Biomes Flashcards

1
Q

What is a biological realm

A

the broadest divisions of the earth’s land surface – subdivided into ECOREGIONS/ ECOZONES

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2
Q

What is an ecoregion

A

an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm.

Ecoregions cover large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural communities and species

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3
Q

What is a biome

A

A broad, regional type of ecosystem characterised by distinctive climate and soil conditions as well as a distinctive kind of biological community adapted to those conditions

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4
Q

What can biome classifications be useful for

A

as a way of classifying the Earth’s terrestrial communities into major ecological units – correlates with regional climate types

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5
Q

What are biological realms characterised by?

A

Evolution history of the organisms within it
Floristic kingdoms
Zoogeographic regions

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6
Q

What are the size orders of: bio realms, ecoregions, biomes

A

Realm = biggest

Realms divide into ecoregions that may contain a number of biomes

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7
Q

Name 3 bio REALMS

A
Any from: 
Australian 
Oceanian
Oriental 
Sino-Japanses
Palearctic
Sahro-Arabian
Nearctic
Panamanian
Neotropical
Madagascan
Afrotropical
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8
Q

What is the key idea behind biomes/ realms?

A

Similar regional climates produces morphological adaptations in plants - so plants have similar plant physiognomy and similar structure in vegetation regardless of actual species

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9
Q

What climate type is Af in classification

A

Tropical wet climate/ rainforest biome

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10
Q

What climate type is Dfb in classification

A

sub-arctic climate / boreal forest biome

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11
Q

What factors are plant physiognomy

A
size
shape
leaf structure
stem size
thorns
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12
Q

What is the law of tolerance

A

for each abiotic factor, an organism has a range of tolerances within which it can survive

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13
Q

How much precipitation is there in a tropical biome

A

no less than 100mm per month

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14
Q

what type of soil is found in tropical biomes

A

Laterites
high clay content
Excessive leaching
Acidic and naturally infertile soils

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15
Q

What are the 3 types of desert

A

True desert
Semi desert
Extreme

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16
Q

How do true, semi and extreme deserts differ by definition

A

Amount of rainfall and plant coverage

True = less than 120mm
semi = 150-400mm
extreme = 70mm
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17
Q

Which type of plant is most dominant in deserts

A

Shrub - drought deciduous or evergreen

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18
Q

Which type of plant is most dominant in tropical biomes

A

Broad leafed evergreens (forest)

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19
Q

Name 3 types of plants found in deserts

A

True xerophytes
Phreatophytes
Halophytes
Succulents

20
Q

How are xerophytes adapted to deserts?

A

Have shallow root system and extent well beyond canopy

21
Q

How are succulents adapted to deserts

A

Store water well in tissues
Waxy leaves prevent waterloss
CAM photosynthesis

22
Q

What are soils like in deserts?

A

Poorly developed due to lack of leaching

23
Q

What is a tundra

A

is a type of biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons (usually colder, rocky climates)

24
Q

What is a taiga?

A

a forest of the cold, subarctic region - small number of tree species (but lots of them)

25
Describe 5 features of a tundra
``` Any from: treeless-ness short growing season Shallow soils Low precipitation dry winds nutrient poor conditions mosses, lichens, sedges, dwarfshrubs young, thin soils Gleying clumped vascular plants ```
26
Where are taigas mostly found?
Subarctic and cold continental climates | It's northern most limit is were the taiga meets the tundra
27
What kind of trees are found in a taiga?
mainly evergreen
28
Where are tundras normally found?
encircling the arctic ocean (polewards of Taigas)
29
What are soils like in taigas
young, shallow Podzols - low in natural fertility
30
How much of the Earth is covered by water?
75%
31
Are aquatic or terrestrial environments more stable ?
Aquatic are more stable, less variable
32
What are the 4 features aquatic biomes are defined on
Depth Salinity Temperature Nutrients
33
What 5 factors affect the distribution of aquatic organisms
``` Light penetration Temp Nutrients Distance from shore/ depth Position in water colum (i.e: open water or bottom) ```
34
What are the 2 freshwater biomes
Standing bodies of water (lentic) Moving bodies of water (lotic)
35
What is a lotic biome
A freshwater, moving body of water
36
What is a lentic biome
A freshwater, standing body of water
37
Give an example of lotic and lentic freshwater biomes
Lentic = lakes, ponds, wetlands Lotic = rivers, streams
38
What 2 factors limit primary production in marine biomes
Light | Nutrients
39
What is the photic zone
The certain depth of marine biomes that solar radiation penetrates
40
How much solar radiation is absorbed in the first meter of water
more than 50%
41
What are the two main nutrients in marine biomes
Nitrogen | Phosphorous
42
What are the 3 types of coral reefs
Fringing Barrier Atolls
43
Name 3 types of organisms that build coral reefs
``` Coralline algae Sponges Stony corals Hydrocorals Formaniferans ```
44
What are polyps?
Coral animals
45
Which biome is coral reef usually found?
tropical distributions | above 18 degrees C