WORLD BIOME TOUR

"Our tour allows you to explore all of the main biomes of the world. Prepare to be amazed by the diversity and complexity of our planet."

In this tour you'll be discovering some amazing locations in our world, categorised by the biomes in which they are organised into.

• Desert (Great Victoria Desert, Western Australia)
• Grassland (Sanbona Reserve, South Africa)
• Rainforest (Amazon Rainforest, Brazil)
• Coniferous forest (Eastern Himalayan Subalpine Conifer Forest, )
• Temperate forest (Pacific Rim National Park, British Columbia, Canada)
• Tundra (Yukon, Canada)
• Polar (Arctic/ North Pole)

Deserts are characterised by intense heat (40°C and upward) and very limited rainfall (usually less than 25 cm of rain per year). These factors cause the evaporation rate to be very high, resulting in scorching hot days and cold nights.

Deserts are found along the Tropic of Cancer, between 15 and 30 degrees north of the Equator, or along the Tropic of Capricorn, between 15 and 30 degrees south of the Equator. Hot, moist air rises into the atmosphere near the Equator.

There are four types of deserts: subtropical deserts are hot and dry year-round; coastal deserts have cool winters and warm summers; cold winter deserts have long, dry summers and low rainfall in the winter; polar deserts are cold year-round.

Desert flora and fauna are highly adapted to the extremely dry and volatile climate. Plants are generally small, with small leaves or thorns to prevent loss of water through evaporation and bloom in a matter of days after rain. Others are bigger, with longer roots to reach for water stored deep underground. The cacti, absorb water rapidly after rain and store it in spongy internal tissues. Desert animals are conditioned to the scarcity of water and extremes of temperature. Cold-blooded animals live more easily in the desert but there are also a small variety of small rodents and adapted mammals (e.g. camels) that can last through the heat. Many desert animals tend to be nocturnal, sleeping during the day and coming out at night when the temperatures are more tolerable.

• The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the desert biome. It covers over 300 million square miles.
• Dust storms occur when the wind picks up dust from the surface. These storms can be up to 1 mile high and travel over a hundred miles.
• Some deserts are so hot that when it rains, the water evaporates in the air before ever hitting the ground.
• There are some deserts in Antarctica that are known as cold deserts. They are considered deserts because of the small amount of vegetation that grows there.
• The desert biome can be found on every continent except Europe.

Some activities include: Sand sliding, horseback riding, hiking, sand boarding, hang gliding, riding atvs and 4 wheel drive jeep tour

The grassland biome is described as one of the most useful for agricultural purposes and is generally open and fairly flat. Within this biome, grasses show their natural dominance. The grassland biome’s climate is unique in the way that there is just enough rainfall for grasses and other plant life to be present (unlike desert) but not too much to become a water efficient system (such as a forest). In fact, most of the time they lie between deserts and forests.

There are two main kinds of grasslands: tropical and temperate. Examples of temperate grasslands include Eurasian steppes, North American prairies, and Argentine pampas. Tropical grasslands include the hot savannas of sub-Saharan Africa and northern Australia. Tropical grasslands experience warm weather all year long while temperate grasslands are warm part of the year and very cold during the other part. Temperate grasslands are known as the ideal agricultural domain- with soil that is rich and fertile, free from over-drainage and flooding.

As the name suggests, this particular biome is covered by grasses, with limited trees and shrubs, some plant species including purple needlegrass, wild oats, foxtail, ryegrass, and buffalo grass. The animals that habitat these sort of climates have little shelter of protection from predator and consume the grasses that occupy the vast space. The dominant vertebrates in grasslands are herbivorous or plant-eating grazers called ungulates. Ungulates are mammals with hoofs, like horses and deer. Their long legs help them run fast to escape grassland predators. Big cats such as cheetahs and lions hunt prey in the grassland biome.

• Twenty-five percent of the Earth is covered by the grassland biome.
• Periodic fires, whether they are human-induced or occur spontaneously, are very important to the grassland to ensure that invasive plants do not take over.
• Tropical grassland biomes are located in the Southern Hemisphere while temperate grassland biomes are located in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Since grassland biomes have rich soil, much of them are used for farming. There is only 2% of the original grassland left in North America.
• Large animals called bison previously ruled the grassland biome and roamed by the millions. During the 1800s, settlers begin to slaughter them for various reasons.

