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A biome is a large ecosystem that includes plants, animals, weather, soil, and topography. There are six biomes in Alberta. In this activity, you will learn about two of them.

Boreal Forest (shown in dark green on the above map)

This is a very large biome that lies in northern latitudes around the world. In this area, winters are long and very cold. There is ample precipitation: snow in the winter and rain throughout the spring and summer. Summers are cool, with long days. In the boreal forest, you will find mixed forests with aspens, spruce, and pine trees. Animals common in this biome include moose, caribou, wolves, owls, hawks, and eagles.

The Grasslands (shown in yellow on the above map)

In this area, winters are cold and summers are hot. The grasslands have the lowest precipitation of any area in Alberta. In the grasslands, you will find mixed grasses, which grow in clumps in undisturbed areas. There are also plants such as the prickly pear cactus, which are short and covered with little hairs. These features help reduce evaporation of water and protect these plants from the cold. There are very few trees in this biome. This is because of the low precipitation, drying winds, and extremely cold winters. Animals common in this biome include burrowing owls and the swift fox. Also found in this biome are small mammals such as ground squirrels and prairie rattlesnakes.

Self-Check

Try This!

Try the questions below on your own first and then click on the tab to check your answers!

1. What is a biome?

2. What animals are commonly found in the boreal forest?

3. Describe the vegetation of the boreal forest.

4. Describe the climate of the grasslands.

5. What animals are commonly found in the grasslands?

Check your answers here!

1. A biome is a large ecosystem that includes plants, animals, weather, soil, and topography.

2. moose, caribou, wolves, owls, hawks, and eagles

3. Vegetation includes mixed forests with aspens, spruce, and pine trees.

4. In the grasslands, winters are cold and summers are hot. The grasslands have the lowest precipitation of any area in Alberta.

5. burrowing owls, swift fox, and small mammals such as ground squirrels and prairie rattlesnakes

These Areas Today

Some species that used to live in the Boreal forest and the grasslands are now extinct. Extinction means that a species is eliminated from the earth. Sometimes extinction is a normal process because, for example, a species cannot adapt to a change in climate. Many species became extinct during the Ice Ages; one such example is the woolly mammoth. Events such as floods or volcanoes can also cause extinction of species. About 65 million years ago, most species of dinosaurs became extinct; this is thought to have happened because a large meteorite hit the earth.

During the last 100 years, human activities have increased the rate of extinction. The main reason for this is the loss of habitat for some species. (Habitat refers to an organism's food and shelter.)

People have filled in wetlands to use for their own habitat or have used these areas for recreation activities, such as fishing or water sports. Forests have been clear-cut (such as in the image above) for timber or used to build or expand cities and towns. Farmers have ploughed grasslands to use for cultivation.

These kinds of activities destroy the habitats of both plants and animals. You will look more closely at some species that are at risk, threatened, or endangered in upcoming activities.