Life Zones

Question 1

Who developed the concept of biogeographical regions? When did they develop it?

Answer 1

Sclater and Wallace in the mid-1800s

Question 2

Who developed the concept of life zones? When did they develop it?

Answer 2

Hart Merriam in 1894

Question 3

What are the regions of North America?

Answer 3

1. Boreal
2. Austral
3. Tropical

Question 4

What are the problems with the life zone concept? (5 in total)

Answer 4

1. It is not a biologically recognized unit (artificial)
2. It does not account for temperatures outside of the warmest period
3. Extreme temperatures are more limiting in distribution than average temperatures
4. A base of 43 degrees F for biological activity does not hold for every species
5. Temperature is not the sole condition that determines distribution

Question 5

Who created the biome concept? When did they create it?

Answer 5

Clements and Shelford created it in 1939

Question 6

What is the biome concept?

Answer 6

A biome is a major terrestrial ecosystem that is naturally recognizable (meaning the vegetation reflects the climactic conditions)

Question 7

What are the 6 major biomes?

Answer 7

1. Tundra
2. Coniferous Forest
3. Deciduous Forest
4. Desert
5. Grassland
6. Tropical Rainforest

Question 8

What is the mean annual temperature of Alabama?

Answer 8

64 degrees F

Question 9

What is the wettest month in Alabama? The driest?

Answer 9

Wettest- March
Driest- October

Question 10

Why is Alabama biologically rich? (6 reasons)

Answer 10

1. There is a lot of speciation due to highly specific geographic ranges
2. Much geological and physiographic variability
3. Many bodies of water
4. 8 isolated river systems
5. Relatively warm
6. Relatively wet

Question 11

What are the physiographic regions of Alabama?

Answer 11

The coastal plain and upland zone, which are divided by the fall line.

Question 12

Describe the upland zone.

Answer 12

1. Hilly
2. Clay and rocky soil
3. Rock outcrops
4. Springs and clear rocky streams

Question 13

Describe the coastal plain.

Answer 13

1. Flat or rolling hills
2. Sandy and loamy soil
3. Sluggish streams
4. Blackwater rivers and streams

Question 14

Describe the lower coastal plain.

Answer 14

1. Sinkhole lakes and Karst topography
2. Swamps
3. Longleaf pines are common

Question 15

Describe the red hills.

Answer 15

1. Deep ravines with loamy and chalky soil
2. Hardwood/pine mixture at high points
3. Beeches and magnolias in ravines
4. Red hills salamander is present in ravines

Question 16

Describe the black belt.

Answer 16

1. Rolling hills
2. Heavy chalky limestone soils and acidic fertile prairie soils
3. Intense agriculture

Question 17

Describe the fall line hills.

Answer 17

1. Transition zone with the greatest habitat diversity
2. Moderately hilly
3. Heavily forested with pine, oak, and hickory
4. Clay and sandy soil
5. Clear, rocky streams

Question 18

Describe the piedmont.

Answer 18

1. Very hilly
2. Clay and rocky soils
3. Heavily forested with pines and oaks
4. Clear, rocky streams

Question 19

Describe the blue ridges.

Answer 19

1. String of several hills/mountains
2. Rocky with sandy soil on top
3. Heavily forested with longleaf pines on the tops of mountains
4. Small, fast-flowing streams
5. The highest point in the state is Mount Cheehaw

Question 20

Describe the ridge and valley region.

Answer 20

1. Sandy soil at higher elevations and clay/loamy soil at lower elevations
2. Rock outcrops are common
3. Oak, hickory, and pine are common
4. Springs are common
5. Some medium to larger rivers

Question 21

Describe the Appalachian Plateau.

Answer 21

1. Plateaus and “mountains”
2. Limestone in the south and sandstone in the north
3. Sandy loam to clay soils
4. Caves are common
5. Bluffs and rock outcrops are common
6. Oak and pine are common
7. Clear, rocky streams

Question 22

Describe the Tennessee Valley.

Answer 22

1. Big river and broad floodplain
2. Big cliffs and bluffs that meet other regions
3. Fertile clay and loam soil
4. Caves
5. Oak and hickory
6. Agriculture is important