biomes of the world

what plants and animals exist in boreal forests?

Because of cold temperatures and slow organic decomposition, boreal forests have thin and acidic soil. Boreal forest ecosystems have also evolved under the restrictions imposed by a short growing season and severe winters during which snow cover may last for several months. About one-third of their extent is underlain by a layer of permafrost that hinders plant growth. Most of the boreal landscapes are characterized by a low diversity of tree species since only a few species are able to adapt and inhabit this environment. These include pine, fir, and spruce trees, . Other species of trees include the deciduous beech, willow, poplar and adler trees. Boreal forest trees are adapted to their environment. Their cone-like shape allows snow to fall off more easily and prevents branches from breaking under the weight of the ice. The shape of the leaves of the needle-leaf conifers and their waxy coating helps to prevent water loss. In boreal forests due to the harsh environment little animal life can withstand and live but a few are able to thrive. Boreal forests are home to various seed eating animals like finches, sparrows, squirrels and jays. Large herbivore mammals including elk, caribou, moose, musk ox, and deer can also be found in boreal forests. Other animals include hares, beavers, lemmings, minks, ermines, geese, wolverines, wolves, grizzly bears and various insects. Insects play an important ecological role in the food chain in this biome as they act as decomposers that provide nutrients to the vital trees and are prey for other animals, especially birds that are responsible for making this ecosystem flourish. To escape the harsh conditions of winter, many animals like squirrels and hares burrow underground for shelter and warmth. Other animals, including reptiles and grizzly bears, hibernate through the winter. Still other animals like elk, moose, and birds migrate to warmer regions during winter. Other animals have adapted to this environment by blending in with the forest like rabbit species that change their coat from thin and maroon in the summer to long, thick and white in the winter. This type of adaptation comes in handy for both predators and prey and allows for animals to inhabit these regions

what plants and animals exist in tropical rainforests?

Rainforests are composed of four different levels of vegetation the emergents layer, the canopy layer, the understory layer and the forest floor layer. The tallest layer is the emergent layer where the tallest trees are with abundant sunlight. The emergent layer contains a small number of very large trees called emergents, which grow above the general canopy, reaching heights of 45–55 m, although on occasion a few species will grow to 70–80 m tall. They need to be able to withstand the hot temperatures and strong winds that occur above the canopy. The layer beneath that is the canopy layer where there is the majority of the largest trees, typically 30 metres to 45 metres tall. The densest areas of biodiversity are found in the forest canopy, a more or less continuous cover of foliage formed by adjacent treetops. The canopy, by some estimates, is home to 50 percent of all plant species. Epiphytic plants take advantage of the heights of large trees in the canopy and attach to trunks and branches and obtain water and minerals from rain and debris that collects on the supporting plants. The fauna is similar to that found in the emergent layer, but more diverse. The trees in this layer form an umbrella canopy that blocks out most of the sunlight for plants in the lower layers. The layer below is the understory layer. The understory layer lies between the canopy and the forest floor. The leaves are much larger at this level to allow plants to maximize the vital and little light that reaches them and many seedlings that will grow to the canopy level are present in the understory. Only about 5% of the sunlight shining on the rainforest canopy reaches the understory. This level is primarily composed of smaller trees along with ferns and vines. The final layer is the forest floor layer which receives only 2% of the sunlight. Only plants adapted to low light can grow in this region and the forest floor is relatively clear of vegetation because of the low sunlight penetration. It also contains decaying plant and animal matter, which disappears quickly, because the warm, humid conditions promote rapid decay. It is also covered with decomposing leaves and other forest matter. This matter decomposes very rapidly in the hot, warm conditions and sends much needed nutrients back into the forest soil. Many forms of fungi growing here help decay the forest matter. Wildlife in the tropical rain forest is very diverse. Animals include a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Examples are: monkeys, gorillas, jaguars, anteaters, lemurs, snakes, bats, frogs, butterflies, and ants. Rain forest creatures have characteristics such as bright colors, distinctive markings, and grasping appendages. These traits help the animals adapt to life in the rain forest.There are distinct animals in each of the rainforest's four primary levels. The emergents layer is known to have Eagles, butterflies, bats and certain monkeys inhabit this layer. The canopy layer is home to a number of bird species and a quarter of all insect species are also known to be found here. Toucans and parrots are two such examples. Some monkey species, like the spider monkey, are also known to live at this level. The understory level is home to a number of small reptiles, birds, and mammals. Each species has adapted to the amount of sunlight and precipitation that this level receives. Examples of species living in this layer include the boa constrictor, various frogs, and some cat species like the jaguar. The forest floor level is home to some of the larger animals in the rainforest like the rhinoceros. Many insects also live on this level. Various species of bacteria and fungi are especially prevalent since they help to decompose the forest matter.

what plants and animals exist in hot deserts?

