Biome is the collection of all the living things, including plants, animals and microorganisms, in a large geographical area. The boundries of different biomes on land are determined mainly by climate. Aquatic biomes are not easily defined. Important land biomes include (1) Tundra, (2) Coniferous Forests, (3) Deciduous Forests, (4) Grasslands, (5) Deserts, and (6) Tropical Rain Forests. Some ecologists distinguish more categories. For example, a number of ecologists seperate c
oniferious forests into a temperate coniferous forest biome and a boreal forest, or tiage, biome. Each biome is characterized by distinctive kinds of plants and animals and by a specific climate. For example, boreal forest have a harsh climate with long, cold winters and short summers. The major plants in this biome are cone-bearing evergreen trees, such as sprucees, firs, and pines. Moose, caribou, and other deer are the dominant plant-eating animals in boreal forests. Some ecologists name biomes to show the importance of both animals and plants. The boreal forest, for example, is sometimes called the sprucemoose" biome, and the temprature deciduous also may be referred to as the "oak-deer-maple" biome. A single biome can occur in many parts of the world. for example, the grassland biome includes the steppes of Asia, the prairies and plains of North America, the veld of southern Africa, and the Pampas of South America. These regions may differ in their particular species of living things, such as the kind of grasses and the kinds of animals that eat the grasses. But these areas all share a similar climate, similar types of vegetation, and similar roles for animals and microorganisms. The ways in which plants and animal in a biome interact with wach other determine their niche in the biome. A niche is the ecological "job and address" of a plant of animal in nature. the job refers to the function of the plant or animal, and the address refers to its habitat in the biome. For example, grazing is a major function of many animals in the grassland biome. Bison ( American buffaloes) once functioned as the dominant grazers on North American grasslands. Today, on African grasslands, zebras and several kinds of gazelles and antelopes together fill the grazing niche. Plants or animals that fill the same niche in different places, such as bison in North America and gazelles in Africa, are called ecological equivalents. All living things have speacial features that make them well adapted for life in their particular biome. For example, cactuses are found in the desert biome. These plants can grow using little water and have spines to help protect them from plant-eating animals of the desert. Some animals living in the tundra biome are white in the winter and brown in the summer. Such coloration makes it easier for these animals the blend with snow in winter and vegetation in summer.
oniferious forests into a temperate coniferous forest biome and a boreal forest, or tiage, biome. Each biome is characterized by distinctive kinds of plants and animals and by a specific climate. For example, boreal forest have a harsh climate with long, cold winters and short summers. The major plants in this biome are cone-bearing evergreen trees, such as sprucees, firs, and pines. Moose, caribou, and other deer are the dominant plant-eating animals in boreal forests. Some ecologists name biomes to show the importance of both animals and plants. The boreal forest, for example, is sometimes called the sprucemoose" biome, and the temprature deciduous also may be referred to as the "oak-deer-maple" biome. A single biome can occur in many parts of the world. for example, the grassland biome includes the steppes of Asia, the prairies and plains of North America, the veld of southern Africa, and the Pampas of South America. These regions may differ in their particular species of living things, such as the kind of grasses and the kinds of animals that eat the grasses. But these areas all share a similar climate, similar types of vegetation, and similar roles for animals and microorganisms. The ways in which plants and animal in a biome interact with wach other determine their niche in the biome. A niche is the ecological "job and address" of a plant of animal in nature. the job refers to the function of the plant or animal, and the address refers to its habitat in the biome. For example, grazing is a major function of many animals in the grassland biome. Bison ( American buffaloes) once functioned as the dominant grazers on North American grasslands. Today, on African grasslands, zebras and several kinds of gazelles and antelopes together fill the grazing niche. Plants or animals that fill the same niche in different places, such as bison in North America and gazelles in Africa, are called ecological equivalents. All living things have speacial features that make them well adapted for life in their particular biome. For example, cactuses are found in the desert biome. These plants can grow using little water and have spines to help protect them from plant-eating animals of the desert. Some animals living in the tundra biome are white in the winter and brown in the summer. Such coloration makes it easier for these animals the blend with snow in winter and vegetation in summer. Tundra
The Artic Tundra is a cold, vast, treeless area of low, swampy plains in the far north around the Artic Ocean. It includes the northern lands of Europe (lapland and Scandinavia), Asia (Sideria), and North America (Alaska and Canada), as well as most of 
Greenland. Another type of of Tundra is the alpine tundra, which is a biome that exists at the tops of high mountains. This is the earth's coldest biome. Scince the sun does not rise for nearly six months of the year, it is not unusual for the temprature to be below -30' F in winter. The earth of the Artic tundra has permenantly frozen subsoil, called permafrost, which makes it impossible for trees to grow. Frozen prehistoric animal remains have been found preserved in the permafrost. In, summer, a thin layer of topsoil thaws and creates many pools, lakes, and marshes, a haven for mosquitoes, midges, and black flies. More than 100 species of migrant birds are attracted by the insect food and the safe feeding ground of the tundra. Other animals that live in this biome include polar bears, Artic foxes, caribou, and grey wolves. Plants that you might find include small shrubs and cushion plants, and the lichen which cover the many rocks on the tundra's terrain. The Artic is also famous fo the beuaty of its flower during early autumn.
