Introduction

Every biome of the world is a truly magical place. Its structure is complex, consisting of many levels, each with its characteristic plants and animals. Each organism has its own niche in the biome.

What is the importance of understanding the interdependent roles of plants, animals, the physical landscape and the influence of humans on the biomes of the world? How can you come to understand how the balance of each biome affects our global ecosystem? Can you think critically about global issues? Think about the following questions:

What would happen if something were to change the landscape of a particular biome? What if the temperature were to rise or lower significantly? What if a developer wants to build on the land; what if an animal becomes extinct? What if a plant were destroyed, or if the rainfall greatly increases or decreases?

The Biomes Project

The Biomes Project is an opportunity for you to do your own research on a particular biome. Your teacher may allow you to pick a biome, or he or she may select one for you. You will work in teams to research critical issues of your biome from different points of view. After your research, you will create a project to teach your classmates about the critical issues surrounding your biome.

Some terms you should become familiar with before you start are:

• Climate
• Biome
• Biodiversity
• Ecology

Research

Each member of your group will research a particular area of your biome. Areas include: Animals, plants, physical landscapes, and human influences. Use the materials included to research your biomes and as a group, you will present your finding to the class. Your presentation format will depend on the time and resources available. Some examples of presentation formats include:

Presentation Elements

Whichever presentation format you choose, you will need to include the following items. As a group, create the following:

• Title and authors (all group members)
• Table of contents or a menu showing where to find all the relevant information
• Introduction: overview of your biome
• A map of the world with your biome identified with proper nouns (i.e., if you are in the desert group, the Sahara Desert should be listed). Include a definition of your biome. (What characteristics does your biome have?)
• Glossary of terms that pertain to your biome with definitions

Team Responsibilities

Each individual group member is responsible for one of the following: