Chapter 2 Life on Land Flashcards
dry season =
rainy season =
dormant
flower
Which variables cause the earth to heat unevenly?
the spherical shape of the earth
the angle of the earth’s rotation
Select the core components of terrestrial ecology.
temperature and precipitation
Which characteristic is most common among the soil of a savanna?
low permeability to water
Which region of the earth experiences the least amount of seasonal change in temperature and day length?
equatorial regions
True or false: Soil structure is determined by the short-term interactions between climate, organisms, topography, and parent minerals; thus, time is not a factor.
false
long term factors
In an agricultural field, which soil horizon is closest to the surface?
a horizon
Which soil component will help mix organic matter in the A horizon?
earthworms
Uneven heating of the earth’s surface results in ______.
climatic variation
Due to the soil quality of savannas, where are they most commonly found in south America?
wet areas that retain water
Which soil component is least likely to be found in the A horizon?
iron
What two environmental variables do plants have to overcome in order to survive in the desert?
intense sunlight and lack of water
When do temperate grasslands receive the majority of their precipitation?
summer
Evergreen conifers such as spruce, fir, and pine are characteristic of the _______ forest.
boreal
Which of the following are resources that humans directly gain from mountains?
forage for animals
sources of wood
medicinal plants
What two features are used to distinguish a biome?
plants and climates
Which feature of the earth is primarily responsible for determining the climate of a region?
the spherical surface
What characteristic of the sun changes during the year and drives the seasonal changes observed at higher latitudes?
the latitude where the sun is directly overhead
In equatorial regions, the sun will cause the air to expand and ______
rise
Identify what happens to equatorial air after it rises.
Eventually it spreads north and south.
In the tropics, winds blowing from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere are called the ______
northeast trades
Which factors help determine the geographic distribution of terrestrial biomes?
temp
variation in climate
soil type
Which soil component helps decompose organic matter in the O horizon?
bacteria
Which soil component is least likely to be found in the B horizon?
bedrock
Which wind patterns are experienced in the tropics?
northeast/southeast trades
Which soil component is least likely found in the O horizon?
limestone
Which of the following regions contain tropical rainforests?
Southeast Asia
Due to the heavy rains and rapid decomposition, tropical rain forest soils are nutrient- _____
deficient
Which living organisms are likely to be found in the B horizon?
roots of plants
The tropical dry forest soil tends to be
_______ acidic when compared to those of rain forests.
less
Which factor does contribute to the reason tropical soils are nutrient-poor?
rapid decomposition
heavy rains
warm temperatures
Which physical factor does the savanna’s seasonal drought lead to?
An increase in the frequency of fire.
low in organic matter soil
lithosols
Identify the cycles of the savanna.
alternating wet and dry seasons
