Learn about the different biomes!

Author: Maddie Van Beek

Did you know that we all live in a biome? A biome is a naturally occurring habitat with with a community of plants and animals. An example of a biome would be a forest. Think about the plants or animals that all forests have. What makes a forest a forest? You’ll find out today! Each biome consists of ecosystems whose members have specially adapted to the climate and environment of the biome in which they live. For example, cacti are able to go long periods of time without rain, which allows them to survive in the desert.  



Biomes differ in many different characteristics, such as their land forms, amount of precipitation, and sunlight, to name a few! Your job today is to determine the unique characteristics of each biome. 



There are five main types of biomes, including 

1. Aquatic

http://media.opencurriculum.org/articles_manual/ck12_biology/aquatic-biomes/7.png

2. Desert

http://www.london.d21.k12.il.us/teams/6discovery/DBalbum/images/desert1_jpg.jpg

3. Forest

http://cf067b.medialib.glogster.com/media/a7/a7165c78951c4b243304f1de98c2541cf0dabd5a3dc599f93583244883950b47/10-rainforest.jpg

4. Grassland 

http://education.seattlepi.com/DM-Resize/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/178/196/78391368.jpg?w=600&h=600&keep_ratio=1&webp=1

5. Tundra

http://bioexpedition.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Tundra-picture.jpg

These main biomes can then be divided into different subtypes. For example, the aquatic biome is split into freshwater and marine. All of the biomes are categorized as either an aquatic biome or a terrestrial biome. 



Check out this link to learn more about the five major types of biomes: 

Five Major Biomes

Use the following resource to find out all the different subtypes of the five main biomes: 

Biome Subtypes

Here’s an example of how the world is split up into different biomes:

http://media.maps101.com/SUB/earth_science/B_World_biome.gif

What biome covers most of the world? Least?



Create a visual to show the different subtypes of the main biomes. Yours might look something like this:

http://www.oconee.k12.ga.us/~pwilder/biology/Ch.3-4%20Ecology/Organizer%20Ch.3-4/MajorBiomes2.jpg

After you have researched the different biomes and their subtypes, record important information. A great way to organize all your information would be to make a chart, like this one:

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/f4/1f/5b/f41f5b5d829378c1746f3c1141630e73.jpg

Questions to consider: 

1. Where is this biome found? 
2. What kinds of plants grow there?
3. What are the precipitation and temperature like?
4. What kinds of animals live in this biome?
5. What adaptations do the plants/animals/people have to have to live here?

Play this “build your own biome” game to test your knowledge about biomes!

Organize the biomes from driest to wettest. You could use the graphic organizer below. 

http://freeology.com/wp-content/files/blanktimelineblack-thumb.png

Follow-up questions: 

• Why might the amount of precipitation matter? 
• How would different levels of precipitation affect the characteristics of the biome? 
• What might change in a biome if the temperature changed drastically?
• Now that you know a little bit about biomes, what kind of biome do YOU live in? 

ACTIVITY: BIOME IN A BAG



YOU WILL NEED

• Potting soil
• Gallon Ziploc bags
• Seeds (bean seeds usually work well)
• Pebbles
• 2 liter soda bottle with the top cut off
• Water

HERE’S WHAT TO DO!

1. Have an adult help you cut the top off of a soda bottle. 
2. Pour some pebbles into the soda bottle until they are about 1/2 inch deep. 
3. Pour about one inch of potting soil on top of the pebbles.
4. Plant the seeds. Use your finger to create a small trench in the soil, then sprinkle a pinch of seeds into the trench. 
5. Carefully smooth the soil over the seeds.
6. Pour water into the soil until you see it reach the bottom of the pebbles. 
7. Being careful not to spill, place the entire soda bottle (your biome) into a gallon plastic bag and seal the bag. 
8. Place your biome in the sun where it will get plenty of nutrients. 
9. Now, wait! Because your bag is sealed, you have created an environment for your plant to grow. The water that you poured into the soda bottle will evaporate, condense, and precipitate without escaping the bag. Can you believe the water cycle can take place in such a small area?!
10. Now that you’ve made one biome, follow steps 1-9 to make a few others, but use varying amounts of pebbles, soil, or water. You could also choose to give certain biomes more or less sunlight. Try to create environments that imitate the biomes you learned about and make predictions about which biomes will grow plants more successfully. 

References: 

• http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/biomeinabaggie.html
• http://www.switcheroozoo.com/games/habitatgame.htm
• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome
• http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/
• http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/