The earth is a dynamic place that naturally goes through periods of global warming and cooling. Unfortunately, the average global temperature on earth has been increasing each year; this warming trend is upsetting some of earth’s natural ecosystems and endangering many of its species. This site is designed to give specific examples of what is happening in the different biomes, to different species on earth.  A biome is defined as a large ecological unit defined by it’s dominant vegetation type and annual precipitation or moisture.  Our goal is to explain how the increase in temperature is changing our climate, effecting species evolution, and their adaptation ability. Some of the species in certain biomes have only just begun to show stress due to climate change, however some species outlined on the site are currently under a great deal of stress, while other are already extinct from their native regions.  Below is a description of each of the biomes found covered on this site.

1.  Arctic: The Arctic is recognized as an area that is very cool and dry.  This biome is located close to poles of the earth so it has cold winters with little light and cool summers with long day light periods.  Precipitation occurs during June-Sept and the temperature increases to just above zero.  From October to April there is very little precipitation and the temperature drops well below the freezing level.  Few species can live year round in these conditions.

2.  Boreal Forest: Boreal forest covered a circumpolar region, which can be classified as the beginning of the tree line as you move south from the arctic. Boreal forests contain an abundance of thin conifer trees, whose needles can withstand the harsh winter temperatures. These forests experience long cold winters and short summers. The boreal forests contain 1/3 of the world’s trees and cover a portion of many of the world’s continents. Animals found here are hardy, such as the wolverine, caribou, moose, bear, lynx, wolf, and many rodents.

3.  Freshwater: The freshwater biome can be broken down into several biomes as is done in terrestrial and marine systems.  The freshwaters biomes such as rivers, lakes, wetlands, and peat bogs.  The biomes can be characterized by things such as water temperature, turbidity, dissolved nutrients, substrate type, salinity, and pH.  Freshwater systems are found on every continent and supports a vast diversity of aquatic and terrestrial life.

4.  Marine: The ocean can be broken down into several biomes in a similar fashion as to the terrestrial biomes.  Some of these biomes are kelp forests, coral reefs, hydrothermal vents, salt marshes, and rocky intertidal zones.  Unlike the terrestrial biome the marine system are not characterized by air temperature and precipitation but by water temperature, salinity, water depth, currents, dissolved nutrients and oxygen concentration.

5.  Temperate Grassland: The temperate grassland is characterized has having seasonal fluctuation with respect to both temperature and precipitation.  From October to March the temperature is cold and growth is limited by the temperature.  From April to September there is a warming trend.  In July and August growth is limited by the amount of precipitation.

6.  Temperate Forest: Temperate forest covers regions throughout much of the world. These ecosystems consist of a vast diversity of plants and animals, including the Grey Wolf. Temperate regions undergo drastic changes between summer and winter, with summer being lush and green with an abundance of life and winter being cold and often snow covered with a significant decrease in the abundance of life. These forests consist of a variety of broad leafed and coniferous trees, owing to the abundance of life in the summer months. During the winter months broad leafed trees lose their frost sensitive leaves and turn the region into a reasonably barren ecosystem covered in white.

7.  Tropical Rainforest: The tropical rainforest is recognized as having a large amount of precipitation and a constantly warm temperature.  The rainforest is recognized for its increased biodiversity of plants and animals.  All year round the precipitation and temperature stays relatively constant.