biome miniquiz Flashcards
tropical rain forest overview
- have more species than all other biomes combined
- get at least 2 meters of rain a year
- tall trees form dense leafy cover called canopy
- canopy shades layer of shorter trees and vines called understory
abiotic factors tropical rainforest
- hot and wet year round
- thin, nutrient-poor soils subject to erosion
tropical rain forest plants/animals
- understory plants use large leaves to compete for limited light
- animals are active all year, use camouflage to hide from predators
tropical dry forest overview
-grow in areas where rainy seasons alternate with dry seasons
tropical dry forest abiotic factors
-warm year-round, usually period of rain is followed by long period of drought
tropical dry forest plant/animal
- some plants lose leaves to survive dry season (deciduous)
- many animals reduce need for water during dry season by entering long periods of inactivity (estivation)
tropical grassland/savanna/shrubland overview
- receives more seasonal rainfall than deserts but less than tropical dry forests
- mostly grass with isolated trees and small groves of trees and shrubs
tropical grassland abiotic factors
- warm
- seasonal rainfall
- compact soils
- fires set by lightening
tropical grassland plant/animal
- plant adaptations include waxy leaf covers and seasonal leaf loss
- many animals migrate during dry season to find water
- some small animals burrow and remain inactive during dry season
desert
- have less than 25 centimeters of precipitation annually
- many undergo extreme daily temperature changes
desert abiotic factors
- low precipitation
- variable temperatures
desert plant/animal
- plants store water in tissues
- minimize leaf surface area to cut down on water losses
- many desert animals get water from food they eat
- many are active at night to avoid hottest parts of day
temperate grassland overview
- mostly grasses, maintained by periodic fires and heavy grazing
- soils fertile and ideal for growing crops
- most converted for agriculture
temperate grassland abiotic factors
- warm to hot summers
- cold winters
- moderate seasonal precipitation
- occasional fires
temperate grassland plant/animal
- plants resistant to grazing and fire
- predation threat for smaller animals bc of open environment
- camouflage and burrowing are common adaptations
temperate forest overview
- mostly made up of deciduous trees and evergreen coniferous trees
- soils are fertile and often rich in hummus.
- (humus is material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter)
temperate forest abiotic factors
- ccold to moderate winters
- warm summer
- year round precipitation
- fertile soils
temperate forest plants/animals
- deciduous trees drop leaves in autumn and go dormant in winter
- animals must cope with changing weather bs bare trees leave animals exposed in winter
northwestern coniferous forest overview
- forest has variety of conifers, flowering trees, and shrubs
- moss often covers tree trunks and forest floor
- biome sometimes called temperate rain forest bc of its lush vegetation
northwestern coniferous forest abiotic factors
- mild temperatures
- abundant precipitation in fall, winter, and spring
- sool dry summers
northwestern coniferous forest plants/animals
- biome is less diverse than tropical rain forest
- ample water and nutrients support lush, dense plant growth
- trees here are among the world’s tallest
- camouflage helps insects and ground-dwelling mammals avoid predation
boreal forest overview
- aka taiga
- dense forests of coniferous evergreens
- found along the northern edge of the temperate zone
boreal forest abiotic factors
- long, cold winters
- short mild summers
- moderate precipitation,
- high humidity
- -acidic, nutrient-poor soils
boreal forest plants/animal
- conifers are well suited to this biome
- their shape sheds snow
- wax covered, needlelike leaves reduce water loss
- to stay warm, most animals have small limbs and ears, and fat or downy feathers for insulation
tundra overview
- indentified by permafrost, layer of permanently frozen subsoil
- in summer ground thaws to depth of a few centimeters and becomes soggy
- in winter, top layer of soil freezes again
- cycle of thawing and freezing rips and crushes plant roots
- cold temps, high winds, short growing season, humus-poor soils also limit plant life
tundra abiotic factors
strong winds, low precipitation, short and soggy summers, long, cold dark winters, permafrost
tundra plants/animals
- mosses and other plants are low growing to avoid damage from frequent strong winds
- many animals migrate to avoid long harsh winters
- animals that live in the tundra year-round have adaptations such as natural antifreeze to limit heat loss
temperate woodland and shrubland overview
- open woodlands have large areas of grasses and wildflowers mixed with oak and other trees
- fire is constant threat because lof dense, low, oily plants
temperate woodland and shrubland abiotic factors
- hot dry summers
- cool moist winters
- thin nutrient-poor soils
- periodic fires
temperate woodland and shrubland plants/animals
- plants here have adapted to drought, have tough waxy leaves that resist water loss
- animals tend to be browsers that eat veried diets of grasses, leaves, shrubs and other vegetation
