Biomes Flashcards
Desert Biome 🌵
Deserts are dry ecosystems with minimal precipitation, typically receiving less than 25 cm (10 inches) of rain annually. The extreme temperature fluctuations, ranging from scorching hot days to freezing cold nights, characterize deserts. Vegetation in deserts is sparse, and the organisms have adapted to survive in these harsh conditions.
Climate:
Temperature: Deserts experience extreme temperature changes. Daytime temperatures can exceed 40°C (104°F), and at night, they may drop well below freezing.
Precipitation: Very low precipitation, with some deserts receiving almost no rain for months or even years.
Soil: Deserts have sandy or rocky soil that is often nutrient-poor and unable to support dense vegetation.
Examples:
Sahara Desert (Africa): The largest hot desert in the world, known for its vast sand dunes and extreme heat.
Mojave Desert (North America): Famous for its unique plant species like the Joshua tree.
Gobi Desert (Asia): Known for its cold winters, this desert has a semi-arid climate.
Human impact on desert
Human Impact:
Urbanization: Expansion of cities in desert regions leads to habitat
destruction and the overuse of water resources.
Agriculture: Irrigation for farming depletes underground water sources, which can have long-term effects on the ecosystem.
Climate Change: Increased temperatures and altered rainfall patterns contribute to desertification and the loss of fertile land.
Solar energy: Using sunlight in deserts to create clean energy.
Eco-tourism: Responsible tourism that helps protect deserts while benefiting local people.
Desalination: Turning seawater into freshwater to provide water in deserts.
Grassland Biome 🌾
Grasslands are ecosystems dominated by grasses, with only a few trees or shrubs. These biomes occur in regions with moderate rainfall, making them suitable for grazing animals but not dense forests. Grasslands are found in regions with seasonal rainfall and can experience hot summers and cold winters.
Climate:
Temperature: Grasslands have warm to hot summers and cold winters, with temperature variations between -5°C in winter and 25-30°C in summer.
Precipitation: Grasslands receive moderate rainfall, between 25 and 75 cm (10-30 inches) annually. Rain is often seasonal, with wet and dry periods.
Soil: The soil is fertile and deep, rich in organic matter, making grasslands excellent for agriculture.
Examples:
Prairies (North America): Known for their vast, open spaces and fertile soil, often converted for agriculture.
Savannas (Africa): Tropical grasslands with a distinct wet and dry season, home to large herbivores such as elephants and zebras.
Steppes (Asia): Cold grasslands with a semi-arid climate, located in Central Asia and Europe.
Human impact of grassland biomes
Human Impact:
Agriculture: Grasslands are heavily converted into farmland, leading to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and a decline in natural habitats.
Overgrazing: Livestock grazing leads to overuse of grasslands, resulting in soil degradation and desertification.
Urbanization: Expansion of urban areas reduces the size of grassland ecosystems and threatens wildlife populations.
Sustainable farming: Using methods that protect the soil and prevent overgrazing.
Conservation efforts: Creating protected areas to preserve wildlife and plant species.
Reforestation: Planting trees in some areas to reduce soil erosion and improve habitats.
Tundra Biome 🏔️
The tundra is a cold, treeless biome found in polar regions or high altitudes. The soil in the tundra is frozen most of the year, known as permafrost, and the ecosystem is characterized by low plant diversity and short growing seasons.
Climate:
Temperature: Extremely cold, with long winters and short, cool summers. Average winter temperatures are well below freezing, ranging from -28°C to -40°C (-18°F to -40°F). Summer temperatures range between 3°C to 12°C (37°F to 54°F).
Precipitation: Very low, typically less than 25 cm (10 inches) annually. Most precipitation is in the form of snow.
Soil: Permafrost, a layer of frozen soil that prevents deep-rooted plants from growing. The soil in the tundra is nutrient-poor and shallow.
Examples:
Arctic Tundra (North Pole): Home to polar bears, arctic foxes, and migratory birds, and an essential breeding ground for many species.
Alpine Tundra (High mountain regions): Found on mountain tops, such as the Rocky Mountains, where the cold temperatures prevent tree growth.
Human impact of tundra
Oil and Gas Extraction: The extraction of fossil fuels in tundra regions disrupts ecosystems and contributes to pollution.
Climate Change: Rising temperatures are causing permafrost to melt, releasing greenhouse gases such as methane and accelerating global warming.
Pollution: The tundra is highly sensitive to chemical spills and waste, as its ecosystem is slow to recover from human disturbance.
Climate change action: Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions help slow down the effects of warming in the tundra.
Sustainable hunting and fishing: Regulating hunting and fishing practices to avoid overharvesting and maintain balance.
Education and awareness: Spreading knowledge about the importance of tundra ecosystems encourages conservation efforts.
Rainforest Biome 🌳
Rainforests are dense, tropical forests found in regions with high rainfall. They are incredibly biodiverse, with more species of plants and animals than any other biome on Earth. There are two types of rainforests: tropical and temperate.
Climate:
Temperature: Warm temperatures year-round, usually between 20°C and 30°C (68°F-86°F).
Precipitation: Rainforests receive high amounts of rainfall, exceeding 200 cm (79 inches) per year, and often experience daily rainfall.
Soil: While rainforest soils are often rich in minerals, they are relatively poor in nutrients because the nutrients are quickly absorbed by the dense vegetation and rapidly decomposed.
Examples:
Amazon Rainforest (South America): The largest tropical rainforest, which plays a crucial role in the global climate by absorbing carbon dioxide.
Congo Rainforest (Africa): The second-largest tropical rainforest, known for its vast biodiversity, including gorillas, elephants, and hundreds of bird species.
Temperate Rainforests (Pacific Northwest, USA): Known for their cool, damp climate and towering evergreen trees.
Human impact of tundra
Human Impact:
Deforestation: Logging, agriculture, and urbanization are major causes of rainforest destruction. This leads to the loss of biodiversity and contributes to climate change.
Pollution: Runoff from agriculture and industrial activities, along with plastic pollution, harm the delicate ecosystem of rainforests.
Climate Change: The destruction of rainforests reduces their ability to absorb carbon dioxide, worsening the effects of global warming.
Local community management: Local people help protect and use the forest sustainably
What is the OPVL analysis
Origin:
What is the source?
Consider the who, what, when, where, and why of the source. This includes who created it, when it was created, where it was created, and under what conditions.
Examples: A letter written by a soldier during World War I, a newspaper article from the 1920s, a painting from the Renaissance.
- Purpose:
Why was the source created?
Determine the reason or intention behind the creation of the source. Was it to inform, entertain, persuade, or document events? Understanding the purpose helps assess bias or subjectivity in the source.
Example: A propaganda poster from World War II meant to encourage enlistment or promote a political ideology.
3. Value:
What is the source useful for?
Identify what the source can tell us about the past. What makes it valuable for understanding a particular historical event, period, or perspective? Consider what it reveals about the culture, social conditions, or the people involved.
Example: A personal diary can provide insight into an individual’s feelings and thoughts during a specific historical period.