Wildlife Watching, Hitting the Trail, Hiking, Biking, Horseback Riding, Photography, Night Sky Viewing, Hunting, Geocaching, Driving Tours.

Rainforests are the most vegetation dense and water-efficient systems of all the biomes. With constant humid temperatures, they hold the most diverse and largest amount of plant and animal life of any other biome. Rainforests are found in the tropics, the region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, just above and below the Equator. In this tropic zone, the sun is very strong and shines about the same amount of time every day all year long, keeping the climate warm and relatively stable.

There are two types of rainforests -- tropical and temperate. Tropical and temperate rainforests share certain characteristics. For example, most trees flare at the base. Vegetation is dense, tall and very green.

Having a large amount of plant and animal life in rainforests boosts competitiveness and the natural selection process. Large trees fight in order to get enough sunlight to cater to their nutrient needs and animals do the exact same in many different ways. For animals, tropical rainforests host the best survival environment on the planet, it is always warm meaning no temperature change affects food stocks, there is shade from the heat and rain and there is never a shortage in water.

Flora: Bromeliads, Epiphytes, Saprophytes, Buttress Roots, Lianas, Stilt/Prop Roots, Carnivorous Plants, Orchids, Strangler Fig

Mammals: Monkeys, Bats, Possums, Kangaroos, Tigers, Foxes etc...

Birds: African Gray Parrot, Australian King Parrot, Eagles, Hummingbirds etc...

Insects: Beetles, Ants, Spiders, Butterflies, Grasshoppers, Caterpillars etc...

Reptiles and Amphibians: Snakes, Frogs, Geckos, Komodo Dragons, Chameleon etc...

Aquatics: Eels, Piranhas, various fish and amphibian species 

More than two-thirds of the world's plant species are found in tropical rainforests.

Tropical rainforests produce 20% of the Earth's oxygen and play a crucial role in keeping the planet a constant temperature. 

Every day we are losing 137 species of animals or plants due to rainforest deforestation - that's 50,000 a year.

Little do we know that 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are produced from rainforest ingredients, less than 1% of all tropical rainforest plants have been tested by scientists.

Rainforests only cover around 2 percent the total surface area of the Earth, but really about 50 percent of the plants and animals on the earth live in the rainforest.

Jungle walk, piranha fishing, local community visit, swimming with pink river dolphins, stand up paddle-boarding, kayaking, Canopy Bridge Walk, Swimming in the Amazon, Manatee Rescue Centre, National Parks

The coniferous forest biome is located between the tundra (to the north) and deciduous forests (to the south) and is characterised by its temperate climate: cold, long, snowy winters, and warm, humid summers; well-defined seasons, including at least four to six frost-free months; and coniferous plant life (trees that grow needles instead of leaves, and cones instead of flowers). The climatic elements to these areas are specialised by what subcategory it falls under.

Temperate coniferous forests are found in areas with temperate weather: plenty of rainfall, cool winters, and warm summers. Typical average amounts are about 300-900 mm (12-35 in.) but some areas can see as much as 2,000 mm (78 in.) of rain a year.

Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests are found in areas with tropical latitudes, making their climates more humid. The average temperature year-round is 18°C or higher. More overall precipitation than temperate due to humidity.

Boreal forest (taiga) is a forest biome that spans from Siberia to Canada, and has extremely cold winters (averaging -54° to -1°C), with summers ranging from mild to extremely hot (averaging -7° to 21°C ). Amounts ranging from 300-800 mm (12-30 in) a year.

In terms of flora, the conifers are the main dominant force in this biome. There is not much variety when it comes to trees in these biomes with the black spruce (Picea mariana), larch or tamarack (Larix laricina), and white spruce (P. glauca) making up the majority. The larch and black spruce are generally found in wet sites with poorly drained mineral or organic soils whereas the white spruce is the ‘climatic climax’ species as they are found in drier and more nutrient-rich regions. Other plant life includes ferns, mushrooms, toadstools and moss. These plants are able to survive in these harsh winters because they shut off the process of photosynthesis. The dominant wildlife within this biome include bears, elk, deer, salmon and predators such as owls, bobcats and weasels.

