h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Woodpigeon? You were the ones with the suggestions - over to you!

Hi, Intersturber!

I was very interested in this one too, but was waiting for you to respond to Woodpigeon's comments. There are a lot of smaller changes I would like to see, but the first thing to do is to change the things which are actually wrong.

In simple terms, the first thing you should do is go back to your original title 'Biomes of Earth', and put 'biome' back instead of 'habitat' in the first paragraph. ('Habitats' was Xyroth's suggestion and in this case Xyroth was wrong. You say 'The definition of a biome is: a large group of ecosystems that share the same type of climax community.' but this is *not* the definition of a habitat, so you can't use the words interchangeably).

Next most important change:
Take out the bit about the tundra that says 'The temperatures there range from -4 to -14 Celcius (24.8-6.8 F)'. This implies that there is never liquid water around but that simply isn't true. Say that 'The tundra has a short growing season of six to ten weeks, and six to ten months with a mean monthly temperature of less than 0 C.' (Notice that this means there can be up to six months where the average temperature is above freezing point!)

Next important change:
Take out all references to the sugar maple from the section on the taiga. This is a deciduous tree which is part of the temperate deciduous forest biome so it is in the wrong place.

Next important change:
Put in at least a couple of sentences about savanna or tropical grasslands. You only mention the american temperate grasslands, but African savannas are a very important biome - this is where animals like giraffes, lions, rhinoceros, elpehants and zebras are found, so it is the focus of a lot of efforts in terms of conservation.

The way we try to imporve entries in Peer Review is to take things bit by bit. If you make these changes it will definitely improve the entry. There are some other points I would like you to look at, but start with these!


Azara

Interstuber, I am a little confused about what you mean. I didn't think that my review of your article was too confusing or complex, but thats just my opinion. There are lots of specific comments, but each one, taken on its own should be fairly self-explanatory. I organised my review so you could read your article from the top, and work down, paragraph by paragraph. If there is anything you didn't understand in my review please let me know and I will try to expain it some more .

Woodpigeon

I was merely confused because all at the same time people were telling me to both make it more complex yet make it simpler. Maybe you can see my confusion there, but xyroth completely threw me off...
I'm going to take the comments from azara and apply them, so review the additions I will make, and then feel free to make any further comments as long as they don't involve chinchilla vomit ()

Intersturber

OK! Don't forget to post when you're done!

Chinchilla vomit!

Don't be discouraged! Read over Woodpigeon's comments, and see what you think of them. I think they'll help...

Well, I fixed it up and hope you like it and if not, keep the suggestions coming, thanks all you crazy wonderful loyal, yet still dedicated people of the guide I love so much....

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Well done

And recommended *before* your hint! Yes, well done Intersturber.

Hi Intersturber and all,

I've been given this fabulous entry to subedit, and I've finally managed to get some work done. In other words, it's nearly finished. You could see the result at A892172. If you spot something that needs attention, please drop me a note.

SchrEck Inc.