BIOMES
Discovery Guide for Science 100 & 200
Explore and learn your way using this resource guide. It’s designed to tweak your curiosity and deepen your knowledge of Biomes. It includes instructional videos, high-quality research resource links, Hollywood-style movies and documentaries, and fiction and non-fiction book titles that can give you a sense of what it’s like to live in different biomes.
According to
National Geographic
“A biome is a large community of vegetation and wildlife adapted to a specific climate”(National Geographic, 2022).
Videos
All offer closed captioning
Introduction to Biomes by Frank Gregorio
Watch and read (3 mins)
This video offers sweeping landscapes of the Biomes of the Earth with upbeat music and on-screen questions and details about biomes. Biome wildlife are featured prominently including the expected and the unique.
Biomes – The Living Landscape of Earth, Introduction to Biomes of the World by Geodiode
Watch, read, listen (11:34 minutes)
This is an introductory video for an extended 5-part video series researched, written, narrated, and produced by B.J. Ranson. This video introduction provides a birdseye view of flora and fauna in different biomes. Biome types are highlighted and characterized, including topical details, plant life, species, and climate patterns. An overview of main biome groupings and important terminology is highlighted. Biome types are compared to facilitate a basic understanding.
For more information about specific biomes, watch this entire series:
Watch, read, listen (14:29 mins) Tropical Rainforest and Tropical Seasonal Forrest – Biomes #1
Watch, read, listen (8:44 mins) The Savannah Biome – Biomes #2
Watch, read, listen (12:34 mins) The Scrub Biome or Shrubland Biome – Biomes #3
Watch, read, listen (14:59 mins) The Desert Biome – Biomes #4
Watch, read, listen (10:51 mins) The Grasslands Biome Biomes #5
Fabulous Wetlands with Bill Nye The Science Guy (1989)
Watch & listen (6:50 mins)
Bill Nye, the science guy, describes and highlights funky details of what wetlands are and why they are important with a practical mindset and typical humor. He highlights important terminology, land traits, seasonality, flora, and fauna typically seen in a wetland, and the functional benefits that wetlands deliver.
Africa Biomes by Travel Lovers
Watch & read (1:13 mins)
A quick overview of landscapes, climate traits, and wildlife for all biomes that exist in Africa, set to upbeat music.
The High Mountains Biome
Watch & listen (6:38 mins)
Elizabeth Bello and Marissa Secades present a class-project-like presentation of the high mountains biome with simple images, video, and narration. The Himalayan mountains and the people who live there are featured prominently; plant and animal life are shown and discussed.
Research-Quality Info Resources
The Five Major Types of Biomes National Geographic
Read
Background information and a vocabulary list for the five major biome types, including photography by Thomas Roche. Related resources are available below the fold to additional articles, an encyclopedic entry, and a map of global biomes.
Biology Online Dictionary
Read & Watch
This online dictionary provides definitions, characteristics, and types of biomes with images, a map, and extended detail in a single scrolling view. It provides an easy click, to Biology Online TV for a variety of videos on the topic to help you explore and learn from one source. A quiz at the end of the section helps you test your knowledge from reading. A lengthy resources list at the end provides links to more school-report-worthy information.
Biome biology Britannica.com
Read
Facts and related content and articles on the biome topic. Images and maps are also available. Easy access to related topics, including biogeographic region, tropical rain forest, taiga, tundra, desert, savanna, grassland, aquatic ecosystem, terrestrial ecosystem, temperate deciduous forest, ecotone, biodiversity, trophic pyramid, ecological succession, keystone species, guild, foodchain, niche, and indicatory species.
Ecological processes U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Website
Read
Explore facts, findings, and the latest research into ecological processes occurring in biomes. Gain access to the annual report on the environment (ROE) which collects up all the significant research and status of all efforts sponsored by the U.S., government for the past year. Learn more about a range of environmental/biome conditions as you browse the page and click.
Movies & Documentaries
Avatar (2009), written and directed by James Cameron
Watch
A disabled veteran goes to a planet named Pandora and learns how to survive in an all-new biome as an organically grown avatar. Pandora is not habitable for humans; its biome is filled with an amazing range of beings, plants, insects, and beasts. Both Pandora and the veteran face a dramatic range of conflicts as outsiders seek to pirate resources that would destroy the biome.
Our planet (2019 & 2020) Developed by Netflix
Watch
This multi-episode series can be seen in part on Youtube and also on Netflix. The series features different global biomes, wildlife, and weather patterns and discusses how human modern life is affecting different parts of the earth.
before the flood (2016) Developed by national geographic in cooperation with the United nations, Directed by Fisher Stevens
Watch
This documentary discusses the facts and theories related to climate change of three degrees. It features multiple experts, as well as actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Many global locations are featured with stories of how climate changes have affected everyday life.