• Taiga is the Russian term for coniferous forest.
• The main source of food in the coniferous forest is the seeds produced by the conifer trees.
• The ground of a coniferous forest is covered with snow and in result becomes acidic.
• This biome is considered as the carbon reservoir. It can reduce the effect of global warming.
• The coastal redwood located inside the coniferous forest is considered as the largest and tallest living tree ever documented on this planet.

Skiing, boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, canoeing, cycling, husky trekking, etc.

The Eastern Himalayan Subalpine Conifer Forest is a great example of this biome. (To the left)

The deciduous/temperate forest biome is characterised as regions with high levels of humidity. The average temperature in temperate deciduous forests is 50°F (10°C). Summers are mild, and average about 70°F (21°C), while winter temperatures are often well below freezing. Temperate forests receive abundant amounts of precipitation, usually between 20 and 60 inches (500-1500mm) of precipitation annually. This precipitation is in the form of rain and snow. They are located in several locations around the world, around halfway between the equator and the poles. ‘Deciduous trees’ originates from the Latin word ‘deciduous’ literally meaning ‘to fall off’. This represents the leaves of the trees falling off in the Autumn and remain bare in the Winter. They then grow new leaves in the spring. The fertile soil consisting of rotted leaves and other decaying matter provides a rich, deep soil that is suitable for trees to grow strong roots. This can also help them sustain themselves through the harsh winter. Trees also use sap to help them through the winter. It keeps their roots from freezing and is then used as energy in the spring to start growing again.

The plants of the forests grow in different layers. The top layer is called the canopy and is made up of full-grown trees. These trees form an umbrella throughout most of the year providing shade for the layers below. The middle layer is called the under story. The under story is made up of smaller trees, saplings, and shrubs. The lowest layer is the forest floor which is made up of wildflowers, herbs, ferns, mushrooms, and mosses.

Temperate biomes are home to a diverse ecosystem include various insects, spiders, wolves, foxes, bears, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, eagles, rabbits, deer, skunks, squirrels, raccoons, squirrels, moose, snakes and hummingbirds. 

Each species has adapted to survive the winter. These include rabbits, squirrels, fox and deer, all of which stay active. Some of which are good at finding food while others, like squirrels, store and hide fall during the Autumn that they can eat during winter. Animals like birds, migrate to a warmer place, them return in springtime when the food and water resources are restored. On the other hand, animals like bears hibernate during the winter months. They live off fat stored in their body. Many insects can't survive the winter, but they lay eggs that can. Their eggs will hatch in spring. Other animals have adapted to this environment by blending in with the forest. Some camouflage themselves as leaves, looking almost indistinguishable from the foliage. This type of adaptation comes in handy for both predators and prey.

• It is within the second largest biome on the planet, covering 25% of the world's forest area, only behind the boreal forest, which covers about 33%
• A single oak tree can produce 90,000 acorns in one year
• Deciduous forests are typically found in the Northern Hemisphere. Some locations of temperate forests include: Eastern Asia; Central and Western Europe; and Eastern United States.

Mountain bike riding, horse-riding, fishing, picnicking, camping, gathering, creature identification

Pacific Rim National Park

‘Suit up in your storm gear and watch the winter breakers crash on a rocky shoreline, or enjoy a summer stroll along an endless sandy beach. Step out of your kayak to be greeted by a First Nation Beach Keeper, or hear ancient legends told around the campfire by Guardians of the West Coast Trail. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve offers a West Coast experience steeped in nature and history.’

Pacific Rim National Park information sourced from;

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 2019, Government of Canada, viewed 7 August 2019, <https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/pacificrim>

The tundra biome is a cold and treeless plain where harsh conditions make it hard for plants and animals alike to survive. Around 20% of the Earth's land surface is covered with tundra. The tundra has two distinct seasons: a long winter and short summer. Being so far north, the tundra has long nights in the winter and long days in the summer.  The winter lasts around 8 months and is extremely cold. In the middle of winter, the sun may not rise for weeks. The tundra is frozen and often covered with snow during the winter and will reach temperatures of -60 degrees F. The summer is shorter and is marked by the other extreme of the sun not setting. In the middle of summer, the sun will be up for 24 hours. During the summer the temperatures may reach 50 degrees F causing the snow to melt in areas and wetlands to form. 