With such a harsh environment for both plants and animals it is a challenge to inhabit these inhospitable regions. Overall there is more life in hot deserts than cold deserts. For plants due to very dry conditions and poor soil quality in hot desert, only a limited number of plants can survive. Hot desert plants have many adaptations for life in the desert. In very hot and dry deserts, plants such as cacti and other succulents have shallow root systems to absorb large quantities of water in a short time. They also have leaf adaptations, such as a waxy covering or thin needle-like leaves to help reduce water loss. Plants in coastal hot desert regions have broad thick leaves or large root systems to absorb and retain large amounts of water. Many hot desert plants adapt to the dry conditions by going dormant during very dry periods and growing only when rain returns. Examples of hot desert plants include cacti, yuccas, buckwheat bushes, black bushes, prickly pears, and false mesquites. Hot desert plants also may have to go without fresh water for years at a time. Some plants have adapted to the arid climate by growing long roots that absorb water from underground aquifers and other sources of groundwater. Other plants, such as cacti, have special means of storing and conserving water. One of the most interesting plants, welwitschia, is a unique two-leaved shrub that grows in the Namibia Desert in southeastern Africa. It produces colorful cones and grows to heights between 1/2 and 2 meters. Hot desert animals have also been forced to evolve in ways to help them keep cool and use less water. Camels can go for weeks without water, and their nostrils and eyelashes can form a barrier against sand. Hot deserts are also home to many burrowing animals. These animals include badgers, jackrabbits, toads, lizards, snakes, and kangaroo rats. Other animals include coyotes, foxes, owls, eagles, skunks, spiders and various kinds of insects. Many hot desert animals are nocturnal. They burrow underground to escape the extremely high temperatures in the day and come out at night to feed. This allows them to conserve water and energy . Hot desert animals, such as the fennec fox, are nocturnal, coming out to hunt only when the brutal sun has descended. Some animals, like the desert tortoise in the southwestern United States, spend much of their time underground. Most desert birds are nomadic, crisscrossing the skies in search of food. Other adaptations to hot desert life include light color fur that can reflect sunlight. Special appendages, such as long ears, help to dissipate heat. Some insects and amphibians adapt to their conditions by burrowing underground and remaining dormant until water is more plentiful. Some hot desert insects have very specialist adaptations like the Namibian desert beetle that can harvest fog from the air for water. Because of their very special adaptations, hot desert animals are extremely adapted and evolved to their environment.

what plants and animals exist in cold deserts?

Though cold deserts are not as biodiverse as hot deserts they still do shelter life. Grasses are the most common vegetation in most cold deserts. They tend to grow in clumps known as bunchgrass. Shrubs and brush plants also cover the terrain, such as sagebrush. Trees are few, but they do exist. A type of acacia, known as camel thorn grows in the Gobi desert, and the saxaul tree , a small and bushy tree, grows in the Turkestan desert. Pistachio trees are common in the Iranian desert, and tamarugo trees, which produce an edible fruit, grow in the Atacama. Cactus species aren't as common in the cold deserts as they are in the hot ones, but the giant elephant cactus also grows in the Atacama. The cold desert vegetation on antarctica, the arctic and greenland is extremely scarce due to the unforgiving layer of ice but life still can grow and mainly consists of algae that grow under the ice sheets and through the translucent surface photosynthesis in water, lichens, and mosses. Lichens are the most dominant plants. Flowering plants are also seen but not as common as there are only 2 types of flowering plants Antarctic pearlwort and Antarctic hair grass. Adaptations for these plants include shallow roots that can take advantage of the thin active layer of soil between the ice and small leaves to prevent water loss. They are also short and live among cracks in the rock and ice, to avoid being damaged by the harsh winds of the poles. Interestingly, some of these plants can even live under the snow and photosynthesize in very cold temperatures. Smaller mammals in the cold desert are more abundant than larger ones and include moles, jerboa, weasels, gerbils, hedgehogs, pocket mice, armadillos and jackrabbits. Reptile life in the cold desert includes many species of lizards, which inhabit many cold deserts.. scorpions are common in most hot deserts but the only cold desert in which they are common is the Iranian desert. Some animals found in the cold deserts of antarctica, the arctic and greenland include; Polar Bears that have adaptations like claws to grip the ice and excess fat to keep warm, Seals with fat to keep warm, Kangaroo Rats that burrow in the snow to keep warm, Penguins with excess fat to keep warm and Reindeers with strong hooves to push through snow. In addition to that because of the scarcity of food on land many animals like the penguin turn to the sea to forage for food.

what plants and animals exist in tropical grasslands?

