7.1b

Question 1

How does altitude affect the type of biome?

Answer 1

Temperature drop the higher you go
Plants cannot grow at higher altitudes due to cold temps.
Rainfall increases with height

Question 2

How does rock type affect biome type?

Answer 2

When rocks undergo chemical weathering, they release chemicals and nutrients into the soil.
This changes the pH of soil. Which influences the species of plant present.

Also permeability affects water supply to plants

Question 3

How does drainage affect biome type?

Answer 3

Where there are impermeable rocks, water can’t leave. So trees won’t grow where a forest biome would usually grow.

The water availability affects the type of plant that grows there

• Amount of precip
• Amount of soil evap
• Soil permeability, clay soil is wet, sandy soil is dry

Question 4

Give 4 examples of ways that abiotic and biotic factors of biomes interact.

Answer 4

Photosynthesis and respiration
Nutrient cycling
Hydrological cycle regulation
Biological weathering

Question 5

What is biological weathering?

Answer 5

Break down of rocks (abiotic) through biotic means,

For example, bivalve mollusc with sharp teeth grind rocks, secreting acids.

Question 6

How does photosynthesis and respiration show a link between biotic and abiotic factors?

Answer 6

Nutrients gained through photosynthesis in plants can be eaten by animals, then decompose into the soil (abiotic), then uptaken by plants and released into the atmosphere via respiration.

Question 7

What are the 3 stores of nutrient cycle models?

Answer 7

Litter - nutrients in
Biomass - nutrients out
Soil - nutrient transfer

Question 8

What does the hydrological cycle show?

Answer 8

E.g. interception via trees, absorbs rainfall, reducing surface run-off reducing flood risks

Transpiration in tropical rainforests returns moisture to the atmosphere

Succulent plants such as cacti store water, slowing evaporation