What's the difference between a biome and an ecosystem? Why are krill so important to ocean creatures? How do pesticides end up in the tissue of fish-eating birds? Why are marshes so important to wildlife? To understand the answers to questions like these, students need to understand the cycles and systems that regulate biomes.

U·X·L® Encyclopedia of Biomes offers detailed comparative essays on 12 major biomes and their component ecosystems. Alphabetically arranged entries on land biomes and water biomes range from 35 to 45 pages each and cover climate, elevation, soil, water bodies, vegetation, animal life, food web, plant and animal adaptations, endangered species, human effects on the biome and the effects of the environment on humans' culture and economy.

Includes overviews and descriptions on how specific biomes are formed, 120 black and white photos and three 16 page colour inserts, 12 maps, glossary, bibliography and an easy to use index. Here's what's covered:

Coniferous forest
Deciduous forest
Desert
Grassland
Rain forest
Tundra
Wetland
Ocean
Seashore
Continental margin
Lake and pond
River and stream

U·X·L® Encyclopedia of Biomes also contains sidebars, a "Words to Know" section defining unusual or difficult terms and a "For Further Research" section where students can obtain ideas for additional study. Entries also include sections providing up to a few pages of information on some of the geographic ecosystems within the biome (e.g., the Coniferous Forest entry might include a section on the Alaskan Coastal Rainforest, the Pacific Northwest, etc.).