Welcome to Biomes & Beyond! I am astronaut Jake, and I will be taking you to the seven major biomes of the world. I will give you the major distinctive factors of each biome and what makes them unique. Buckle up!

Up, up, and away!

TUNDRA

The Tundra biome is the coldest of all biomes on earth, and this biome covers one fifth of all land on earth. There is little rainfall and winder temperatures can reach up to -50 degrees. A few animals that live in this biome include polar bears, caribou, and arctic hares. A few species of plants also survive in this biome through the sun and photosynthesis. A few people have also moved to the tundra to work in mines and the oil industry.

Welcome to the Taiga Biome! Here we have the largest terrestrial biome on earth, that extends across North America, Europe, and Asia. The Taiga experiences long and cold winters with short and wet summers. The main type of tree found in this biome is the conifer tree, yet the cold climate makes this a very difficult place for animals to live. Animals consist of squirrels, moles, deer, moose, and elk. There are few cities located in the Taiga, yet logging and mining are prevalent.

Taiga

This biome is located in eastern United States. Canada, Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Russia. This biome has four changing seasons including winter, spring, summer, and fall. These seasons happen because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis. Deciduous trees are trees with leaves rather than pine needles, and they dominate temperate forests. As the seasons change each year, so do the leaves. Animals here include black bears, as well as animals that hibernate and migrate due to hot summers and cold winters.

Temperate Decidious Forest

Temperate grasslands have some of the darkest, richest soils in the world and this biome is found on almost every continent. Temperatures in this biome vary greatly between summer and winter because the summers are hot and the winters are cold. In regards to plants, grasses dominate this biome, and trees and shrubs are rarely found. Animals in the grasslands include bison, antelope, birds, and prairie dogs.  One of the main environmental concerns regarding temperate grasslands is the conversion of grassland to farmland. 

Grassland