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A few good sources:

Encyclopediabrittanica.com

Nationalgeographic.com

Zoobooks.com

For biome maps/ other info: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm

Worldbiomes.com

Environmental Systems Project

• Work together in your groups to complete this• Each group is assigned a specific

Biome to research• You will be researching the

information using textbooks and the internet – use them properly!!• Final project will be presented on a

poster to the class• Completed and due by THURSDAY!

Every group must start their research using the textbook. • There is information on each biome

from pages 68-79

• The 3 active computers in the room can be used as well- the two by the windows, and this one• 5 minute maximum per group-

decide what you will be looking for BEFORE you get on the computer!

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•A biome is an area of the planet that can be classified according to the :

*Plants*Temperature*Precipitation*Animals*Soil

Temp: winter -54 to -1° C (-65 to 30° F)

summer -7° to 21° C (20°- 70° F)

Precipitation: 30-85 cm /year

Taiga

Red Fox

Uses its tail as a cover in the winter

Long Eared Owl

Can see a field mouse from 100 yards away (at night!)

Taiga

Temp: 20oC (68oF) - 25oC (77oF)

Precipitation: > 200 cm/year

*as many as 50% of all the world’s animal species may be found here

Tropical Rainforest

Australian Tree Kangaroo

Tropical Rainforest

Bioluminescent Mushrooms

Attract insects to carry spores

Temp: 20oC (68oF) - 25oC (77oF)

• some can reach higher than 38oC (100oF)

• lower than –15oC (5oF) Precipitation: < 25

cm/year

Desert

Honey Badger

Desert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwDFiabhWQ4

Honeypot antStores fluids to feed the

colony

Temp: –30oC (-22oF) - 30oC (86oF)

Precipitation: 75 - 150 cm/year

Most trees lose their leaves in the winter

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Bald eagle

Eyesight is 4X that of a human with perfect vision

Fire salamanderReleases poisonous

neurotoxins

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temp: Winter –34oC (-29oF) Summer below 10oC (50oF)

Precipitation: 15–25 cm/year (Low precipitation)

*low dversity* permafrost (permanently frozen

soil)

Tundra

Japanese snow monkey

Bathes in hot springs

LemmingsWhite in winter, brown in

summer

Tundra

Temp: Summer up to 38oC (100oF)

Winter down to –40oC (-40oF)

Precipitation: 50cm - 90 cm/year

Grassland

African Wild Dogs

The alpha male & female reproduce & the pack takes

care of the young

ZebraStripe patterns are like

fingerprints

Grassland

All areas that are under water

Includes: freshwater/saltwater

warm/cold deep sea/shallow pond

Aquatic

Planaria

Regenerative properties

Protoperidinium pellucidum

Pytoplankton make up 90% of marine biomass

Aquatic

Portuguese Man of War

Not a jellyfish!!!!!Made up of a colony of organisms

working together (zooids)

Southern Right Whale Dolphin

Has lost dorsal fin through evolution

Aquatic

Threats to BiodiversityThreats to Biodiversity

• Human activities decrease biodiversity and the ecosystem’s stability:

1. Habitat alteration 3. Pollution2. Improper hunting 4. Invasive species

1. Habitat Alteration1. Habitat Alteration

• Changing or altering a habitat• Ex. Habitat fragmentation

-organisms isolated from resources- organisms isolated from mates-increased deaths

3. Pollution3. Pollutiona substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects on the environment• Water pollution (acid rain)• Air pollution (carbon dioxide)• Soil pollution• Noise pollution

Oceans flow over nearly three-quarters of our planet, and hold 97% of the planet's water. They produce

more than half of the oxygen in the atmosphere, and absorb the most carbon from it.

3. Pollution3. Pollution

4. Invasive Species4. Invasive Speciesnonnative species that disrupts the native species. • Usually transported to new habitat by humans. • Lacks predators and competitionEx. Kudzu is a climbing vine that was introduced to the U.S. in the late 1800s to control erosion. It quickly took over parts of the landscape,

displacing the plants that used to grow there.