Physical, non-living parts of the ecosystem. E.g. temperature, water and light.

Living parts of ecosystem including plants, animals and bacteria. Plants known as flora and animals known as fauna.

Large-scale ecosystems (biomes) spread across continents and have flora & fauna unique to them. Biomes cover a large area and are identified by their climate, soils, plants and animals species.

Long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Covered by snow and ice throughout the year, but extent of ice varies. Temperatures rarely rise above freezing - mainly due to low angle of sun in the sky. Owing to tilt of earth, polar regions spend half the year in darkness and the other half in daylight. Polar regions tend to be dry, receiving as little as 250mm of rainfall per year - because descending air is unable to pick up moisture to form clouds and snowfall.

Arctic much warmer than Antarctica. North Pole winter temperatures vary from -46 degrees C to -26 degrees C, whereas South Pole temperatures range from -62 degrees C to -55 degrees C. Why is there such a difference in temperature?

Treeless area. Low shrubs) with mosses, grasses and alpine-like flowering plants.. Approximately 1700 species of plants

Polar bears, wolves, foxes and reindeer. Sea mammals include walruses and whales. Some animals migrate southward during winter months.

Plant life in Antarctica much less plentiful. Around 100 species of moth and 300-400 species of lichen.

Very productive seas due to huge numbers of phytoplankton.

Found within the Tropics or Cancer and Capricorn, north and south of the Equator

Temperatures remain high and constant throughout year because sun is always high in the sky. Hot and wet climate. No seasons like those that would be found in a temperate forest. High average rainfall of over 2000mm. Atmosphere very humid and sticky.

Vegetation consists mainly of trees. 15 million plant and animals species been successfully identified and there are many more yet to be discovered.

North and south of the Equator. within central parts of continents

Climate can range from tropical wet to tropical dry. Temps high throughout year. There are 2 seasons: a longer dry season and a shorter wet season.

Tall & spikey pampas grass. Baobab tree - large swollen stems and huge trunk; root-like branches and thick bark; long roots

Antelopes, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras and rhinos. Cheetahs, lions & leopards, dogs & hyenas

Between latitudes of around 40-60 degrees north and south of the Equator.

Cooler than savannah. Summers very hot and winters very cold. Summer months can bring drought and occasional fire.

Vegetation doesn't grow as rapidly or as tall as that of tropical grasslands. Trees and shrubs struggle to grow, but some (e.g. willow and oak) grow along river valleys where water is more available.

Kangaroos, bison, antelope, coyotes, wolves, eagles and hawks.

Between 40 degrees & 60 degrees north and south of the Equator.

Summers warm and winters mild. Rainfall ranges from 750mm to 1500mm. Average temp 10 degrees C.

Type of fauna depend on the region of the world. Australia's temperate forests contain koalas and possums, whereas black bears are found in the temperate forests of North America - they have a heavy coat and build up fat before hibernating, also long claws to climb trees. In Britain, rabbits, deer, mice and foxes are common.

Relatively few tree species when compared with rainforest. Trees have a growing season of 6-8 months and may grow only 50cm a year. Unlike the rainforest, branches of the higher trees are more open and allow enough sunlight through to enable smaller trees to grow. Forest floor often covered with brambles, grass, bracken and thorns.

Cover one-fifth of the Earth's land surface. Located between 5 degrees and 30 degrees north and south of the Equator, around the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic or Capricorn. Usually found on west coasts of continents.

Fairly high number of daylight hours. During the day, temperatures are high, but during the night, temperatures drop to below freezing. Annual precipitation around 40mm but very unreliable.

Most plants have adapted to an environment with very little water, e.g. cacti. Where the rainfall is slightly more, thin grasses grow. Cacti have thick, spiky, waxy leaves to reduce loss of water through transpiration and to prevent animals trying to eat them. Root either very long to tap into groundwater supplies, or very near ground's surface to take advantage of any rain that falls.

Many animals are small and nocturnal (with the exception of camels). For example, meerkats have adapted to limited food sources by eating scorpions, whose venom they are immune to. Camels have humps on their back to store fat & water, long eyelashes for keeping out sand, wide feet that act like snowshoes, and thick hair on their ears to also keep out sand.

Forest floor hot and damp so dead plant leaves decompose quickly. Small circle for litter

Few nutrients ever reach the soil due to organic material being recycled so quickly by the nutrient-hungry plants.

Forest floor hot and damp so dead plant leaves decompose quickly. Small circle for litter

Few nutrients ever reach the soil due to organic material being recycled so quickly by the nutrient-hungry plants.