Habitats: Biomes and Ecosystems

DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Habitats. MBGnet. Why Are Rainforests Important? | Wonderopolis. Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by chloe from AL. chloe Wonders, “why is the rain forrest so important?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, chloe! Do you love trees? We do! And you should, too. Some of the most important trees in the world live in rainforests. Tropical rainforests feature a wide variety of tall trees, diverse populations of plants and animals, warm climates and lots and lots of rain. Rainforests are found in the tropical areas north and south of the equator. All rainforests have a canopy, which is a layer of branches and leaves formed at the tops of the tall trees that make up the rainforest. In rainforests, most plant and animal life exists in the canopy rather than on the ground. Unfortunately, every year a section of rainforest the size of the state of New Jersey is destroyed.

Scientists sometimes call rainforests the “lungs" of Earth. Rainforests also help to stabilize Earth's climate. Where Can You Find Tundra? | Wonderopolis. What is the landscape like where you live? Are there warm, grassy plains? Dense forests? Tall mountains? Maybe tropical jungles? Or do you live in a cold, harsh, treeless climate? If so, you might live on or near the tundra. Tundra areas are some of the world's toughest places to live and survive.

Tundra lands have very cold, windy and dry climates. There are three main types of tundra lands, based upon where they are found. For most of the year, tundra lands are covered in snow. In some warmer areas, though, the top layer of tundra may melt during the summer. These temporary wetland areas also attract insects, which in turn attract migratory birds. As difficult as it is for plants and animals to survive in the tundra, it's even harder for human beings. Where Is the Hottest Place on Earth? | Wonderopolis. Is it summer where you live? It may not yet be the dog days of summer, but we bet it's starting to warm up nicely! Wonder Friends know that we've already visited the coldest place on Earth. Now it's time to put on our short-sleeve shirts and shorts and head to the hottest place on Earth! The Earth is a huge place and two thirds of it is covered in water. The other third is dry land that we can live on.

But did you know that one third of that dry land is actually desert that's too hot and dry to support much life? Most of the deserts of the world are near the equator. The deserts of the world are where we find most of the hottest places on Earth. To date, the hottest temperature ever recorded was 159.26° F in 2005 in the Lut Desert in Iran. The hottest part of this desert is an area of over 180 square miles called the Gandom Beriyan, which means “toasted wheat. " Before 2005, the previous high temperature was 136° F in 1922 in El Azizia, Libya. What Is a Swamp? | Wonderopolis. Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by john. john Wonders, “whats a swamp?”

Thanks for WONDERing with us, john! Today's Wonder of the Day is full of alligators…and turtles…and snakes…and fish…and trees…and murky water. Where are we headed? The swamp, of course! Although the word “swamp" might sound ominous because of some of the creatures that live there, swamps are really just forested wetlands. Swamps can often be found along large rivers or along the shores of large lakes. Swamps can contain fresh water, seawater, or a mixture of both. Although wetlands are very valuable because of the many types of plants and animals they support, swamps have often been drained throughout history to convert the land for use as farms.

Drainage ditches, canals, and levees have been built to drain the water. Today, many groups are actively trying to restore wetlands. The largest swamp in the United States — Atchafalaya Swamp — sits along the end of the Mississippi River in southern Louisiana. Biology of Plants: Plant Adaptations. Mountain Scramble: An Ecosystem Game | Science | Interactive | PBS LearningMedia.