Greenland. Another type of of Tundra is the alpine tundra, which is a biome that exists at the tops of high mountains. This is the earth's coldest biome. Scince the sun does not rise for nearly six months of the year, it is not unusual for the temprature to be below -30' F in winter. The earth of the Artic tundra has permenantly frozen subsoil, called permafrost, which makes it impossible for trees to grow. Frozen prehistoric animal remains have been found preserved in the permafrost. In, summer, a thin layer of topsoil thaws and creates many pools, lakes, and marshes, a haven for mosquitoes, midges, and black flies. More than 100 species of migrant birds are attracted by the insect food and the safe feeding ground of the tundra. Other animals that live in this biome include polar bears, Artic foxes, caribou, and grey wolves. Plants that you might find include small shrubs and cushion plants, and the lichen which cover the many rocks on the tundra's terrain. The Artic is also famous fo the beuaty of its flower during early autumn. Coniferous Forest (Tiaga)
The coniferious forest biome is south of the Artic tundra. It streches from Alaska straight across North America to the Atlantic Ocean and across Eurasia. The largest stretch of coniferous forest in the world, circling the earth in the Northern Hemisphere, is called the "tiage." It supplies the bulk of the world's commercial softwood timber, which is used to make paper. These forests consists mainly of cone-bearing trees such as spruce, hemlock, and fir, which are well suited to the cold climate. The soil is not very fertile, however, because there are no leaves to decompose and enrich it. Some animals that thrive in this biome are the ermine, the moose, the red fox, the snowshoe rabbit, and birds such as the crossbill and the great horned owl.
Deciduous Forest
This biome is in the mild temperate 
zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Major regions are found in Eastern North America, Europe and are found in eastern Asia. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall. The natural decaying of the fallen leaves enriches the soil and supports all kinds of plant and animal life. The deciduous forest is a lively place , where oak, beech, ash, and maple trees are typical, and wildflowers, berries, and many types of insect and animal life abound. But the fertile soil is also good for people, and in Europe most of the deciduous forst has been destroyed to make room for farms and homes. In the U.S., the deciduous forest is a home for deer, American gray squirrels, wood mice, rabbits, raccoons, woodpeckers, cardinals, and finches, to name a few.
zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Major regions are found in Eastern North America, Europe and are found in eastern Asia. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall. The natural decaying of the fallen leaves enriches the soil and supports all kinds of plant and animal life. The deciduous forest is a lively place , where oak, beech, ash, and maple trees are typical, and wildflowers, berries, and many types of insect and animal life abound. But the fertile soil is also good for people, and in Europe most of the deciduous forst has been destroyed to make room for farms and homes. In the U.S., the deciduous forest is a home for deer, American gray squirrels, wood mice, rabbits, raccoons, woodpeckers, cardinals, and finches, to name a few. Grassland
Grasslands are places with hot, dry climates that are perfect for growing food. They are known throughout the world by different names. In the U.S. they are called prairies and extend 
from the Midwest to the Rocky Mountains. In South Africa, grasslands are called the veld. Hot, tropical grasslands called savannas are found in South America and Africa. In Erasia, temprature zone grasslands are called steppes; in South America, pampas. This inland biome is made of vast areas of grassy feild. It recieves so little rain that very few trees can grow. The U.S. prairies are used to graze cattle and to raise cereal crops. There is very little variety of animal life. Some original prairie animals like the wolf and bison have com close to being eliminated from the habitat by hunters. Today, some of the most common grassland animals include the prairie dog and the mule deer in North America, the giraffe and Aisa.
