Let's Get Creative!

With the same animal in mind that you chose for the first assignment. Let's pretend we stuck that animal in a new environment where they are not adapted to live! What new adaptations do you think this animal needs to now live in this new environment?













Example:

Let's pretend we stuck the caribou into the desert. First of all, it would be very hot with its thick fur. So I might say that its new adaptation would be to shed hair in hot temperatures. They might also now learn to use the heavy, sharp hooves to dig deep holes in the ground to lay in during the hot days.

You choose a new biome for your animal to live, and what adaptations it must now have to survive there!

Who Lives Where?

Let's discuss who lives where!! We will discuss a list of animals and decide which biome/biomes they can live in as opposed to other biomes. You must choose one of the animals from the list and research to find out which biome/biomes it lives in. You must justify your answer with adaptations this animal has that makes it well suited for that particular biome. Let's look at an example.



This is a picture of caribou. They spend their summers feeding on the grasses and plants of the tundra. An adaptation they have to live in these harsh conditions are large hooves that are useful tools for life in the northlands. They are big enough to support the animal's heavy weight in the snow, and the hooves underside is scooped allowing it to dig in the snow for food. This is just one reason this animal lives in the tundra.


















Here is your list to choose from:
Prairie Dog
Porcupine
Red Fox
Moose
Rattlesnake
Buffalo
Monkey
Kangaroo Rat

Post your comment after you have researched your animal. Don't forget to look at the resource page for helpful websites to get information! Have fun!

Necessities for Survival

Animal and plant diversity is usually higher where there is a mild climate and plenty of food and shelter, or where two biomes overlap. New biomes and biomes that are harsh seem to have fewer species because not as many species are adapted to the extreme conditions. Food, water, shelter, and space are necessary for survival. Without these essential components, animals cannot survive.

Most animals' requirements for food, water, and shelter are set to their biomes. However, different kinds of animals respond differently to environmental factors. As a result, few animals fit neatly into a single biome. Some animals reside in a certain biome year-round, while others migrate to different altitudes or latitudes seasonally. Still other species move among biomes on a days to weeks basis depending on their needs for survival.

Info

A biome is an area that is comprised of similar geographical and climatic features, with rainfall being particularly important. It is also characterized by the distinctive life forms of plants and animals that inhabit it. When observing a map of biomes of the world, you will see where certain biomes are located. Due to the impact of climate, certain types of producers will flourish, as will the consumers in their food chain. Therefore, biomes are often identified by the plants and animals that inhabit them. There are several different biomes of the world, but we are covering the six major land biomes. We will discuss grasslands, deciduous forests, rain forests, tiagas, tundras, and deserts.











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