Plants that grow in the tundra include grasses, shrubs, herbs, and lichens. They grow in groups and stay low to the ground to stay protected from the icy winds. They tend to have shallow roots and flower quickly during the short summer months. 

Most of the plants in the tundra are perennials that come back each year from the same root. This allows them to grow during the summer and save up nutrients as they lay dormant for the winter. They also tend to have hairy stems and dark leaves. This helps them in absorbing energy from the sun. 

The tundra has a lot more animal activity during the summer than the winter. This is because most birds migrate south for the summer, insects lay eggs that wait for summer to hatch, and some mammals hibernate for the winter. There are even some animals, like the caribou, which migrate south for the winter. There are some animals that have adapted to winter in the tundra. Some of them change coats from brown in the summer to white in the winter so they can blend in with the snow. These include the arctic hare, the ermine, and the arctic fox. Other animals that are active in the winter include the snowy owl, musk oxen, and ptarmigans. 

During the summer, the tundra will be teeming with insects. Wetland areas will be filled with mosquitoes. There will also be a lot of bird activity as they come to eat the insects and fish. Animals will be more active, coming out of hibernation or migrating from the south. 

• The word tundra comes from a Finnish word tunturia, which means treeless plain or barren land.
• Animals in the tundra tend to have small ears and tails. This helps them to lose less heat in the cold. They also tend to have large feet, which helps them to walk on top of the snow.
• Plants that grow in tight groups to protect themselves from the cold are sometimes called cushion plants.
• It's cold - The tundra is the coldest of the biomes. The average temperature in the tundra is around -28 degrees C. It gets much colder in the winter and warmer during its short summer.
• It's dry - The tundra gets about as much precipitation as the average desert, around 10 inches per year. Most of this is snow.
• Permafrost - Below the topsoil, the ground is permanently frozen year round.
• It's barren - The tundra has few nutrients to support plant and animal life. It has a short growing season and a slow rate of decay.

Hiking, viewing wildlife, viewing Northern lights perhaps (depending on region), river floating and skiing are some of the activities and attractions you can participate whilst in the tundra biome.

A polar climate consists of cool summers and very cold winters, which results in treeless tundra, glaciers, or a permanent or semi-permanent layer of ice.

Approximately 1,700 species of plants live on the Arctic tundra, including flowering plants, dwarf shrubs, herbs, grasses, mosses, and lichens. The tundra is characterised by permafrost, a layer of soil and partially decomposed organic matter that is frozen year-round.

Animals that live in the polar biome include polar bears, beluga whales, killer whales, and harbor seals. Penguins also exist in the polar biome, but they only exist in the Antarctic part of the polar biome.

•  Because of the Earth’s tilt, for at least one day a year there’s an entire day of darkness in this freezing region — and also a full day of sunshine. Imagine that!
• Temperatures as low as –70°C have been recorded in northern Greenland.
• The word ‘Arctic’ comes from the Greek word for bear, Arktos. But this isn’t because of the polar bears! It’s believed the name refers to two constellations that can be seen in the northern sky — ‘Ursa Minor’ (Little Bear) and ‘Ursa Major’ (Great Bear).
•  The ice of the Arctic contains around ten percent of the world’s fresh water. This giant, white, frozen reservoir reflects sunlight, helping keep the region cool. It also plays a super-important role in keeping our global climate stable.
• Despite the freezing-cold temperatures, approximately four million people call this wintery wonderland home! Amongst these are the indigenous people of the Arctic, called the ‘Inuits‘. They’ve found ingenious ways to survive in one of the harshest environments on our planet.

1. North Cape, Norwegian Lapland
2. Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago
3. Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland
4. Tromso, Norway
5. Ice Hotels
6. Blåisvatnet Lake, Lyngenfjord Region, Norway
7. Arctic Circle Trail, Greenland
8. Churchill, Canada
9. North Pole
10. Whales, Whales, and Whales