World Terrestrial Biomes

Learn about the biotic and abiotic factors that shape each land biome.

A biome is a region on Earth determined by the climate (abiotic) and the plants and animals (biotic) that live there.

Map of world biomes

Read about each of the different terrestrial (land) biomes.
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🌴 Tropical Rain Forest

Precipitation: 100" per year in the form of rain.
Temperature: Hot and moist; temperature ranges between 80°F to 100°F year round.
Seasons: There are no seasons.
Topography: River basins, tropical volcanic islands, windward side of mountains
Soil: Less than 1cm of topsoil. Very poor soil due to the fact that there are so many organisms competing for nutrients.
Producers: Mirants Tigrina, Epiphyte (orchid), Bengal Bamboo
Adaptations: Large wide leaves to gather sunlight in the lower canopies. Plants grow on other plants and don't have roots in the ground to get higher in the canopy for sun. Shallow and thick roots to soak up water quickly.
Consumers: Wagler's Pit Viper, Silvery Gibbon, Slender Loris
Adaptations: Camoflauge. Animals live in trees. Poison and venom.

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🌳 Temperate (Deciduous) Forest

Precipitation: 30-100" per year in the form of rain, snow, hail, fog, etc.
Temperature: Average summer high ranges from 70°F to 85°F and the average winter high ranges from 20°F to 40°F.
Seasons: All 4 seasons
Topography: Low mountains, hills, and plains
Soil: Deep soil layers. Rich in nutrients.
Producers: Lady Fern, Guelder Rose, Hickory Tree, Maple Tree, White Birch Tree
Adaptations: More ground dwelling plants since sunlight reaches the floor. Trees have thick, strong bark that protects them from harsh winter winds and snows. Trees go dormant in the winter and lose their leaves to conserve energy.
Consumers: Fox, Squirrel, Least Weasel, Black Bear, Wood Warbler
Adaptations: Thick winter coat. Hibernation. Migration. Claws for climbing.

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🌵 Desert

Precipitation: Less than 10" per year in the form of rain.
Temperature: Average summer high ranges from 90°F to 120°F. Hot days and cold nights.
Seasons:2 seasons, a dry hot summer and a winter season.
Topography: From vast cobble flats to mobile dune seas, bone dry arroyos to lofty mountains
Soil: Little to no topsoil (soil vegetation can grow best in) due to high winds. Soil depth varies - can be deep, shallow, salty, or have cement like crusts.
Producers: Saguaro Cactus, Aloe Vera, Barrel Cactus, Joshua Tree
Adaptations: Many plants have spines (needle like thorns). Succulents have a thick waxy cuticle to hold water. Shallow and broad roots to absorb water rapidly when rain finally falls. Other plants have long roots to find water deep down in the water table.
Consumers: Cactus Mouse, Kit Fox, Desert Tortoise, Jack Rabbit, Fennec Fox
Adaptations: Many animals only need water from food they eat. Many animals are nocturnal. Animals also burrow to stay cool underground. Some animals have large ears to keep cool.

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🗻 Tundra

Precipitation: 6-10" per year in the form of rain and snow.
Temperature: Average summer high ranges from 37°F to 54°F and the average winter high ranges from -30°F to 0°F.
Seasons: Long cold winters and a 60 day growing season in the summer.
Topography: The land is relatively flat with small hills, valleys and slopes.
Soil: Made of permafrost (premanently frozen). The soil is poor due to little decomposition because of the constant freezing temperatures.
Producers: Reindeer Lichen, Arctic Willow, White Arctic Bell Heather, Cottongrass
Adaptations: Grow close to the ground. Thin leaves to prevent transpiration. Shallow roots, Fast growing seasons.
Consumers: Musk Ox, Caribou, Lemming, Snowy Owl, Arctic Fox, Grizzly Bear
Adaptations: Small ears to prevent frostbite. Thick fur or feathers. Seasonal fur/feathers to camouflage. Larger animals have stocky bodies with short legs to prevent heat loss.

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🌲 Taiga (Boreal Forest)

Precipitation: 12-33" per year in the form of rain and snow.
Temperature: Average summer high ranges from 65°F to 75°F and the average winter high ranges from 0°F to 20°F.
Seasons: Two major seasons, a long winter and short summer.
Topography: Mountains, flatlands, bogs, valleys, and depressions
Soil: Poor in nutrients and very acidic. Leaves and debris stay frozen to there are few nutrients in the soil because there is no decomposition occurring.
Producers: Red Spruce, Douglas Fir, Jack Pine, Bearberry
Adaptations: Shallow and wide spreading roots. Needles on trees are thin and waxy to conserve water. Trees are triangular in shape to allow snow to fall off. Plants are evergreens which means they do photosynthesis all year and do not regrow new leaves in the spring.
Consumers: Moose, Great Grey Owl, Snowshoe Hare, Northern Leopard Frog, Chipmunk, White-Throated Sparrow
Adaptations: Some animals change fur color in winter and summer. Hibernation. Thick fur/feathered coats. Migrate to warmer climates.

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🌿 Temperate Grassland (Prairie)

Precipitation: 10-30" per year in the form of rain, sleet, and snow.
Temperature: The average temperatures in summer are around 70°F and the average winter is around 20°F.
Seasons: Summers are warm and humid. Winters are cold.
Topography: Mainly flat and rolling lands.
Soil: Deep and dark soils with fertile upper layers. It is nutrient-rich from the growth and decay of grasses. This soil is known as the "bread basket" of the United States because most of the nation's wheat is grown there.
Producers: Buffalo Grass, Fleabane, Milkweed, Purple Coneflower, Stinging Nettle
Adaptations: Leathery and waxy leaves to resist water loss and help be fire resistant. Grasses go dormant in the winter. Bottom growth - plants spend more energy developing a deep root system as opposed to growing tall in height. Trees have long taproots to get water deep underground.
Consumers: Buffalo, Bushbaby, Coyote, Burrowing Owls
Adaptations: Some animals have broad, flat-topped teeth. Special digestive systems especially adapted to feed on grass. Some animals are nocturnal. Some birds burrow since there are so few tree. Most animals are brown with stripes and/or spots to camouflage.

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🌱 Savanna/Tropical Grassland

Precipitation: 10-30" per year in the form of rain. Hardly any rain falls from December to February.
Temperature: Average summer high ranges from 78°F to 86°F and winter ranges from 68°F to 78°F.
Seasons: A two season biome with a wet summer and dry winter.
Topography: Mainly flat and rolling lands.
Soil: Deep soils with fertile upper layers. It is nutrient-rich from the growth and decay of grasses.
Producers: Acacia Senegal, Bermuda Grass, Gum Tree Eucalyptus, Whistling Thorn
Adaptations: Leathery and waxy leaves to resist water loss and help be fire resistant. Grasses go dormant in the winter. Bottom growth - plants spend more energy developing a deep root system as opposed to growing tall in height. Trees have long taproots to get water deep underground.
Consumers: African Elephant, Caracal, Egyptian Mongoose, Lion
Adaptations: Some animals have broad, flat-topped teeth. Special digestive systems especially adapted to feed on grass. Some animals are nocturnal. Some birds burrow since there are so few tree. Most animals are brown with stripes and/or spots to camouflage.

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