Biome Prelims &
Challenges /
Type / Climate Soil Major Regions Flora Fauna Adaptations Mains
Issues
Topic Questions
-
- Cold and - Permafrost Prelims:Identify
Permafrost
dry; <25 cm - Reindeer, thaw → biome by
prevents - Arctic (Siberia,
precipitation - Mosses, Arctic Fox, - Plants: short, methane permafrost
root growth. Alaska, Canada,
mostly as lichens, Polar Bear, shallow roots, release. - presence and
- Poor Greenland). -
snow. - Temp sedges, dwarf Penguins, rapid life-cycle. - Biodiversity vegetation.
Tundra drainage; Antarctic edges
below 0°C; birch, willow. - Seals, Animals: thick fur, loss, habitat Mains:Explain
Biome low and islands. -
brief summer No tall trees; Whales. - blubber, shrinkage. - ecological
nutrients. - Alpine
thaw. - High- very short Migratory hibernation, white Oil extraction impacts of
Thin (Himalayas,
pressure growth period. birds (Arctic camouflage. and shipping thawing
surface Andes).
systems → Tern). cause permafrost on
thaw in
low rainfall. damage. global climate.
summer.
- Moose,
- Long, cold - Conifers
Reindeer, - Wildfires due Prelims:Identify
winters (– - Podzol (spruce, pine,
Wolves, - Animals: thick to heat. - main tree types
40 °C). - soils: acidic, - 45°–65° N: fir), needle
Bears, fur, hibernation, Habitat of Taiga.
Taiga Short, mild leached. - Russia, leaves. -
Siberian camouflage. - fragmentation, Mains:Discuss
(Boreal summers No Scandinavia, Shrubs and
Tiger, Fox, Trees: conical logging, oil human activities
Forest) (25–30 °C). - permafrost; Canada, Alaska. berry plants in
Raptors. - shape, needle extraction. - affecting Taiga
Biome Rain in supports - World's largest understory. -
Migratory leaves reduce Invasive biome and their
summer, deep-rooted forest belt. Slow
birds transpiration. species with ecological
snow in trees. decomposition
(cranes, warming. implications.
winter. .
geese).
Temperat - Cold - Highly - Steppes - Grasses - Bison, - Drought/fire - Overgrazing, Prelims:Identify
e winters, warm fertile (Eurasia), dominate; Saiga Deer, resistance; deep soil erosion, biome with
Grasslan summers. - “chernozem Prairies (N. scattered Prairie roots. - Animals pesticide use. chernozem
ds Moderate ” (black America), shrubs. - Tall Dogs, migrate or burrow - Habitat soils.
rainfall, snow earth) soils. Pampas (S. or short Wolves, for shelter. fragmentation Mains:Explain
in winter. - - Rich in America), Velds grasses based Hawks, and how agriculture
organic on rainfall. - Falcons. -
Temperate
matter due (Africa), Downs Largely Ground alters grassland
cyclones monocultures.
to (Australia). converted to rodents ecosystems.
influence rain.
calcification. croplands. common.
Prelims:Match
- Hot with
- Thin, low- - Tall dry - Elephants, - Droughts, species like lion
distinct wet - Africa
fertility soils grasses; Giraffes, poaching, and cheetah
and dry (Serengeti), India - Seasonal
Tropical due to scattered Zebras, habitat with their
seasons. - (Deccan migration following
Grasslan frequent Acacia and Lions, fragmentation. biomes.
Rainfall Plateau), Brazil rainfall. - Water
ds fires and Baobab trees. Cheetahs, - Fire Mains:Discuss
between 50– (Cerrado), storage/adaptation
(Savanna grazing. - - Fire- and Leopards, suppression climatic factors
150 cm, Australia ; nocturnal
s) Erosion- drought- Hyenas, causes responsible for
concentrated (Northern foraging.
prone resistant Crocodiles, ecological tropical
in wet Savannas).
surface. vegetation. Ostriches. imbalance. grassland
months.
distribution.
- Sandy,
- Less than saline, Prelims:Identify
- Camels, -
25 cm nutrient- factors causing
-Hot:Sahara, Desert - Water Desertification,
rainfall/year. - poor soils. - - Xerophytes desert
Thar, Atacama, Foxes, conservation, overgrazing,
Very high Low organic (cactus, date formation.
Desert Kalahari. - Snakes, estivation, shifting dunes.
diurnal matter; palm). - Waxy, Mains:Describe
Biome Cold:Tibet, Kangaroo burrowing. - Plants - Aridity
temperature weak thorny, water- adaptation
Taklamakan, Rats, Oryx. with minimal worsened by
range. - Low structure. - storing plants. mechanisms of
Patagonia. - Mostly leaves. climate
humidity, Dunes desert flora and
nocturnal. change.
clear skies. shaped by fauna.
wind.
Rainfores - Tropical: - Lateritic - - Dense multi- - Monkeys, - Drip-tip leaves; - Prelims:Identify
t Biome hot, wet year- soils Tropical:Amazon, layered Jaguars, tall buttress roots; Deforestation, features
(Tropical round. - (weathered Congo, SE Asia. canopy. - Snakes, shade tolerance; mining, distinguishing
& Temperate: but nutrient - Broadleaf Frogs, symbiosis. agriculture. - tropical vs
Temperat mild poor). - Temperate:Pacifi evergreen Insects, Biodiversity temperate
e) temperatures, Rich c NW (US– trees, vines, Birds loss, altered rainforest.
surface (Tropical). - Mains:Analyze
heavy rainfall. organic Deer, the ecological
Canada), Chile,
- Evergreen layer due to epiphytes. Bears, Owls rainfall cycles. and climatic
NZ.
cover. continuous (Temperate) roles of tropical
decay. . rainforests.