The pictures show a tundra environment and a desert environment. The tundra is the coldest biome, and the ground is permanently frozen. The tundra has a short growing season because it is cold most of the year. Most desert regions, like the one in the image on the right, are hot most of the year and receive very little rainfall.
An adaptation is a trait or characteristic that helps an organism survive in its environment. Because the tundra and desert environments each experience extreme conditions, organisms in these environments have special adaptations that enhance survival.
Each box in the interactive activity below describes a plant or animal trait that is an adaptation in the tundra or desert. Drag and drop each adaptation to the environment where it would be most helpful. If you need more information, view the tundra and desert videos in the View Related Resources section at the bottom of the page. (NOTE: The activities in this resource are flash-based and will play best in Internet Explorer.)
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