Growing Seasons
Different biomes have different lengths
of growing seasons, that is, periods during the year when the
nights are above the freezing temperature of water. When the
growing season ends, plants become dormant or scatter seeds and
die.
Animals also adapt.
- Some animals hibernate, living on stored fat until the warm
weather returns. During hibernation, their metabolisms drop so
that they need fewer calories to live.
- Some animals migrate, moving to warmer climates where food
is available.
- Some insects die but leave eggs that will hatch in the spring.
- Some animals stay active and work harder to find food.
- Herbivores search for dried grass under the snow.
- Predators travel greater distances or hunt for longer hours.
The cold weather makes them burn more calories to keep warm.
- During hard winters, some animals starve to death.
|
Length of Growing
Seasons in Different Biomes |
|
Biome |
Number of Frost Free Days |
Soils |
| Tundra |
60 - 100 days |
shallow, wet, permafrost,few
nutrients |
| Coniferous
Forest |
90-120 days |
shallow, wet, often
frozen, nutrient poor |
| Deciduous
Forest |
120 - 250 days |
few minerals |
| Grasslands |
120-200 days |
deep, rich soils |
| Rain
Forests |
temperate 140? tropical 365 |
nutrient poor, few
minerals |
| Hot
Deserts |
over 300 days |
little organic matter,
may have salts |
| Cold
Deserts |
probably 0 |
very little organic
matter, rocks & snow |
Photograph from a Corel CD-ROM : for
viewing only, not for downloading. More Information.
© 1999. Elizabeth Anne Viau. All rights
reserved. This material may be used freely for instructional
purposes but not sold for a price beyond the cost of reproduction.
Please inform the author if you use it at eviau@earthlink.net
|