EE Lecture 20: Biomes

Question 1

what are biomes

Answer 1

large scale biological communities shaped by the physical enviro in which they are found

Question 2

what are biomes characterised by

Answer 2

the most common groups of plants distributed across large geographic areas

Question 3

how many biomes are there?

what ar4e they?

Answer 3

9
TRF
tropical seasonal forest
savanna
desert
temperate grassland
temperate shrubland
woodland
temperate deciduous forest
temperate evergreen forest
boreal forest
tundra

Question 4

why use plants as opposed to animals to categorize terrestrial biomes

Answer 4

theyre immobile
tend to occupy site for long time
they must be able to compete with extremes and biological pressures

Question 5

describe deciduous trees

Answer 5

deciduous plants drop their leaves during cold/dry periods

Question 6

what is a solution of plants to seasonal exposure to subfreezing temps/extended dry periods

Answer 6

being able to shed leaves - having deciduous leaves

Question 7

where are the majordeserts in the world

Answer 7

associated with the zones of HIGH pressure 30degN/S and with the rain shadow effects of large mountain ranges

Question 8

what are the locations of biomes correlated with

Answer 8

variations in temperature and precipitation

Question 9

why do the potential distributions of terrestrial biomes differ from their actual distribution

Answer 9

due to human activity

land conversion and resource extraction

Question 10

how do biological communities in mountains occur

Answer 10

in elevational bands associated with climate gradients

Question 11

what are main aquatic biomes

Answer 11

freshwater - lotic and lentic

marine - pelagic, neritic, coral reefs, upwellings, littoral (shore lines

Question 12

where are TRFs found

Answer 12

in low latitude tropics between 10deg N/s

Question 13

what biome is found 10deg N/S

Answer 13

TRF

Question 14

what is annual precipitation of TRF

Answer 14

exceeds 2000mm - 79inches

Question 15

describe TRF temperatures

Answer 15

warm,seasonally invariant temps
dont really have seasonal rythyms
plants grow continuously throughout year

Question 16

how can habitats within a biome differ

Answer 16

microclimate
altitude
aspect
substrate (geology, hydrology, nutrients)

Question 17

name continents where TRG occur

Answer 17

central and south america
africa
australia
SE Asia

Question 18

what is TRF biome characterized by

Answer 18

broad leaved evergreen and deciduous trees

5 canopies 30-40m high

Question 19

what happens to rainfall patterns as you move N and S

Answer 19

becomes more seasonal, with pronounced wet and dry seasons

Question 20

discuss tropical seasonal forests

Answer 20

10-20N/S

one or more pronounced drt seasons

Question 21

where are deserts found

Answer 21

20-40N/S equatorlow unpredicatable rainfall
high vaporative stress - xerophyllyy
dominated by shrubs succullence and drought resistance

Question 22

what biome found 10-20N/S

Answer 22

tropical season forest

Question 23

what biome found 20-40N/S

Answer 23

desert

Question 24

what are savannas

Answer 24

communities dominated by grasses with intermixed trees and shrubs

Question 25

what do the major desert zones include

Answer 25

sahara arabian deserts atacama desert of chile

Question 26

outline some features of desert plants that show convergence

Answer 26

succulent stems, water conserving photosynthetic pathways, upright stems minimizing sun exposure and protective spines

Question 27

what/where are temperate grasslands

Answer 27

large expanses of grasslands that once occured throughout N.America and Eurasia between 30-50N

Question 28

compare seasonal temperature variaiton in tropical and temperate climates

Answer 28

temperate climates have greater seasonal temperature variation than tropical climates, with increasing periods of sufreezing temps toward the poles

Question 29

what seasons are grasslands usually associated with

Answer 29

warm,moist summers and cold, dry winters

Question 30

discuss temperate deciduous forests

Answer 30

40-60N | 30-50S

Question 31

what biome found 40-60N and 30-50S

Answer 31

temperate desciduous forest

Question 32

discuss climate in TDF

Answer 32

predictable rainfall deciduous leaves - more sensitive to freezing oak maple beeches

Question 33

discuss boreal forests, where found=

Answer 33

above 50deg N, severity of winters increases min temp -50 common in Siberia continuous subfreezing last 6mnths permafrost - impedes water drainage so soils saturated

Question 34

what is boreal forest aka

Answer 34

taiga

Question 35

what species is boreal/taiga mainly composed of

Answer 35

coniferous species; spruce pines larches

Question 36

climate of boreal

Answer 36

cold and wet - limiting deocmposition plants

Question 37

tundra -where found

Answer 37

only found in NORTH | russia siberia n.canada

Question 38

where can forest fires occur

Answer 38

mediterranean | boreal forest

Question 39

what similarities exist between the tundra and boreal forest

Answer 39

cold temp low precipitation widespread permafrost

Question 40

howcomes many tundras are wet

Answer 40

the permafrost keeps the little precipitation that does fall from percolating to deeper soils

Question 41

what are regional names for mediterranean

Answer 41

``` sclerophyllous woodland temperate evergreen woodland chaparral maquis phrygana garrique ```

Question 42

what are features of mediterranean

Answer 42

hot dry summers warm wet winters spectacular flush of early spring flowers fires climax an evergreen sclerophyllous forest disturbed by heavy grazing by goats

Question 43

what biome is found high latitudes 60-70 in N hemisphere

Answer 43

boreal forest:taiga

Question 44

what biome has snow cover for more than 9 months

Answer 44

tundra

Question 45

what biome has small mammals that show cyclic pops

Answer 45

tundra

Question 46

which small mammals show cyclic pops

Answer 46

lemmings 4 yr | snowshoe hare 10 yr

Question 47

outline some key species of savanna

Answer 47

bizarre large animals: elephant giraffe abundant feline and canine predators grazing tolerant and fire tolerant plants

Question 48

name some keystone species of the desert

Answer 48

rodents and ants

Question 49

define a keystone species

Answer 49

a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically

Question 50

name some large ungulate herbivores of grassland

Answer 50

bison

Question 51

what are fossorial animals where foud give example

Answer 51

underground animals like moles (predators) or dogs (herbivores)

Question 52

what type of grasses are grasslands dominated by

Answer 52

tussock (caespitose) or clonal, turf forming (rhizomatous) grasses

Question 53

what are caespitose grasses

Answer 53

tussock grasses

Question 54

what are rhizomatous grasses

Answer 54

turf forming grasses

Question 55

what are birds of TDF typically like

Answer 55

insectivorous birds typically migratory

Question 56

what predator prey cycles are characteristic of tundra

Answer 56

characteristic 10yr cycles in popn density of predators and prey

Question 57

what are hare and lynx keystone species of

Answer 57

boreal forest/taiga

Question 58

what large migratory ungulates are there in taiga

Answer 58

caribou

Question 59

what biome are caribou a major species of

Answer 59

taiga/boreal forest

Question 60

what species is taiga dominated by

Answer 60

low diversity evergreen spruce forest

Question 61

what biome is dominated by low diversity evergreen spruce forest

Answer 61

taiga/boreal forest

Question 62

what marine predators exist in tundra

Answer 62

polar bear sea lion marine pred

Question 63

where are penguins found

Answer 63

in S hemisphrere tundra

Question 64

what biome has v low vascular plant diversity

Answer 64

tundra