biomes and ecosystems
DESCRIPTION
Biomes and Ecosystems. A Webquest for 4 th Grade. Designed by Christopher Becker, Joeie Puckett, Michael Ruthenberg , and Satura Thomas. Introduction. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Biomes and Ecosystems
Designed by Christopher Becker,Joeie Puckett, Michael Ruthenberg,
and Satura Thomas
A Webquest for 4th Grade
INTRODUCTIONBiomes are defined as "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and
characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell,1996). This web quest deals with both biomes and ecosystems because of the interactions displayed between the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components.
Enjoy the journey through each of these terrestrial biomes, while learning about the ecosystems that exist
within each. Good luck and have fun.
TASK
PROCESS
Directions
What animals live in this biome?
Where is your biome found?
What’s the weather like here?
Action! Take me to a movie.
Links to other websites
During your webquest, you will be able to click on any of these pictures to find out more about the biome of your choice. Have fun in your journey. We won’t tell anyone you’re learning. Your secret is safe with us!
Where do you want to go?Begin your journey here by choosing which biome fits your specific interests or continue
your journey to a different ecosystem.
TundraLove the Winter Olympics? Hate getting sunburns? The tundra may be the place for you. Yes, it’s a little chilly and there isn’t much precipitation, but you can get almost 24 hours of daylight during some
parts of the year! Click on any of the pictures to find out more.
TaigaThe taiga is one of our planet’s harshest
biomes. Although abundant with life, survival is difficult because of the cold
climate and little precipitation. The word “taiga” comes from a Russian word
meaning, “marshy, pine forest”. Click on any of the pictures to find out more
about the taiga!
Temperate ForestIf you love all four seasons, the
temperate forest might be the place for you. Find an abundance of wildlife and plant life in this unique biome, possibly
located in your own backyard! Click on a picture to find out more.
Tropical RainforestAre you willing to get a few insect
bites for the chance to visit the biome with the most species of animals? Sure it’s hot and wet,
but the scenery is fantastic! Click a picture to find out more about
the Tropical Rainforest.
DesertLike it dry? You’ve come to the right place. Did you know that there are both hot deserts and cold deserts? It’s true. Antarctica is the world’s
largest cold desert! Click on one of the pictures to find out what makes
the desert one of the most interesting and diverse biomes!
GrasslandFeel like travelling to west central North America to possibly see some buffalo or
maybe central Africa to see a lion or some elephants? The grassland biome is for you! Click on a picture to find out more
about this biome!
Taiga Animals
The taiga contains all sorts of furry creatures. Such animals as moose, wolverines, red squirrels, fox, and lynx all live in the taiga. What do
these animals all have in common to battle the cold weather?
Click the moose to go back!
Where is the Taiga found?
Northern North America
Northern Europe
Northern Asia
The taiga is located in the far north of North America, Europe, and Asia. Picture big pine trees covered in snow and you get the idea!
The taiga has the largest area of any of the terrestrial (land) biomes!
Click the moose to go back!
Taiga Weather and ClimateThe taiga has some of
the harshest weather on the planet. It boasts some of the coldest temperatures with
hardly any precipitation.
In the summer, the average temperatures range between 20
degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, put your
gloves and hat on because the temperature ranges between -65
and 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Click the moose to go back!
The taiga only receives between 12 and 33 inches of precipitation a
year!
Taiga Movie
Click the moose to go back!
Click the reel to play the movie!
Taiga Links
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/taiga/index.htm
http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/taiga.html
http://www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/taiga/taiga.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=biomes&topic=taiga
Click the moose to go back!
Desert AnimalsLife is a challenge for all life in
the desert. To live in the desert, you must learn how to rid yourself of excess heat and you must learn how to obtain
and retain your water. Needless to say, it’s difficult to do all of these things. Yet, all
of these animals do. Amazing!
Kangaroo Rat
Carcal
Meerkat
Ostrich
Roadrunner
Black Widow Spider
Bark Scorpion Sonoran Desert ToadBanded Gecko
Sidewinder Rattlesnake
Horned Lizard
Click the cactus to go back!
Where is a desert found?
Many deserts are found in bands along 30 degrees latitude north and 30 degrees latitude south (between
the red lines on the map). Look at North Africa. That’s the largest desert, the Sahara! Around 2
million people still live there in the harsh conditions!
Click the cactus to go back!
Desert Weather and ClimateThe desert is the hottest biome on the planet. The temperatures range from
well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day to well below 32
degrees at night. Remember, deserts can be cold as well as hot! To be a
desert, you must receive less than 50 cm of precipitation in a year. Most
receive much less than that.
Click the cactus to go back!
Desert Linkshttp://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/where.htm
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/desert_eco.html&edu=elem
http://www.terragalleria.com/pictures-subjects/deserts/
http://www.tropix.co.uk/themes/deserts.htm
Click the cactus to go back!
Desert Movie
Click the reel to play the movie!
Click the cactus to go back!
Tundra Animals
Click the polar bear to go back
The tundra is also the home of many specially adapted plants and animals
found no where else in the world. Ravens, Hawks, Ptarmigans, Polar
Bear, Caribou, Arctic Hare, Arctic Fox, Musk Ox, Mink, Weasel, Lemming, Wolf, Wolverine, Brown Bear, Vole,
Walrus and Reindeer.
Where is a Tundra?
Click the polar bear to go back
The tundra is located at Located at latitudes 55° to 70° north. It
covers the northern parts of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia, and Scandinavia.
Tundra Weather and Climate
Click the polar bear to go back
The tundra is an unusually cold and dry climate. Precipitation totals 6-10 inches of rain a year, which includes melted snow. Tundra is described as an area where levels of subsoil beneath the surface of
the earth are permanently frozen. Winter temperatures don't reach above 20° F
and average -20° to -30°F. Endless hour’s darkness settles in and the winds
blow even harder. The average temperature of the warmest month is
below 50° F.
Tundra Movie
Click the polar bear to go back
Click the reel to play the movie!
Tundra Links
Click the polar bear to go back
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/tundra.php
http://chalk.richmond.edu/education/projects/webunits/biomes/tundra.html
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm
http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/tundra.htm
Temperate Forest animals
Click the squirrel to go back
The temperate forest is home to a wide variety of animals
including deer, bears, squirrels, garter snakes, and
many types of birds.
Where is a Temperate Forest?
Click the squirrel to go back
Temperate forests are located the Eastern United States, most of Europe, Russia, Japan, and China.
Temperate ForestWeather and Climate
Click the squirrel to go back
Temperate forests, unlike most other biomes, have all
four seasons. They lack some of the extreme
temperatures of the other biomes. The distinguishing feature is the loss of leaves on some trees in the Fall.
The average temperature in the forest is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation
usually range between 30 and 60 cm per year.
Temperate Forest Movie
Click the squirrel to go back
Click the reel to play the movie!
Temperate Forest Links
Click the squirrel to go back
http://www.globio.org/glossopedia/article.aspx?art_id=3
http://www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tbdf/tbdf.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/tempforest.htm
http://www.barrameda.com.ar/ecology/temperate-forest.htm
Tropical Rain Forest Animals
Click the tree frog to go back
The most abundant creatures in the rainforest are insects. Poison Arrow
Frogs, African Forest Elephants, Bengal Tigers, Chimpanzees, Dawn Bats, Golden Lion Tamarins, Harpy
Eagles, King Cobras, Orangutans, and Silvery Gibbons all live together in the
Tropical Rain Forest.
Where is a Tropical Rain Forest?
Click the tree frog to go back
Rainforests are found in more than forty countries around the equator. They are located in the tropics with primary locations in South America, Central Africa,
and Southeast Asia.
Tropical Rain ForestWeather and Climate
Click the tree frog to go back
The temperature in a rain forest rarely gets higher than 93 °F (34 °C) or drops below
68 °F (20 °C); average humidity is between 77 and 88%; rainfall is often more than 100
inches a year. It rains more than ninety days a year and the strong sun usually
shines between the storms.
Tropical Rain Forest Movie
Click the tree frog to go back
Click the reel to play the movie!
Tropical Rain Forest Links
Click the tree frog to go back
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm
http://kids.mongabay.com/
http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/trforest.htm
http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/where.html
Grassland Animals
Click the buffalo to go back
The grasslands of North America use to be home to millions of
bison, but were greatly reduced by humans. The grasslands of Africa include elephants, giraffes, rhinos,
zebras, lions, and gazelles.
Where is a Grassland?
Click the buffalo to go back
Grasslands exist on every continent except Antarctica. They
are found throughout central North America and South
America. What biome is found to the north of the grasslands in
Africa? They are generally flat and sometimes called savannas
or prairies.
Grassland Weather and Climate
Click the buffalo to go back
Grasslands’ main vegetation is grass. They are usually found between forests and deserts
because they do not get enough rain to become a forest, yet they receive enough rain
to avoid becoming a desert.
Grasslands have hot summers and cold winters. They also have seasonal droughts
that controls the vegetation. Rainfall is between 20 and 35 inches per year.
The African savanna has a yearly rainy and dry season. Rainfall averages between 20 and 50 inches per year.
Grassland Movie
Click the buffalo to go back
Click the reel to play the movie!
Grassland Links
Click the buffalo to go back
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/grassland-profile.html
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm
http://www.radford.edu/swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/savanna/savanna.html
EVALUATION
CONCLUSION
RESOURCES
• Campbell, N.A. 1996. Biology, 4th Edition. The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc., Menlo Park, California.
• All pictures were found in Google images or were a part of Microsoft Office images