Biomes (Week 4 Lecture 6) Flashcards
______ are the major life zones characterized by vegetation type (terrestrial biomes) or physical environment (aquatic biomes).
Biomes
List the 9 major biomes
tropical rainforest
tropical dry forest
tropical grassland/ savanna/shrubland
desert
temperate grassland
temperate woodland and
shrubland
temperate forest
northwestern coniferous
forest
boreal forest
tundra
______ biomes are Hot temperature, moisture laden air rises resulting in constant rainfall (200 inches per year).
Tropical rain forest
True or False: The tropical rain forest biome has high biodiversity.
True
True or False: The ground in a tropical rain forest has alot of vegetation.
False, little vegetation unless plants have big leaves
How does vegetation pollinate primarily?
Through animals and insects because dense vegetation limits wind
True or False: Tropical rain forests are dominated by broadleaf evergreen plants; their dense tops block out most of the sun not reaching the forest floor.
True
______ plants in tropical rain forests have to compete for sunlight, so most have large leaves that maximize capture of limited light.
Understory
______ plants grown on branches of tall plants as opposed to soil so they can be closer towards the sunlight.
Epiphytic
______ biomes grow in areas where rainy seasons alternate with dry seasons.
Tropical dry forests
A plant that sheds its leaves during a particular season is called ______.
Decidious
How do animals reduce their need for water during dry seasons of tropical dry forests?
Evistation
______ biomes have more seasonal rainfall than deserts but less than tropical dry forests.
TROPICAL GRASSLAND/SAVANNA/SHRUBLAND
True or False: In tropical grasslands/savanna/shrubland, the soil is compact-frequent fires set by lightning.
True
In tropical grasslands/savanna/shrubland, adpatation include ______ leaf coverings and seasonal ______ ______.
Waxy, leaf loss
______ biomes have less than 25 centimeters of precipitation annually, but otherwise vary greatly, depending on elevation and latitude.
Desert
True or False: Many deserts undergo extreme daily temperature changes, alternating between hot and cold.
True
______ are modified leaves that aid in water retention in desert plants.
Spines
What type of biome covered vast areas of the mid-western and central United States?
Temperate grasslands
True or False: Grassland plants especially grasses, which grow from their base, are resistant to grazing and fire.
True
True or False: Desert animals are most active in the day.
False, to avoid the hottest parts of the day, many animals are nocturnal active only at night.
What physical characteristic helps desert animals regulate body temperature?
Elongated ears
What type of dispersal of seeds is common in grasslands?
Dispersal by wind
What are two common protective adaptations from grassland animals?
Burrowing and camoflauge
______ biomes are large areas of grasses and wildflowers are interspersed with oak and other trees.
Temperate woodland and shrubland
Communities that are more shrubland than forest are known as ______.
Chaparral
Why are temperate woodland shrubland biomes susceptible to fires?
Dense low plants that contain flammable oils make fire a constant threat.
True or False: The soil in temperate woodland shrubland biome is thick wand nutrient rich.
False, thin and nutrient poor
How do woody chaparral plants resist water loss?
Tough waxy leaves
True or False: In temperate woodland shrubland biomes, some plants need fire to germinate.
True
______ biomes are mostly deciduous and evergreen coniferous trees.
Temperate Forest
______ trees produce seed-bearing cones.
Coniferous
______ trees drop their leaves and dormant in winter.
Deciduous
______ is a material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter to keep soil fertile in temperate forests.
Humus
Mild moist air from the Pacific Ocean influenced by the Rocky Mountains provides abundant rainfall to this biome.
Northwestern Coniferous Forest
Because of its lush vegetation, the northwestern coniferous forest is sometimes called a ______.
Temperate rain forest
True or False in the Northwestern coniferous forests biome, summers are cool and dry and soil is rocky and acidic.
True
Where are some of the world’s tallest trees found?
Northwestern coniferous forest
______ biome is dense forests of coniferous evergreens along the northern edge of the temperate zone.
Boreal forests
Another name for boreal forest is ______.
Taiga
True or False: Occur mostly in the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere.
True, boreal is greek for north.
True or False: In boreal forests humidity is low and soil is nutrient rich.
False, High humidity and soil is acidic and nutrient-poor.
Why are conifers well suited for the boreal forest?
The conical shape of conifers sheds snow, leaves prevent water loss.
What is the major challenge for animals in the boreal forest?
Staying warm
______ is characterized by permafrost, a layer of permanently frozen subsoil.
Tundra
Why are tundra plants small and stunted?
Thawing and freezing-rips and crushes plant roots
True or False: In the tundra, summers are short and soggy, and the winters are long, cold, and dark.
True
By hugging the ground, ______ and other low-growing plants avoid damage from frequent strong winds.
Mosses
True or False: Seed dispersal is common by animals in the tundra.
False, common by wind
In cold areas (boreal and tundra) what 2 physical characteristic allows animals to stay warm?
Small extremities and extra fat
