Earth's Biomes
Watch the video we made about our inspirational and beautiful Earth! ♥ =)
What are biomes?
• Biomes are regions of the world with similar climate, animals and plants. The two main types of biomes are terrestrial(land) biomes and aquatic (water) biomes.
• Biomes are very important to Earth because they are the habitats for many different species.
• Unfortunately, human activity has endangered many of these fragile habitats.
• Terrestrial (Land) Biomes, why they are important, & why they are in danger:
• Forests - Forests cover about 1/3 of Earth's land, and produce oxygen that allows us to breathe. There are 3 types of forests: tropical, temperate, and taiga forests. Tropical forests are located near the equator and have an average rainfall of over 200 cm, and contain a huge variety of wildlife. Temperate forests have deciduous trees that change color according to the season; animals such as rabbits, deer, black bears, and mountain lions live in temperate forests. Taiga forests are found in Canada and Eurasia, where animals such as moose, bears, chipmunks and hawks live. Threats such as acid rain caused by car and industrial emissions damages these forests, and deforestation (cutting trees for timber and agriculture) has also reduced the amount of trees.
• Biomes are regions of the world with similar climate, animals and plants. The two main types of biomes are terrestrial(land) biomes and aquatic (water) biomes.
• Biomes are very important to Earth because they are the habitats for many different species.
• Unfortunately, human activity has endangered many of these fragile habitats.
• Terrestrial (Land) Biomes, why they are important, & why they are in danger:
• Forests - Forests cover about 1/3 of Earth's land, and produce oxygen that allows us to breathe. There are 3 types of forests: tropical, temperate, and taiga forests. Tropical forests are located near the equator and have an average rainfall of over 200 cm, and contain a huge variety of wildlife. Temperate forests have deciduous trees that change color according to the season; animals such as rabbits, deer, black bears, and mountain lions live in temperate forests. Taiga forests are found in Canada and Eurasia, where animals such as moose, bears, chipmunks and hawks live. Threats such as acid rain caused by car and industrial emissions damages these forests, and deforestation (cutting trees for timber and agriculture) has also reduced the amount of trees.
• Deserts - Deserts are found all over the world, can be hot or cold, and are always dry, with a rainfall of less then 50 cm per year. There are many types of deserts: hot and dry deserts, semiarid deserts, coastal deserts, and cold deserts. Animals such as jack rabbits, coyotes, great horned owls, lizards, and snakes live in deserts. Deserts are being threatened by rising temperatures caused by global warming, that will result in drying up of the limited water resources found in deserts.
• Grasslands - Grasslands are hot and dry lands covered mostly by grasses, and have a few trees. Savanna grasslands are found throughout much of Africa, Australia, and parts of South America and India. They have both a dry and a rainy season- the dry season begins in October, with lots of thunderstorms and wind. There are lots of fires throughout the dry season, but the grasses deep roots are not harmed by the fires. During March, thunderstorms begin again, beginning the rainy season, with the grasses growing again, and lots of life prospering. Animals, such as giraffes, zebras, elephants, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, and leopards live in the savanna. Savannas are being threatened by clearing of land for crops, grasslands being polluted, and overgrazing. Global warming (Earth's temperature rising) causes a rise in temperature, different weather patterns, and less water- harming this fragile biome and the animals that live in it.
• Tundras - Tundras are biomes with low temperatures, simple vegetation, and little precipitation. There are 2 types of tundras: the arctic tundra and the alpine tundra. The arctic tundra is located around the north pole, and animals such as arctic foxes, caribou, arctic hares, polar bears and wolves live there. The alpine tundra is found in mountainous areas with no trees, and animals such as mountain goats, sheep, and elks live there. Melting of the frost because of global warming is changing the landscape that the species that live there depend on, air pollution is contaminating food, and ozone depletion caused by global warming causes stronger UV(sun rays) that harm the tundra.
• Aquatic Biomes, why they are important, & why they are in danger:
• Freshwater - Freshwater biomes support many species: such as ducks, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. They also supply us with drinking water, and are used to feed crops. The different kinds of freshwater biomes are streams, rivers, lakes and ponds. These are being threatened by global warming, agriculture, pollution, and overuse by humans.
• Oceans - Oceans are large bodies of water that make up most of Earth's surface. Oceans have the largest diversity of species in the world and supply the Earth with oxygen, and absorb dangerous carbon dioxide. Oceans are being destroyed by pollutants such as oil, sewage and plastic that have been dumped into oceans, disrupting marine animals, and even creating zones where no marine life can exist.
• Coral Reefs - Coral reefs are made up of animals called polyps, and support about a million species of marine animals, providing food and shelter for them. Animals such as clams, jellyfish, sponges, sea slugs, starfish, sea turtles and many types of fish live in coral reefs. Coral reefs also help absorb carbon, protect shorelines from big waves, and are even a source for medications. Coral reefs are disappearing as the ocean is becoming more acidic, the Earth's water is becoming warmer, and pollution in oceans is poisoning corals. |