Biome Temp.

(C)
Rainfall
(mm)
Vegetation (include some details from the
Description section on the webpage)
Desert





Around
38
o
c
(day)
Around
-3.9
o
c






Around 250
mm of rain
per year
Usual vegetation includes cacti, small bushes, and short
grasses. Cacti stores water in its stems and use it slowly,
while bushes grow few leaves or grow bing root systems
to reduce water loss and increase water intake. Since
desert biomes are very dry, plants are normally
xerophytes that regulate water intake. There are
perennials that stay alive for several years. They do so by
going into dormant stage when there is no water, and
flourishing when there is water. There are also annuals
(ephemerals) that may complete a life cycle in a few
weeks. Thus, they have short life cycles only during
raining periods.
Grassland




Changes
according
to
latitude
Around
-20
o
c to
30
o
c





Around
500-900mm
of rain per
year
The most common form of vegetation is grass. They vary
in size, due to the difference in temperature of this
biome. Some temperatures are extreme, while others are
average. There are two different types of grasslands: the
tropical grasslands are dry and wet seasons that remain
warm all the time, while temperature grasslands have
cold winters and warm summers with some rain. Grasses
thus have varying heights, such as around 2.1 m (7 ft)
tall with roots extending down into the soil 1.8 m (6 ft),
to the short grasses growing to a height of around 20 to
25 cm (8 to 10 in) tall. These short grasses can have roots
that extend 1 m (about 3 ft) deep. This height is related to
the amount of rain the grass receives. Every year, the
grasses die. There are occasional trees found along the
streams, but not many exist because of the lack of
rainfall.
Shrubland







Hot and
dry in the
summer,
cool and
moist in
the
winter







Around 200
to 1000mm
of rain per
year
Common vegetation includes aromatic herbs (sage,
rosemary, thyme, oregano), shrubs, acacia, chamise, and
grasses. Shrublands receive rain, however it is
unpredictable and varies each month. There is a
noticeable dry season and wet season. Mostly, there are
shrubs or short trees. Many shrubs grow well on steep,
rocky slopes. There is not enough rain, however, to
support the growth of tall trees. The open nature of the
biome also allow grasses and other short plants grow
between the shrubs. Where rainfall is rare, plants have
adapted to drought-like conditions, including xerophyte
adaptations like small, needle-like leaves that help to
conserve water, waxy coatings and leaves that reflect the
sunlight. Some plants also developed fire-resistant
adaptations to survive the fires that occur in the dry
season.
Temperate
deciduous
forest



-30C to
30C,
yearly
average
is 10C,
hot
summers,
cold
winters





750 to
1,500 mm
of rain per
year

The deciduous forest regions have exposure to warm and
cold air masses, which allows for the transitions of the
four seasons. Temperature changes a lot between
seasons, with cold winters and hot, wet summers.
Rainfall is spread fairly evenly throughout the year.
Since the temperature may get very cold, the trees adapt
to the winter by going into a period of dormancy. They
also develop thick bark to protect themselves against
cold weather. The trees flower during spring and
summer. A variety of different kinds of trees, shrubs, and
herbs grow in this biome. Trees are mostly broadleaf
trees such as oak, maple, beech, hickory and chestnut.
There are also many different kinds of plants like
mountain laurel, azaleas and mosses.
Tropical
rainforest




20C to
25C,
must
remain
warm and
frost-free




2,000 to
10,000
millimetres
of rain per
year



There are two types of rainforests, tropical and
temperate. They have deferring climates. Temperate
rainforests are found near the cooler coastal areas further
north or south of the equator. The tropical rainforest is
hot and moist, with continuous yearlong rainfall. Thus, it
has dense canopies of vegetation that form three different
layers (top layer/canopy contains giant trees that grow to
heights of 75 m or more, as well as thick, woody vines;
middle layer/understory contains vines, smaller trees,
ferns, and palms; bottom layer/floor contains wet leaves
and leaf litter). The bottom layer decomposes quickly,
which allows for compost to form, sending minerals
back into the soil.
Tundra




-40C to
18C





150 to 250
mm of rain
per year

The tundra is the coldest biome. It does not have much
precipitation, and are found at high mountains. The
general temperature is very cold, however it may be
warm during summers. There is a layer of permanently
frozen ground below the surface, called permafrost. Due
to the harsh environmental conditions, vegetation have
adapted to the cold. Vegetations include mosses, sedges,
and lichens. There is little tree growth, and they grow
close to the ground so they are insulated by snow during
winter.