Biomes: Part 2 - Forests and Grasslands
Biomes sub-categories continued
Tropical Forest
The forest biomes cover one third of the
Earth’s surface. There are three different types of forest.
Tropical forests are the oldest of the forests and contain the greatest variety of species. Monkeys, gorillas, tigers, elephants, birds, reptiles and an unknown number of insects and spiders make their home in the tropical forests.
Tropical forests are found in South America’s Amazon Basin, the African Congo, South east Asia, India, Australia and Brazil.
Temperate Forest
Temperate forests are found in the Eastern United
States, Canada, Europe, China and Japan.
After tropical forests, temperate forests contain the most diverse range of animal life.
Squirrels, Beavers, Rabbits, Skunks, Deer, Mountain Lions, Bobcats, Timber Wolves, Foxes, Bison, Black and Brown Bears and many birds live here..
Boreal Forest
Boreal forests grow in the cold conditions
of the far northern hemisphere, near the Arctic tundra.
This biome often gets less rain than other forests and only trees, such as conifers, that need less water and can survive the harsh conditions will grow there.
Wildlife such as the Siberian Tiger, Woodpeckers, Hawks, Moose, Bears, Weasels, Foxes, Wolves, Deer, Hares, Chipmunks, and Bats live here.
Tropical Grasslands & Savannah
About one quarter of the Earth’s surface is covered with grassland biomes. This biome contains large areas of grass, flowers and herbs and very few trees.
The Grasslands and Savannahs are found in warm or hot climates and cover almost half the surface of Africa and large areas of Australia, South America, and India.
Giraffes Lions, Leopards, Hyenas, Elephants, Zebras, Buffalo, Kangaroos, Mice, Moles, Gophers, Snakes, Worms, Termites and Beetles live in this type of biome.
Temperate Grasslands & Prairies
Temperate
Grasslands have less rainfall than savannas and have very cold winters
and warm to hot summers.
They range from the veldts of South Africa, the puszta of Hungary, the pampas of Argentina and Uruguay, the steppes of the former Soviet Union, and the plains and prairies of central North America.
In this type of biome there are Gazelles, Zebras, Rhinoceroses, wild horses, Lions, Wolves, Bison, Prairie Dogs, Jackrabbits, Deer, Mice, Coyotes, Foxes, Skunks, Snakes, Grasshoppers, Spiders and many types of birds.