Today you will be completing a biome hunt. Don’t worry,

you won’t be shooting any endangered animals, you will be

hunting for answers to the questions below. Be sure to dress

appropriately as you venture into these three biomes and watch

out, animals are everywhere!

Hunt #1: Adaptations

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/adapt.html

As you travel through the different biomes you will be seeing many strange and exciting plants and animals. These animals have made many adaptations to be able to survive in their environment. Click on the link above and read about adaptations, then in your own words write a definition of what an adaptation is.

Adaptation Definition: ______

______

Rainforest

Hunt #2: Where are the Tropical Rainforests located?

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/what.html

Tropical Rainforests are an endangered biome. Click on the link and read about what a tropical rainforest is. Then click on the link that says “Where.” Write a brief description of where they are located and color them on the map below. Please use green to show the rainforests. When you are finished coloring your map scroll down and spend a few minutes looking through the different places that have rainforests. Pay close attention to the pictures.

Description: ______

______

Hunt #3: Plants of the Rainforests

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/plants.html

Click on the link above. Choose one of the plants listed on this page. In the space below write the name of the plant that you chose and explain, in your own words, how that plant has adapted to live in the rainforest. An example is done for you. (you must choose a different plant)

Name of Plant: Lianas

Adaptation: These are vines that grow roots in the ground but the vines grow very tall in order to reach the sunlight that is blocked out by the tall canopy.

Name of Plant: ______

Adaptation: ______

______

Hunt #4: Tropical Rainforest Animals

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/animals.html

The tropical rainforest is home to many beautiful yet deadly animals. Your job is to find an animal, write a brief description of the animal and explain how it has adapted to its environment. Pay close attention to endangered species.

Animal: ______

Description: ______

______

Adaptations: ______

______

Desert

Hunt #5: Where are deserts located?

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/desert.html

Now you are venturing into a very different biome, the desert. Read about what a desert is like and answer the question below. Beware of animals and plants that bite if you get to close.

Question: Imagine that you are going for a three-day hike in the desert. What items will you need to take with you? Be sure to include food and equipment that you will need to take.

______

______

Hunt #6 Desert Animals

Did you hear that rattling? I don’t think it was a baby. Could it have been a rattlesnake? Be cautious as you complete this next hunt. You need to click on the link above, if you dare, and find an animal of interest. Write a brief description of your animal and draw a detailed sketch in the box below.

Description: ______

______

______

______

______

______

______

Hunt #7: Adaptations

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/desertA.html

This next hunt could be a prickly one. You might want to pack a couple extra band aids. You need to read about the adaptations that plants and animals make. Click on the link above and read the article about animal adaptations, then click on next to find out about plant adaptations. Make a list of adaptations for both plants and animals.

Animals

  • ______
  • ______
  • ______
  • ______
  • ______
  • ______

Tundra

Hunt #8: Arctic Tundra

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/tundra.html

Take off those shorts and put on your heavy winter coat, you

are now heading the tundra. This biome has some unusual

characteristics. There are two main layers of the ground

when you visit the tundra. Read the article from the link

above and draw a diagram of the tundra. Be sure to

include the permafrost and active layer. Also, write

a definition for each in your own words.

Definition of Permafrost: ______

______

Definition of Active Layer: ______

______

Hunt #9: Arctic Animals

http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/sea_mammals.html

Many different animals live in the arctic, despite the cold temperature. Take a look at the different animals on the web page listed. Choose two of them and fill in the Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the two. When you are done, click on the link below to watch the Polar Bear Cam from the San Diego Zoo.

Polar Bear Cam

Hunt #10: Arctic Plants

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/tundraP.html

The arctic is home to many animals but also a wide variety of plants. These plants have to make special accommodations to live in this unique and hostile environment. Read about the adaptations they make and create a list of interesting things these plants do to survive.

  • ______
  • ______
  • ______
  • ______
  • ______
  • ______

Congratulations! You have completed the hunt and are now a certified biome expert. Since you didn’t bring back any trophy animals to mount on your wall at home, take this page (after you get it graded) and “mount” it on your refrigerator for your entire family to see!