Science Homework Help

Biomes are large regions of the world with similar plants and animals. Biomes are further subdivided into ecoregions, which are even more specific areas that have similar vegetation, elevation, and climate. Plants and animals in a particular biome have adaptations (Links to an external site.) that help them survive in their particular environment. For example, the arctic foxes that live in the polar biome have thick white fur. The white fur is an adaptation or trait that helps them survive in their biome. This white fur allows them to blend in with the snow so that predators don’t notice them. Adaptations can be physical traits or behavioral traits.

For this week’s discussion, I’d like everyone to talk about a place that they’ve lived, visited or would like to visit. This place doesn’t need to be exotic or amazing, just a place that you’ve been or you’d like to go. Anywhere more than 100 miles from your current residence qualifies.

When describing this place in your post, include the following information:

1. Location: (place name, country, city/state if applicable)

2. The location’s biome. Once you find out the biome or ecoregion, you may have to do a little more internet research about it to find lists of animals and plants that are native to that biome.

For help, you can use your textbook or refer to the following links:

Finding your biome outside the US:

• World Biome map (Links to an external site.)
• Description of each Ecoregion along with other places on earth with similar climate and vegetation as your home (Links to an external site.):

Finding your biome in the US:

• Biomes of the United States (Links to an external site.)
• Northwest Ecoregions (Links to an external site.) (in case you want to find the biome you’re currently sitting in)

Finding your biome in a large urban environment:

• You might want to do your assignment about the urban ecosystem. (Links to an external site.)Urban ecosystems have unique communities of animals and plants which are adapted to living with humans.

3. The general climate of this destination. Be sure to talk about seasonal temperatures and precipitation. Is there a cold season/warm season? A dry season? Does elevation play a factor?

4. List 2 animals that are unique to this biome. For each species, tell me one adaptation that animal has and explain how that structure or behavior helps them survive. These should be animals you would find at this destination but not at home. Think about the physical or behavioral characteristics (adaptations) these animals and plants have that allow them to thrive in this biome and not in other places on earth. Describe how that structure or behavior allows that animal to survive in that environment.

5. One plant and one of its adaptations. Again, it should be a plant you would find at this destination but not at home. Tell me 1 adaptation that this plant has that helps it live there. Describe how that structure allows that plant to specifically survive in that environment.

Don’t write “This plant likes dry soil” or something similar. No plant likes dry soil. “Liking” is not an adaptation. Rather, you might say “This plant has deep roots that allow it to gather water in dry soil”. The deep roots are an adaptation. Name the actual structure the plant has that helps it survive.

If you can figure out how, include pictures (they don’t have to be your own). If you have a little mountain icon in your toolbar, you can click on that to insert an image. If its huge, resize it so it doesn’t take up everyone’s full screen.