a large scale ecosystem-in which the plants and animals have adapted to living in.

a community and its physical enviroment

Trees have broad leaves.  Moderate temperatures and moderate amounts of rainfall.  Africa and Antartica are the ONLY continents that DO NOT have this biome.  Seasonal changes cause a yearly cycleof plant growth (different seasons).  Growing season is about 6 months.  Several layers of plants are found here.  There are a variety of habitats due to the different layers of plants.

Taiga

This biome is a forest of needle-leaved evergreen trees.  The winters are too long for most other trees to survive.  Mostly pines, firs and spruces.  There are only two layers of growth.  The trees form the canopy layer and the floor is covered with a thick matt of dried, dead needles.

Tundra

Rolling plain that covers most northern Eurasia and North America.  Low temperatures and long winters prevent trees from growing.  This biome is a region of dramatic seasonal changes.  Far from the equator, the sun is rarely seen in the fall and winter, but always shines in the Summer.

Grasslands

Moderate temperatures, light rainfall.  Antarctica does not have this biome.  Various grasses are the dominant plants.  Long slender leaves allow little water loss.  This biome plays a major role in world agriculture.

Deserts

The sun is always shining.  Very little rain and very dry.  Only a few kinds of plants grow here.  Roots lie close to the surface of the soil so they can quickly absorb water from the occasional rain.  Temperatures are very hot in the summer but can drop below freezing on winter nights.  Animals get all the water they need from the plants they eat.

This is the area nearest the shore.  Many animals live here like the starfish, sea urchins and crabs.

This is the area just beyond the Intertidal Zone.  Calm water and steady temperatures.  Schools of fish, large numbers of algae, oysters and worms.  Moderate light reaches the bottom of this layer.

Open-Ocean Zone

This is most of the ocean waters.  Not much sunlight.  The water is very deep and organisms live near the surface.  Temperature of the water here is very cold.  Plankton live here.  Tiny herbivores which make up the Zooplankton graze on the algae.

Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, some marshes and swamps.  Plants and animals that live here are adapted to life in fresh water only.

This is the place where fresh water empties into the ocean.  These are the most productive ecosystems on Earth.  The water here is brackish.