Tropical grasslands are dominated by low-lying vegetation but occasionally large growing plants like trees are seen. This is because of the lack of water that is essential to allow more large plants. However the savanna is still able to support a variety of vegetation like Senegal Gum Acacia, Bermuda Grass, Elephant Grass, Manketti Tree, Umbrella Thorn Acacia , River Bush willow, Abal, Acacia, Baobab, Beech, Common Guar, Marula, Monkey Orange and Wild Melon. Grasses and trees that grow in the savanna have adapted to life with little water and hot temperatures. Most grasses, for example, grow quickly in the wet season when water is abundant and turn brown in the dry season to conserve water. Some trees like the baobab tree store water in their roots and only produce leaves during the wet season where water is plentiful. Due to frequent fires, grasses are short and close to the ground and some plants are fire resistant like the river bush willow tree that has fire resistant bark. Some trees like all acacia varieties have thorns to prevent hungry herbivores to eat their leaves that not only allow them to perform photosynthesis but leaves that also hold precious water and moisture. Grasses also have adaptations like a coarse texture and little white hairs called trichomes like elephant grass that prevent creatures like insects from eating their leaves as a coarse texture is difficult to chew and trichomes sting preventing animals from consuming their leaves. With such a variety of plant life many herbivores are present. These include zebras, wildebeests, elephants, giraffes, ostriches, the wide variety of deer like impala and buffalo. A large majority of these herbivores graze on the grasses due to their abundance but others feed on trees. However these herbivores have adapted against the adaptations of plants such as the giraffe tongue which is adapted to picking out the juicy and nutritious leaves of an acacia tree without getting hurt by the thorns or elephants that use their tall trunks to retrieve even the highest of leaves on a tree. However other herbivores have had to adapt against the predators of these tropical grasslands. Predators include lions, leopards, cheetahs, crocodiles and snakes. Some adaptations include long legs and great stamina to help animals like ostriches and gazelles to outrun predators like the cheetah, tall animals like the giraffe are able to spot incoming predators from a distance and therefore able to get to safety, animals also travel in herds as there is more safety in numbers from predators and finally some with their sheer size and strength are able to scare off and fight predators like elephants. In addition to that predators also have specialised adaptations to counter these adaptations like the cheetah by being the worlds fastest land animals is able to chase down prey, other animals are able to camouflage like the lion which camouflages in the golden grass with golden fur or the crocodile which disguises itself as a log in a river and then surprisingly pounces on an unexpecting prey and other animals use stealth like leopards or snakes that sneak up on prey from trees and long grass. Other animals of the tropical grasslands include baboons, meerkats, ants, termites and kangaroos. Termites are vital decomposers in tropical grasslands. A large proportion of dead organic matter is decomposed through the feeding activities of termites. Termites feed on any dead matter such as dead trees which is imperative as trees bring lots of vital nutrients from deep below the soil and beyond the reaches of grasses and so by decomposition termites are able to recycle those nutrients back to the nearby grasses that would not have been able to use those nutrients. Furthermore termite mounds are also a great source of nutrients so it also gives a boost in growth to the nearby vegetation and when the mound starts to fall apart the nutrients will be released into the surrounding soil and therefore will boost the surrounding plant growth significantly.

what plants and animals exist in temperate grasslands?

