Overview

In this section you will find materials that support the implementation of EarthComm, Section 8: North American Biomes.

Learning Outcomes

• Carry out an investigation of the major biomes of North America.
• Analyze data on a map of North American biomes.
• Obtain information about the factors that determine the distribution of biomes on Earth.

Investigate

1. To find scientific information about most common plants and animals in your biome, visit the following web sites:
   
   Exploring the Environment
   
   Biome Summary, Wheeling Jesuit University
   Provides a summary table that lists the climate, moisture, vegetation and animal characteristics of major biomes.  More specific information can be found on the following pages from this site:
   • Arctic Tundra Animals
   • Arctic Tundra Plants
   • Deciduous Forest Animals
   • Deciduous Forest Plants
   • Desert Animals
   • Desert Plants
   • Taiga Animals
   • Taiga Plants
   • Tropical Rainforest Animals
   • Tropical Rainforest Plants
   • Tropical Savannah Animals
   • Tropical Savannah Plants

Biomes of North America, Palomar College
Provides detailed descriptions of biomes.

Characteristics of the Earth's Terrestrial Biomes, Dr. Michael Pidwirny, University of British Columbia Okanagan
Provides descriptions of the animals and plants in different biomes.

Inquiring Further

1. To learn more about herbivores and carnivores, visit the following web site:
   
   Introduction to Biomes, World Builders
   Provides an energy pyramid for several different biomes. Click on a "K Calorie Pyramid" link under each biome to see the number of calories the carnivores must obtain from the herbivores to survive.
    
2. To learn more about Alaskan animal adaptations to climate, visit the following web site:
   
   Animals, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
   Find information on animal species that occur in Alaska.

Resources

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:

Climate and Biomes

Biomes, Wheeling Jesuit University
Examines biomes and the climates and ecological communities which define them. 

Mission Biomes, NASA
Describes the precipitation, vegetation, and location characteristics of Earth’s biomes.

The World’s Biomes, University of California Museum of Paleontology
In-depth descriptions of the animal, plant, and climate features of Earth’s biomes.