Biomes Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 5 biomes?
A
Tropical, freshwater, desert, polar, coral reef
2
Q
Polar characteristics
A
- temperatures can drop as low as -90°C in Antarctica.
- have long winters with no sunlight and summers with 24-hour daylight.
- powerful winds make the cold feel even more extreme.
- only hardy vegetation like mosses, lichens, and some shrubs survive.
3
Q
Tropical characteristics
A
- contain more than half of the world’s plant and animal species.
- generate around 40% of Earth’s oxygen.
- absorbs carbon dioxide.
4
Q
Desert characteristics
A
- can reach up to 49°C, or drop to -2°C in winter.
- receive less than 10 inches of rainfall per year.
- animals use strategies like burrowing, nocturnal behaviour, and water conservation.
- cold and hot deserts
5
Q
Freshwater characteristics
A
- sustain a variety of plants, fish, and other aquatic species.
- provide drinking water, irrigation for agriculture, and fisheries
- have minimal salinity, making them distinct
- rising water temperatures and decreasing ice coverage stress freshwater ecosystems.
- dams and infrastructure alter water flow
6
Q
Coral Reef characteristics
A
- support a vast array of marine life, including fish, sea turtles, sharks, and mollusks
- need warm, clear water, sunlight, and low pollution levels to thrive
- corals rely on zooxanthellae algae for food and oxygen through photosynthesis
- pollution, overfishing, and coastal development can degrade coral reefs
- rising ocean temperatures and coral bleaching threaten reef ecosystems
