Gnomus Ecology Unit:
Biomes (Ecosystems) and
Their Animals
By Dr. Nome Baker, Nicole Ng, Asya
Grigorieva and Dr. Ruth Dusenbery
For Gnomus@IMSLI 2009
About this Gnomus Ecology
activity:
The following slides, if viewed in
PowerPoint, should use the “Slide
Show” format to enable the links.
This brief example illustrates one of the
interactive web-based games that
Gnomus @ IMSLI is developing.
Each game will integrate math concepts
with the science activities (in progress).
Find The Biome
Click on the picture that fits this
biome’s description:
Geography: Found world-wide
Climate: Variable; water may freeze in winter
Soil/plants: Often fertile soil below fresh water
(Keep score: 5 Points for the right choice)
Click for 4 new biome choices Æ
Find The Biome
Click on the picture that fits this
biome’s description:
Geography: Near the equator
Climate: Warm, humid (wet)
Soil/plants: Rather poor soil; tall trees, vines
(Keep score: 5 Points for the right choice)
Click to start the Animal-Biome game
Find two animals that live in a
FRESHWATER Biome
Click on the pictures you think are the right ones.
(5 Points for each correct answer)
Click to begin the Biome
Adaptation game
Animal Biome Adaptations
Match the animal with the
adaptations it has made to its
biome:
Bonus Questions for class discussion:
How do these adaptations help each
animal survive?
Click to begin the AnimalBiome Adaptation game
→
(Keep score: 5 Points for the right choice)
Click on the adaptations that this
animal has made to its biome.
1. Adaptations:
•streamline body;
•sharp teeth;
•fins.
2. Adaptations:
•gray scaly skin;
•amphibious;
•sharp teeth,
•long snout.
5. Adaptations:
•huge beak;
•colorful;
•wings;
•claws.
3. Adaptations:
•earthy color;
•warts on skin;
•long tongue;
•large hind legs.
4. Adaptations:
•thick fur coat;
•antlers;
•hooves
Next animal’s adaptation
(click) Æ
(Keep score: 5 Points for the right choice)
The caribou lives
in the arctic
biome.
The adaptations you selected are
needed by an animal that lives
in the marine (open ocean)
biome
Go back and make
another choice. [Click→]
The caribou lives
in the arctic
biome.
The adaptations you selected are
needed by an animal that lives in
the freshwater biome and on its
shores.
Go back and make
another choice. [Click→]
The caribou lives
in the arctic
biome.
The adaptations you selected are
needed by an animal that lives in
the freshwater biome and on its
shores.
Go back and make
another choice. [Click→]
The caribou lives
in the arctic
biome.
You are correct! Score 5 points.
The caribou’s adaptations helps it to
compete for a mate, to defend itself,
and to survive in the cold climate,
and its often deep snow .
Find the adaptations to
its biome made by
another animal. [Click→]
The caribou lives
in the arctic
biome.
The adaptations you selected
are needed by an animal that
lives in the tropical rain forest.
Go back and make
another choice. [Click→]
End of Gnomus Biome examples
In PowerPoint, the slide show ended
with that simplified example of the
Animal-Biome Adaptation game
(“Match the animal with the adaptations
…….”).
[Various adaptations of 40 animals from
eight different biomes will be shown.]
Click to end the slide show
or
→
Click to repeat viewing
→
Take a closer look! This is
The Grassland.
Geography: It could be
the same as the one
you’re looking for.
Climate: Does it vary as
much as in the biome
you’re looking for?
Soil/plants: Does it have a fertile
soil covered by water? Many
grasslands and forests arose from
the biome you’re looking for!
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biodesert.php
Take a closer look! This is
The Grassland.
Geography: It could be
the same as the one
you’re looking for.
Climate: Does it vary as
much as in the biome
you’re looking for?
Soil/plants: Does it have a fertile
soil covered by water? Many
grasslands and forests arose from
the biome you’re looking for!
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biodesert.php
Your right! 5 Points for you.
It’s a FRESHWATER Biome
Geography: worldwide lakes,
ponds, rivers, streams and
wetlands
Climate: varies with geographic location; in winter
ponds may freeze, in early
spring mountain streams
are frigid
Soil: usually fertile soil
Plants: reeds, rushes, lilies, pondweeds, grasses, mangrove
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome
Take a closer look! This biome
is The MARINE TIDE POOL.
Geography: There’s some
overlap with the biome you’re
looking for.
Climate: Could be warm
and always wet, but is it
what you’re looking for?
Soil: Is this sandy or rocky
bottom what you’re looking
for?
Plants: Are algae and sea
grasses the plants you are
looking for in your biome?
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biome
Take a closer look! This is
The Temperate Forest
Geography: This biome is
found in many of the same
places as the biome you’re
looking for.
Climate: Does it vary as
much as in the biome
you’re looking for?
