Exam 20: Terrestrial Biomes

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1. Tropical Rainforest
- Location: Found near the equator in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia
- Vegetation Characteristics: Dense, lush vegetation with a variety of tree species, epiphytes, and lianas
- Characteristic Soil Orders: Oxisols and Ultisols
- Climate Designation: Af (Tropical Rainforest Climate)
- Temperature Patterns: High and consistent temperatures year-round
- Water Balance: High precipitation and high evapotranspiration rates

2. Temperate Deciduous Forest
- Location: Found in eastern North America, western Europe, and parts of Asia
- Vegetation Characteristics: Broadleaf trees that shed their leaves in the fall, with a diverse understory of shrubs and herbs
- Characteristic Soil Orders: Alfisols and Ultisols
- Climate Designation: Cfa (Humid Subtropical Climate)
- Temperature Patterns: Four distinct seasons with moderate temperatures
- Water Balance: Moderate precipitation and moderate evapotranspiration rates

3. Grassland
- Location: Found in the Great Plains of North America, the Pampas of South America, and the steppes of Eurasia
- Vegetation Characteristics: Dominated by grasses with scattered trees and shrubs
- Characteristic Soil Orders: Mollisols and Alfisols
- Climate Designation: BSk (Cold Semi-Arid Climate) and BSh (Hot Semi-Arid Climate)
- Temperature Patterns: Hot summers and cold winters with low precipitation
- Water Balance: Low to moderate precipitation and high evapotranspiration rates

4. Desert
- Location: Found in the southwestern United States, North Africa, the Middle East, and Australia
- Vegetation Characteristics: Sparse vegetation with adapted plants such as cacti and succulents
- Characteristic Soil Orders: Aridisols
- Climate Designation: BWh (Hot Desert Climate) and BWk (Cold Desert Climate)
- Temperature Patterns: Hot during the day and cold at night, with low precipitation
- Water Balance: Very low precipitation and high evapotranspiration rates

5. Tundra
- Location: Found in the Arctic and subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia
- Vegetation Characteristics: Low-growing plants such as mosses, lichens, and shrubs
- Characteristic Soil Orders: Gelisols
- Climate Designation: ET (Tundra Climate)
- Temperature Patterns: Cold temperatures year-round, with a short growing season in summer
- Water Balance: Low precipitation and low evapotranspiration rates

6. Taiga (Boreal Forest)
- Location: Found in the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia
- Vegetation Characteristics: Coniferous trees such as spruce, fir, and pine, with a sparse understory of shrubs and mosses
- Characteristic Soil Orders: Spodosols and Histosols
- Climate Designation: Dfc (Subarctic Climate)
- Temperature Patterns: Cold winters and mild summers
- Water Balance: Moderate precipitation and low evapotranspiration rates