1.2 - Terrestrial (land) biomes

Question 1

What is a biome?

Answer 1

an area that shares a combination of average yearly temperature and precipitation

Question 2

How do plants and animals relate to a specific biome?

Answer 2

The community of org. (plants & animals) in a biome are uniquely adapted to live in that biome

Question 3

What can predict where biomes are found?

Answer 3

A biome chart

Question 4

Latitude and their biomes

Answer 4

• Tundra & Boreal = higher lat. (60o +)
• Temperate = mid lat. (30o - 60o)
• Tropical = closer to equator

Question 5

Why does latitude matter in determining biomes?

Answer 5

Latitude determines temp. & precip. which is why biomes exist in predictable patterns on earth

Question 6

How does nutrient availability impact biomes?

Answer 6

• Plants need soil nutrients to grow, so availability determines which plants can survive in a biome
• Example: frozen soils of tundra don’t allow nutrients in dead org. matter to be broken down by decomposers:
  Low soil nutrients
  Low water availability
  Few plants survive here

Question 7

Nutrient availability of 3 main Forests

Answer 7

• tropical rain forest: nutrient-poor soil (high competition from so many diff. plant species)
• Boreal forest: nutrient-poor soil (low temp. & low decomp. rate of dead org. matter)
• Temperate forest: nutrient-rich soil (lots of dead org. matter - leaves & warm temp/moisture for decomp.)

Question 8

Explain shifting biomes

Answer 8

• Biomes shift in location on earth as climate changes
• Example: warming climate will shift boreal forests further north as tundra permafrost soil melts & lower latitudes become too warm for aspen & spruce