Soil/plants: Does it have a fertile
soil covered by water? The biome
you’re looking for isn’t covered by
trees, although certain trees can
grow all around it.
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biodesert.php
Take a closer look! This is
The Temperate Forest
Geography: This biome is
found in many of the same
places as the biome you’re
looking for.
Climate: Does it vary as
much as in the biome
you’re looking for?
Soil/plants: Does it have a fertile
soil covered by water? The biome
you’re looking for isn’t covered by
trees, although certain trees can
grow all around it.
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biodesert.php
Take a closer look!
This Biome is The Desert
Geography: Is it the same
as the one you’re looking
for? Where would you
travel to find a desert?
Climate: Does it vary as
much as in the biome
you’re looking for?
Soil/plants: Does it have a fertile
soil covered by water? What kind
of plants grow in the desert?
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biodesert.php
Your right! 5 Points for you.
This biome is a TROPICAL
RAIN FOREST
Geography: near Equator,
Amazon basin into Central
America, Southeast Asia,
Pacific Islands, West Africa
Climate: warm and very wet
all year; must remain frost free
Soil: relatively poor, but leaf
litter decomposes rapidly,
replacing nutrients in the soil
Plants: diverse; tall trees, woody vines,
climbing plants, figs, plants that can live
without soil (epiphytes) such as orchids
and bromeliads
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biorainforest.php
BIOME: ARCTIC TUNDRA
Snowy Owl
(Could this animal
live in the
FRESHWATER
BIOME?)
Color: white with some
black on feathers
Food: small birds, rodents
Habits: nesting, nocturnal,
inability to move eyes
Image Source: http://www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice/images/snowy%20owp.jpg
More info: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/snowy-owl.html
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
BIOME: MARINE (OPEN SEA)
Great White
Shark
(Could this animal
live in the
FRESHWATER
BIOME?)
Image Source: http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/fishfacts/images/ccarchmyhd2.jpg
Color: gray with white
stomach
Food: fish, seals
Habits: keeps swimming
in order to breathe
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
More Info: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/great-white-shark.html
You’re right! 5 points for you.
Great White Shark
Marine (open sea) Biome
Image Source: http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/fishfacts/images/ccarchmyhd2.jpg
Adaptations: streamline body, sharp teeth
How do these adaptations help this animal survive?
- Record your answer in your Learning Record.
- Compare your answer with those of your classmates.
Go back to the
Adaptation game
(click home) Æ
BIOME: TROPICAL RAIN FOREST
Toucan
(Could this animal
live in the
FRESHWATER
BIOME?)
Image Source: http://images.nbii.gov/guyra/nbii_guyra_p00142.jpg
Color: black and white,
colorful bill
Food: berries, seeds, fruit
Habits: tosses food up to
eat; swallows food whole
More Info: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/toucan.html
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
BIOME: TEMPERATE FOREST
Black Bear
(Could this animal
live in the
FRESHWATER
BIOME?)
Color: black
Food: berries, insects,
Go back to the
Biome game
honey
(click home) Æ
Habits: hibernates, active at night
Image Source: http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/blkbear/graphics/bear5.jpg
More Info: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/black-bear.html
BIOME: ARCTIC TUNDRA
Caribou
(Could this animal
live in the
FRESHWATER
BIOME?)
Image Source:
http://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/divisions/kindergarten_g12/curriculum/Dene%20Kede%20Curriculum%20Document/Animals/captureclip258.png
Color: brown and white
Food: grass
Habits: large herds,
migration
More Info: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/caribou.html
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
BIOME: FRESHWATER
Alligator
Your picked the
right animal!
(Score 5 points!)
Color: green-gray
Food: fish, insects,
snails, mammals
Habits: relies on
outside heat sources
Image Source: http://www.usgs.gov/125/articles/images/herp_alligator.jpg
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
More Info: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/american-alligator.html
BIOME: TAIGA
Wolverine
(Could this animal
live in the
FRESHWATER
BIOME?)
Image Source: http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/images/Portraits/Wolverine.jpg
Color: brown and black
Food: moose, dead
animals
Habits: lives in dens
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
More Info: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/wolverine.html
BIOME: DESERT (AND
GRASSLAND)
Hawk
(Could this animal
live in the
FRESHWATER
BIOME?)
Image Source: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/IFWIS/ibt/userfiles/image/photos/800/red-tailed-hawk-in-flight--tom-munson.jpg
More Info: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/red-tailed-hawk.html
Color: brown and white
Food: small rodents
Habits: nesting, some
migrate for winter
Go back to the
Biome game
(click home) Æ
BIOME: FRESHWATER
Toad
Your picked the
right animal!
(Score 5 points!)
Image Source: http://www.fws.gov/Nevada/nv_species/images/amargosa_toad_large.jpg
More Info: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/cane-toad.html
Color: usually dark
Go back to the
green/brown
Biome game
(click home) Æ
Food: insects
Habits: needs water to breathe