Biome Selection Procedure

You can choose one of the world biomes and the name of a continent. With few exceptions, each of the five major biomes can be found on each continent.

 

Time Allotment

You will have approximately two and half weeks to complete this project. You will have four days of class time to work on the project.  Any other work that needs to be done will need to be completed as homework on your time.

 

Each PowerPoint presentation will satisfy the following requirements:

 

•          Minimum of 10 slides

•          Description of the biome you researched will include:

                        1. The weather over a one year period

                        2. The geographical area

                        3. Description of at least 3 different habitats found there

                        4. Average life spans of the plant and animal species

5. Availability of resources such as food, nutrients and water                      and those limiting factors found in the biome

•          Short description of 5 plant species and 5 animal species (minimum)

•          Description of how 1 particular plant species and 1 animal species have  

                        adapted to that biome.

•          A food web of the 10 species mentioned above.

•          Any other unique features of the biome.

•          Bibliography

 

Internet Resources

  1. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/ - good source, very readable, good introductory information.
  2. http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769052.html - short descriptions, but a good source to start with.
  3. http://www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/main.html - developed for a college  class, contains more thorough information, several pictures, explanations of adaptation processes.
  4. http://www.worldbiomes.com - contains some basic information along with links (at the bottom of the page for further information)
  5. http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/index1.html - several 9th grade student projects from Oregon on a world biomes project of their own.
  6. http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/worldbiomes.html - very wordy, contains a lot of information, most of it well beyond the 9th grade level.
  7. http://www.jlhs.nhusd.k12.ca.us/Classes/Science/Net_Lessons/Biomes/Biomelinks.html#anchor296314.   Information on all

 

 

 

 

Themes

Diversity of species

Climate

Adaptation strategies

Predator – prey relationships

Rate of nutrient cycles

 

Biome – Continent groupings

 

desert – Africa                                      desert – South America

 

desert – North America                        grassland – Australia

 

grassland – North America                   grassland – Africa

 

tundra – North America                        tundra – Europe

 

forest – North America             forest – South America

 

forest – Africa                                      forest – Australia

 

desert – Asia                                        aquatic – Asia

 

aquatic – Australia                                aquatic – South America