from the Midwest to the Rocky Mountains. In South Africa, grasslands are called the veld. Hot, tropical grasslands called savannas are found in South America and Africa. In Erasia, temprature zone grasslands are called steppes; in South America, pampas. This inland biome is made of vast areas of grassy feild. It recieves so little rain that very few trees can grow. The U.S. prairies are used to graze cattle and to raise cereal crops. There is very little variety of animal life. Some original prairie animals like the wolf and bison have com close to being eliminated from the habitat by hunters. Today, some of the most common grassland animals include the prairie dog and the mule deer in North America, the giraffe and Aisa.Desert
A Desert is and area where little or no life exists because of a lack of water. Scientists estimate that one-fifth of the earth's land surface is desert. Deserts can be found on every continent except Europe. There are two different kinds: hot and dry (such as
the Arabian and Sahara deserts) and cold and dry (such as Antarctica and the Gobi desert). In North America, there are four major deserts: the Great Basin, the Majave, the Sonoran and the Chihuahuan. All but the Great Basin are hot deserts located in Mexico and the southwestern part of the United States. The Great Basin covers parts of Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, and is considered a cold desert. The lack of water and the intense heat or cold make this biome inhospitable to most life forms. Most of the plants you'll see in the desert are species of cactus. You might come across yucca, aloe, octillo plants, or the tall saguaro cacti. A few animals- mainly reptiles, like snakes and lizards, and amphibians, like frogs and toads- are well adapted to the hot desert. Another famous desert aminal is the camal, which can make water from the fat it stores in its hump. The Emporer and Adelie penguins are well-known animals living at the edge o the Antarctic desert. Tropical Rainforest
Tropical rainforests are found in Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, and many of the Pacific Islands. They are often found along the equator. Almost half of the world's tropcal rainforests are in the South American country Brazil. There are other types of rainforests around the world, too. For example, northern Australia has a "dry rainforest" that experiences a dry season each year, and the rainy Pacific Northwest United States has a 
"temperate rainforest" that is made up of evergreen trees. Tropical rainforests recieve at least 70 inches of rain each year and have more species of plans and animals than any other biome. Mony of teh plants used in medicine can only be found in tropical rainforests. The combination of heat and moisture makes this biome the perfect environment for more than 15 million plants and animals. The thick vegetation absorbs moisture, which then evaporates and completes the cycle by falling again as rain. A rainforest grows in levels. The canopy, or tallest level, has trees between 100 and 200 feet tall. they block most of the sunlight from the levels below. The second level, or understory, contains a kmix of small trees, vines and palms as well as shrub and ferns. The third and lowest level is the forest floor, where herbs, mosses, and fungi grow. Rainforests are an endangered biome. People have cut the trees and sold the wood for firewood, building materials, and paper. Parts of the rainforest have been burned to make space for grazing and farming. Every minute approxomately 30 acres of rainforest are destroyed. The large amounts of carbon dioxide that are released due to the cutting and burning of rainforests contribute to the greenhouse effect. Some of the animals of teh tropical rainforest are the anteater, jaguar, brocket deer, lemur, orangutan, marmoset, macaw, parrot, sloth, and toucan. Amoung the many plants species are bamboo, banana trees, rubber trees, and cassava.
"temperate rainforest" that is made up of evergreen trees. Tropical rainforests recieve at least 70 inches of rain each year and have more species of plans and animals than any other biome. Mony of teh plants used in medicine can only be found in tropical rainforests. The combination of heat and moisture makes this biome the perfect environment for more than 15 million plants and animals. The thick vegetation absorbs moisture, which then evaporates and completes the cycle by falling again as rain. A rainforest grows in levels. The canopy, or tallest level, has trees between 100 and 200 feet tall. they block most of the sunlight from the levels below. The second level, or understory, contains a kmix of small trees, vines and palms as well as shrub and ferns. The third and lowest level is the forest floor, where herbs, mosses, and fungi grow. Rainforests are an endangered biome. People have cut the trees and sold the wood for firewood, building materials, and paper. Parts of the rainforest have been burned to make space for grazing and farming. Every minute approxomately 30 acres of rainforest are destroyed. The large amounts of carbon dioxide that are released due to the cutting and burning of rainforests contribute to the greenhouse effect. Some of the animals of teh tropical rainforest are the anteater, jaguar, brocket deer, lemur, orangutan, marmoset, macaw, parrot, sloth, and toucan. Amoung the many plants species are bamboo, banana trees, rubber trees, and cassava. 