Non-Fiction & Fiction Books
Six books to Read or listen to these books to know more about what it’s like to live in a particular biome (scroll down).
World without fish (2014) by Mark Kurlansky
Read
Part non-fiction, part graphic novel, this book explores the ocean biome and the history, politics, biology, economics of fish and man. Gain insights into the dynamic interconnectness of the ocean biome and the earth.
Available in paperback & e-book
Related link
Video: Bestselling author Mark Kurlansky on sustainable fishing and how our kids can save the ocean
Lightfall: The girl & the Galdurian (Lightfall 1, 2020) By Tim Probert
Read
A graphic novel about Beatrice, girl who lives with her grandfather in a small town in the woods. She lives among many creatures, some thought to be extinct. With a friend missing, Beatrice goes on a quest across multiple landscapes in a place called Irpa, a land without a sun.
Available in hardcover, paperback, & e-book
Related link
Cherry Hill Middle School Library Video Book Review of Lightfall, Book 1
Baboon, a novel (2007) by David Jones
Read
Fourteen-year-old Gerry Copeland undergoes a fantastic transformation after an plane accident. He’s flying back to the African Savannah after spending time in this city. He wakes up as part of a baboon troop that his parents are studying. Will the threatened troop survive? Will Gerry stay with the troop or return to his human family?
Available in hardcover & paperback
Related link
Antarctica, An intimate portrat of the world’s most mysterious continent (2012) by Gabrielle Walker
Read or listen
A comprehensive non-fiction travel book about Antarctica, written by a Princeton professor and scientist. It includes history, poetry, science and more woven into a compelling story about this cold and far-off place. Available in paperback, e-book & audiobook.
Related link
Gabrielle Walker@5x15 Video on Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait
Rebels of the sand (Book 1, 2016) by Alwyn Hamilton
Read or listen
Part adventure, part mystery, part love story, Sixteen-year-old sharpshooter Amani Al'Hiza seeks to escape her small desert town and she go on a great adventure across the desert to discover who she is and exactly how powerful she can be, despite the odds.
Available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audiobook
Related link
Rebel of the sand, Non spoiler and spoiler book review by KatiEllens Bookish Adventure
The boy who harnessed the wind (2014) by Mark Kurlansky
Read or listen
Set in Malawi, which faces continual drought and hunger, this non-fiction book tells the story of young William who dreamed of living with running water and electricity. He finds a way with curiosity and determination as his guide.
Available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audiobook
Related link
resources
20th Century Fox, & 20th Century Studios. (2009, November 9). Avatar official trailer (HD) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PSNL1qE6VY
5x15 Stories. (2015, June 9). Gabrielle Walker @ 5x15 Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmqXJpT_Hws
Augustyn, A. (2022). Biome. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/biome
Baboon. (2022). Annick Press. https://www.annickpress.com/Books/B/Baboon
Cherry Hill Middle School Library, & Probert, T. (2022, February 8). Lightfall, Book 1: The Girl & The Galdurian [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK0DSpsLQro
Geodiode, & Ranson, B. J. (2019, September 2). Biomes - The living landscapes of earth, introduction to biomes of the world, Geodiode [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/o_AfNcjlOgU
Gregorio, F. (2013, February 18). Introduction to Biomes [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIy0ZlyPPDg
KatiEllens Bookish Adventure. (2018, March 23). Rebel of the sands // non spoiler & spoiler book review [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/vZHzOD-gmm0
National Geographic, & United Nations. (2016, October 24). Before the Flood [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbEnOYtsXHA
National Geographic. (2022). The five major types of biomes. education.nationalgeographic.org. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/five-major-types-biomes
Netflix. (2020, April 17). Our Planet , From Deserts to Grasslands [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmtXC_n6X6Q
OnHerBike.com. (2021, March 19). Finding the House of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Malawi on a Motorcycle. EP 99 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/cfWvD6Ut7Jo
Vix. (2022, June 12). Biome. Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online. https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/biome
Washington Department of Ecology. (1989). Fabulous wetlands with bill NYE the science guy (1989) [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/BeUPbGWg2KU
Funding for the video was provided by NOAA with additional funds provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Workman Publishing. (2011, March 10). Bestselling author Mark Kurlansky on sustainable fishing and how our kids can save our oceans [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4kkfZuPzGk