Introduction to Biomes (Greenwood Guides to Biomes of the World)

Introduction to Biomes is both a standalone summary to the concept of biomes and an introduction to the 8-volume series Greenwood Guides to Biomes of the World . The volume covers: · The biome concept and brief descriptions of vegetation, climate and distribution of the terrestrial and of the range of freshwater and aquatic biomes covered in the set. · Classifying life - how scientists discuss the taxonomic hierarchy and how it has been used to determine how to divide the world into regions based on living organisms. · The ecosystem concept - how this and other major concepts from ecology that are key to understanding biomes. · Terrestrial environments - the various climatic variables and climate types, and a discussion of our changing planet · Aquatic environments and life - how lifeforms and food chains make aquatic environments distinct from terrestrial biomes. Maps, photos, diagrams, drawings, and tables accompany the text, as do sidebars that highlight habitats, species, and ecological relationships. The volume includes a bibliography of accessible resources for further research.

The biome—an area of the earth that shares similar geography, climate, animals, and plants—is the concept that forms the backbone for studying the living world. Without a firm understanding of how animals and plants have adapted to a particular region of the earth, students would not have a strong grasp of the fields of ecology and environmental science. The Greenwood Guides to Biomes of the World provides students with a solid foundation for understanding biomes and how they compare and interact with one another. With the exception of the introductory volume, which provides general background information, volumes focus on:

· Tropical rainforests and tropical seasonal rainforests

· The major types of temperate forests: boreal forests, broadleaf deciduous, Mediterranean woodland, and scrub

· The temperate grasslands and the tropical grasslands

· Deserts

· High altitudes and polar biomes

· Wetlands, ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams

· Saltwater biomes along coastlines, on the continental shelf, and the open sea.

The set also provides discussions, graphs, charts, and illustrations to provide students with a more sophisticated understanding of this essential scientific concepts.

Introduction to Biomes is both a standalone summary to the concept of biomes and an introduction to the 8-volume series Greenwood Guides to Biomes of the World.

The volume covers:

. The biome concept and brief descriptions of vegetation, climate and distribution of the terrestrial and of the range of freshwater and aquatic biomes covered in the set.

. Classifying life - how scientists discuss the taxonomic hierarchy and how it has been used to determine how to divide the world into regions based on living organisms.

. The ecosystem concept - how this and other major concepts from ecology that are key to understanding biomes.

. Terrestrial environments - the various climatic variables and climate types, and a discussion of our changing planet

. Aquatic environments and life - how lifeforms and food chains make aquatic environments distinct from terrestrial biomes. Maps, photos, diagrams, drawings, and tables accompany the text, as do sidebars that highlight habitats, species, and ecological relationships.

The volume includes a bibliography of accessible resources for further research.

From the Publisher: This volume in the Greenwood Guides to Biomes of the World: series covers the biomes at high altitudes and near the poles, including the arctic tundra biomes, the Mid-Latitude Alpine Tundra Biome (found in the mountain ranges of North America, Asia, and South America), and the tropical alpine tundra biome (for example, Hawaii). It examining all aspects that define these biomes: Vegetation; Geographical Distribution Soil; Challenges posed by the environment; Adaptation of the plants and animals to the environment; Conservation efforts Maps, photos, diagrams, drawings, and tables accompany the text, as do sidebars that highlight habitats, species, and ecological relationships. The volume includes a bibliography of accessible resources for further research "Covers the freshwater biomes that exist in wetlands, ponds and lakes, and rivers and streams, examining all aspects that define these biomes: vegetation, geographical distribution, challenges posed by the environment, adaptation of the plants and animals to the environment, and conservation efforts"--Publisher's description Offers an overview of the temperate forest that covers much of North America, describing the three types of temperate forest biomes and the aspects that define them Provides a comprehensive overview of terrestrial and aquatic biomes, and examines the climates, geography, wildlife, and plant life found in each biome Introduction to temperate forest biomes Boreal forest biome Temperate deciduous forest biome Mediterranean woodland and scrub biome.