With low to moderate precipitation trees and large shrubs are near to impossible to grow and are rarely found but are commonly seen near rivers and lakes in temperate grasslands where sufficient water is available. However survival for vegetation is hard because of the unpredictable weather and harsh conditions brought by frequent tornadoes, fires and blizzards so only the most adapted plants are able to thrive such as purple needlegrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, and galleta. Flowers include asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, sunflowers, clovers, psoraleas, and wild indigos. cottonwood, oak, and willow trees are found near water bodies. Plants have many adaptations to survive. Some plants have deep and spreading root systems that allow them strength and moisture during times of little water. Most of the plants in temperate grasslands have long narrow leaves that don’t need as much water to maintain so they can conserve water. The grasses also grow from the bottom and grow close to the ground so that fires are not as devastating. They also have strong roots which means they won’t be destroyed when animals trample them or eat them. Grasslands are prone to fires but the plants complex root system enables them to survive fires and soon after a fire, they will begin sprouting once again. Furthermore the softer stems of some plants allow the plants to bend rather than break in the Grassland tornadoes and rough winds. Many of the plants are pollinated by taking advantage of the windy conditions of the Grassland. With such an array of grasses and vegetation a variety of herbivores and predators are also common in temperate grasslands. Temperate grasslands are home to large herbivores. Some of these include bison and wild horses. Carnivores, like wolves, are also found in temperate grasslands. Other animals of this region include: deer, prairie dogs, mice, jack rabbits, skunks, coyotes, snakes, foxes, owls, badgers, blackbirds, grasshoppers, meadowlarks, sparrows, quails, and hawks. In addition to that temperate grassland animals also have a range of adaptations which can include the ability to run very fast which helps them escape predators or chase down prey, camouflage can help prey and predator either evade or hunt, many grazing animals have developed digestive systems that enable them to survive solely on grasses, smaller animals in the grasslands hide easily in the grasses, some animals have front paws and leg that help them to burrow into the ground to escape predators and harsh weather conditions like fires, blizzards and tornadoes.

what plants and animals exist in arctic tundras?

With such harsh and difficult conditions vegetation is not biodiverse and is limited. Arctic tundra plants must adapt to the cold, dark conditions of the tundra as the sun does not rise during the winter months and with dry conditions, poor soil quality, extremely cold temperatures, and with the thick permafrost layer of permanently frozen subsoil consisting mostly of gravel and finer material plants require specialised adaptations to overcome these hurdles in their survival. The vegetation consists of low shrubs, sedges, reindeer mosses, liverworts, grasses, numerous varieties of flowers and wildflowers and crustose and foliose lichen. The frozen ground prevents large plants that have deep roots, like trees, from growing. Growing close together and low to the ground is an adaptation that most plants use to survive. This growing pattern helps the plant resist the effects of cold temperatures and reduce the damage caused by the impact of of ice and snow that are driven by the dry and rough winds. Other adaptations include developing the ability to grow under a layer of snow as for most of the year the arctic tundra is covered by snow, to carry out photosynthesis in extremely cold temperatures since the arctic tundra is known to below freezing, and for flowering plants, to produce flowers quickly once summer begins because summer is a tiny window where plants can thrive before the dark and cruel winters come. A small leaf structure is another physical adaptation that helps plants survive as plants lose water through their leaf surface and so by a small leaf structure not as much water can be lost. Similar to vegetation the arctic tundra does not shelter a very biodiverse variety of animals due to harsh conditions. Nevertheless the animal variety is biodiverse and includes herbivores like lemmings, voles, caribou, Musk ox arctic hares and squirrels. Carnivores like arctic foxes, wolves, brown bears and polar bears. Migratory bird like ravens, snow buntings, falcons, loons, sandpipers, terns, snow birds and various species of gulls. Insects like mosquitoes, flies, moths, grasshoppers, blackflies and arctic bumble bees and fish like cod, flatfish, salmon, and trout. each and every species of animal has its own way of adapting to the extreme climatic conditions of the arctic tundra. Animals need to find ways to stay warm and to provide nourishment for themselves in order to survive the long, cold, winter months. Migration is a useful adaptation used by animals in the Arctic tundra as it makes sure animals are able to survive in a better climate and environment all year round since they leave or migrate for a length of time to warmer climates during the winter and return in summer to take advantage of the abundance of food and the relaxed climate conditions. Hibernation also makes sure an animal is able to have a relaxed climate all year round. For example, during the summer the brown bear is able to eat just about anything it can find and takes advantage of the climatic conditions; then it hibernates, or sleeps, during the winter where food becomes scarce and the climate becomes harsh. The bear's physical adaptation allows the food eaten during the summer to be stored as a layer of fat underneath its skin. The layer of fat insulates the bear from the cold. While in hibernation the fat is slowly converted into energy that maintains its life during this dormant time. An adaptation used by the Musk Ox is the growth of two layers of fur with one short and the other long. Air is trapped in the short layer of fur and is warmed by body heat. The warmed air, trapped close to the body, acts as insulation from the cold. The layer of long fur protects the Musk Ox from the elements. In addition to thick layers of fur, the Musk Ox relies on its hooves that are large and hard and during the winter months this adaptation allows them to break the ice and drink the water underneath. Other animals are adapted to breed and raise young quickly in the summer or if small spend the summer above ground and in the winter spend the season underground where the temperature is higher with a store of food and fat collected in summer for this reason.

