have lived on mountains for a long
time

an shrubs or trees. Generally these regions are precipitated (millions of years)

ates windward of them favorable for grasslands. Generally rainfall is sporadic
make trees impossible to grow. Tropical grasslands are called pampas and
steppes. In temperate regions between 10 and 30 inches of rain fall and
tropical and sub-tropical grasslands the average rainfall per year ranges from
on live readily on the grasslands, along with those predators that chase them,
such as wolves.

ave four seasons and trees that lose their leaves during the winter. Animals
ge for food the other three seasons. The animals have adapted by trying the
ovide shelter, water, and food. Most animals are camouflaged to look like the
ground.

winds often come onto shore, often have a bit of this unique biome. Chaparrals
e winter is very mild and is usually about 10 C. The summer is so hot and dry
. The animals are all mainly grassland and desert types adapted to hot, dry

m a year. Although most deserts occur at low altitudes, some, which are colder,
e four types of desert: hot and dry, semiarid, coastal, and cold. All require
d plants and animals in order to survive.

ed with shrubs and trees. There are actually two seasons in a savanna; a very
dry season only an average of about 4 inches of rain falls. Between December
lls at all. The temperatures remain at is around 70 F.

n season begins in May. An average of 15 to 25 inches of rain falls during this

ny season. In the afternoons on the summer savanna the rains pour down for
of grazing and browsing hoofed animals. Each animal has a specialized eating
that reduces competition for food.

egs or wings to be able to go on long migrations. Many burrow under ground to

y have a clear view of their prey, hot air updrafts keep them soaring, and there
mals don't sweat to lose body heat, so they lose it through panting or through
ator species has its own preference, making it possible to live side by side and
not be in competition for food.

sts, generally stay warm, averaging between 93 F (34 C) and 68 F (20 C).
etween 77 and 88% and rainfall is often more than 100 inches a year. There is
al areas, there is a real dry season. Almost all rainforests lie near the equator.
ground all the way to the tops of the trees, and there are some creatures that
stay in their layer for lifetimes.