Boreal Forest, Temperate Forest and Desert Flashcards

1
Q

What is a biome?

A

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

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2
Q

What is the largest biome on the planet?

A

The aquatic biome

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3
Q

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

A

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

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4
Q

What is the major environmental influence on a biome?

A

Climate

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5
Q

Why are biomes important?

A

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

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6
Q

What are the six key biomes being studied?

A

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

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7
Q

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

A

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

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8
Q

What is the boreal forest biome?

A

The largest land-based biome, dominated with coniferous flora

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9
Q

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

A

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

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10
Q

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

A

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

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11
Q

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

A

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

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12
Q

What are the summers like in the Boreal Forest?

A

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

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13
Q

What are the major threats to the Boreal Forest biome?

A

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

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14
Q

What are three other names for the Boreal Forest?

A

Evergreen coniferous and taiga forest

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15
Q

What is the temperature range of the temperate forest?

A

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

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16
Q

Where do temperate forests occur?

A

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

17
Q

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

A

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

18
Q

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

A

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

19
Q

What are temperate forests in Tasmania and Victoria characterised by?

A

Ferns covering the ground and tall trees

20
Q

What is the soil like in a temperate forest?

A

Extremely fertile, deep and ideal for plant growth

21
Q

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

A

Temperate forest biome

22
Q

What types of trees are found in the temperate forest?

A

Deciduous and maple trees

23
Q

What is the most important characteristic of the temperate forest?

A

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

24
Q

How has deforestation affected the temperate forest biome?

A

Forests have been reduced in size to make way for farmland

25
Which animal had its population decimated from 30 million in the 1500s to about 1000 by 1870?
Bison
26
When can an area be defined as a desert?
If precipitation is below 250mm per year
27
What percentage of Australia can be classified as a desert?
18 percent
28
Where does Australia rank in continents for dryness?
Second driest behind Antarctica
29
Why can Australia be classified as arid or semi-arid?
70% of the continent receives less than 500mm of rainfall each year
30
Which biomes are Australia home to?
Tropical rainforest, temperate forest, grassland and desert biomes
31
Describe desert biomes and their most important characteristic?
The driest biome on the planet and the most important characteristic is the lack of rainfall they receive