what plants and animals exist in alpine tundras?

alpine tundras are treeless plains found on mountains at high altitudes. Unlike the arctic tundra, the sun remains in the sky for about the same amount of time throughout the year allowing the vegetation to grow at an almost constant rate. The vegetation consists of short shrubs, grasses, ​and rosette perennials. The growing season is approximately 180 days. The temperature is usually just above freezing at day. Unlike the arctic tundra, the soil in the alpine is well drained. The plants are very similar to those of the arctic ones and include include: lichens, mosses, sedges, perennial forbs, tussock grasses, dwarf trees, small-leafed shrubs, and heaths, rosettes, and dwarfed shrubs. These plants utilise a range of adaptations that include being low to the ground. The majority of alpine plants only live to be 1 or 2 inches tall, and this is because the plants small size allows them to stay out of the rough and damaging winds, and in winter, being small means protection under a thick layer of snow. Some alpine plants can also grow into a cushion or thick mat that allows wind to fly smoothly over the plants without touching delicate leaves and a thick mat will be able to absorb and retain heat efficiently. Having evergreen leaves is an adaptation that help many alpine plants get a headstart on the growing season since they can start photosynthesizing as soon as the temperature rises above freezing. The leaves of some alpine plants can turn a deep reddish purple in the winter. The color is caused by anthocyanin, which absorbs ultraviolet rays and converts them into heat energy, which aids in warming the plant. Thick foliage significantly helps alpine plants deal with an extremely well-drained soil in summer and the ever-present winds. Plants keep stomata open to allow photosynthesis and respiration, but this also lets out moisture, especially in windy conditions so thick leaves help in two ways: They are less likely to be torn or damaged by high winds, which are frequent above treeline, and their thickness reduces the surface area exposed to dwinds. Many of the leaves also produce a waxy cuticle to aid in water retention. For alpine plants that grow in areas with adequate soil moisture,moisture loss can be a battle for at least part of the year. Fuzzy leaves can help retain moisture by collecting moisture out of clouds and retaining that moisture near the leaf surface when the air dries out. Hairs on the undersides of the leaves can also protect the stomata, which, when open for gas exchange and lose water. Moisture loss through the leaves increases under high winds and when there is a big difference between moisture levels within the leaf and the surrounding air. A barrier of moist hairs on the underside decreases that difference. Slow growth is another useful adaptation that ensures these plants from growing unnecessarily high, which is fatally dangerous in the alpine zone. Extra height means more exposure to winds and the risk of becoming taller than the snowpack. In a good year alpine plants are lucky to put on a few inches of growth and some plants the size of a quarter may be 25-50 years old. Animals in the alpine tundra have similar adaptations to cope with harsh conditions but the alpine tundra animal variety is less biodiverse than that of the arctic tundra. Animals here include marmots, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, grizzly bears,pikas, marmots, snow leopards, springtails ,tibetan fox, tibetan wolf, marcopolo sheep, beetles, grasshoppers, and butterflies. Adaptations include migrating to lower elevations during the winter to escape the cold, hibernation, excess fat and other adaptations that are used by the arctic tundra animals.

What plants and animals exist in freshwaters?

Ponds and lakes are lentic ecosystems that more easily support plants and animals to dure their gentle and still waters. they have different zones that vary in sunlight and temperature. The littoral zone are the topmost waters that have access to the most light which is why most plants thrive in this area including emerging plants (plants rooted in water but with foliage out of the water), aquatic plants (submerged plants) and floating plants (plants suspended on surface water with foliage in air). Plants include water lilies, duckweed, cattail, bulrush, stonewort, and bladderwort. To survive in freshwater ponds and lakes aquatic plants have a variety of adaptations including adaptations that make chloroplast present only on the surface of the leaves of plants that are exposed to the sun. As the other side of the leaf is permanently submerged, no chloroplasts are needed. Another important adaptation is the lateral spreading of their leaf canopy. While plants on land grow upward as their leaves compete for sunlight, some aquatic plant leaves expand across the water surface for optimal exposure, as tall aquatic plants do not typically dominate their waters.

more coming soon.