Boreal Forest, Temperate Forest and Desert

Question 1

What is a biome?

Answer 1

A region of the world with similar climate, topography, flora and fauna

Question 2

What is the largest biome on the planet?

Answer 2

The aquatic biome

Question 3

If you start at the equator and move north, which biomes will you travel through from closest to furthest?

Answer 3

Tropical rainforests, temperate forests, grasslands, deserts, boreal forests and tundra

Question 4

What is the major environmental influence on a biome?

Answer 4

Climate

Question 5

Why are biomes important?

Answer 5

They produce food, fibre and a natural habitat for plants and animals

Question 6

What are the six key biomes being studied?

Answer 6

Boreal forest, temperate forest, tropical rainforest, desert, grassland and tundra

Question 7

What are the key characteristics in describing the context of a biome?

Answer 7

Climate, geology, scale, topography, hydrology, flora and fauna

Question 8

What is the boreal forest biome?

Answer 8

The largest land-based biome, dominated with coniferous flora

Question 9

Where do Boreal forest occur in terms of latitude and region of the world?

Answer 9

Between 50-60°N latitudes and 2/3 are found in Siberia, with the rest found in Scandinavia, Alaska and Canada

Question 10

What is length of the growing season in the Boreal Forest?

Answer 10

3 months and it has a low number of species of plants

Question 11

What is the longest season in the Boreal Forest and describe its temperatures?

Answer 11

Winter of 9 months, average temperatures fall to -15° with snow a common feature

Question 12

What are the summers like in the Boreal Forest?

Answer 12

High levels of humidity with temperatures climbing towards the 20° mark

Question 13

What are the major threats to the Boreal Forest biome?

Answer 13

Insect infestation, bush fires, mining, deforestation and climate change

Question 14

What are three other names for the Boreal Forest?

Answer 14

Evergreen coniferous and taiga forest

Question 15

What is the temperature range of the temperate forest?

Answer 15

-35°-40°C although the average weather conditions can be considered as temperate

Question 16

Where do temperate forests occur?

Answer 16

Eastern North America, North Eastern Asia, Western Central Europe, as well as evergreen temperate forests in Australia

Question 17

What is the climate and seasons like in a temperate forest?

Answer 17

Well-defined seasons with a distinct winter, growing season of 140-200 days during 4-6 frost free months

Question 18

What latitudes are temperate forests found at and what is a common flora species?

Answer 18

23.6-49°N latitudes, deciduous, broad leaf flora species

Question 19

What are temperate forests in Tasmania and Victoria characterised by?

Answer 19

Ferns covering the ground and tall trees

Question 20

What is the soil like in a temperate forest?

Answer 20

Extremely fertile, deep and ideal for plant growth

Question 21

Which biome do the majority of the world’s population live in?

Answer 21

Temperate forest biome

Question 22

What types of trees are found in the temperate forest?

Answer 22

Deciduous and maple trees

Question 23

What is the most important characteristic of the temperate forest?

Answer 23

Climate due to the mild temperatures, fertile soil and frequent rainfall

Question 24

How has deforestation affected the temperate forest biome?

Answer 24

Forests have been reduced in size to make way for farmland

Question 25

Which animal had its population decimated from 30 million in the 1500s to about 1000 by 1870?

Answer 25

Bison

Question 26

When can an area be defined as a desert?

Answer 26

If precipitation is below 250mm per year

Question 27

What percentage of Australia can be classified as a desert?

Answer 27

18 percent

Question 28

Where does Australia rank in continents for dryness?

Answer 28

Second driest behind Antarctica

Question 29

Why can Australia be classified as arid or semi-arid?

Answer 29

70% of the continent receives less than 500mm of rainfall each year

Question 30

Which biomes are Australia home to?

Answer 30

Tropical rainforest, temperate forest, grassland and desert biomes

Question 31

Describe desert biomes and their most important characteristic?

Answer 31

The driest biome on the planet and the most important characteristic is the lack of rainfall they receive