Biomes Flashcards
What is a biome?
large regions of Earth whose distribution depends on the amount of rainfall and temperature in the area
How many biomes are there and what are they?
7; Marine, Tropical Rainforest, Desert, Temperate Grassland, Temperate Deciduous Forest, Conifer Forest/Taiga, Tundra
What is the largest biome?
Marine; 3/4 of Earth
What is the most stable biome and why?
Marine; high specific heat of water
Which biome provides most of Earth’s food and oxygen?
Marine
How is the marine biome subdivided?
amount of sunlight received, distance from shore and water depth, open water vs ocean bottom
Which oceans are nutrient-poor?
Open oceans
Where is the tropical rainforest biome found?
near the equator
What are the characteristics of a tropical rainforest?
abundant rainfall, stable temperatures, high humidity, 20% of Earth’s net carbon fixation
Which biome has the greatest plant and animal species diversity?
Tropical Rainforest
What are the characteristics of trees in tropical rainforests?
very tall with interlacing tops to form a dense canopy that keeps the floor dimly lit and away from heavy rain
What are the trees in tropical rainforests covered with?
Epiphytes = photosynthetic plants that grow on other trees and may kill them (however not parasitic)
Which biome receives <10 inches of rainfall per year?
Desert
Which biome has the most extreme temperature fluctuations?
Desert; boiling during day and freezing during the night
When are animals most active in the desert?
Night/Early Morning/Late Afternoon when the heat is not so intense, burrow underground or hide in shade to remain cool
What are the characteristics of cacti?
have shallow roots to capture as much water as possible, drought-resistant, expand to hold extra water, have spines to protect against animals
What are the characteristic plants of a desert?
Cacti, sagebrush, creosote bush, and mesquite
What are the characteristic animals of a desert?
Rodents, kangaroo rats, snakes, lizards, arachnids, insects, and a few birds
What does the temperate grasslands biome cover?
Huge areas in both temperate and tropical regions of the world
What are the characteristics of a temperate grassland?
low annual rainfall, uneven seasonal occurence of rainfall
What are the characteristic animals of a temperate grassland?
Bison/Pronghorn Antelope (US), wildbeest/gazelle (Africa), prarie dogs, rodents
Where is the temperate deciduous forest biome found?
Northeast of North America, south of taiga
What are the characteristics of the temperate deciduous forest?
trees drop their leaves in winter, vertical stratification of plants and animals, rich soil
What species does a temperate deciduous forest have more than taiga?
plant species
What are the characteristic mammals of temperate deciduous forests?
squirrels, deer, foxes, bears
Where is the taiga biome found?
Northern Canada, much of the world’s northern regions
Which biome is the largest terrestrial biome?
Taiga
Which biome has an abundance of rainfall with very cold winters?
Taiga
What are the characteristics of the taiga?
Dominated by conifer forests (spruce, fir), dotted with lakes/ponds/bogs
What is a special characteristic of trees in the taiga and why?
Trees have branches directed downward to prevent the heavy accumulation of snow since taiga has heavy snowfall
Taiga has a greater variety in which species than which biome?
Animal species; Tundra
What are the characteristic animals of taiga?
moose, black bear, lynx, elk, wolverines, martens, porcupines
Which animals are prevalent in the summer in the taiga?
Flying insects and birds
Where is the tundra biome found?
Northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia
What is permafrost and where is it found?
Found in the tundra; permanently frozen subsoil
What are the characteristics of the tundra?
frozen desert, very little rainfall, rolling treeless plains, many lakes/ponds/bogs in depresions
What are the characteristic animals of the tundra?
Insects (flies), reindeer, caribou, arctic wolves, arctic foxes, arctic hares, lemmings, and polar bears
Important Tundra Fact:
of individual organisms is high, # of species is low
