Module 176: Terrestrial Biomes

Question 1

What are two major Abiotic factors?

Answer 1

Temperature & Precipitation

Question 2

What are Biomes?

Answer 2

Large geographic area with a characteristics collection of plants and animals.

Question 3

Terrestrial biomes exist where?

Answer 3

They exist on dry land

Question 4

What determines the biome?

Answer 4

Climate and geography

Question 5

What happens in a deciduous forest?

Answer 5

The trees shed leaves in fall

Question 6

Forest Biomes cover how much space?

Answer 6

Over 1/3 of the planet’s land

Question 7

Forest Biomes have 4 major types which are?

Answer 7

Tropical Rainforest, Taiga, Temperate Rainforest & Chaparral

Question 8

What is a nickname for Forest?

Answer 8

“Carbon sinks”

Question 9

Forest Biomes divide into what 3 layers?

Answer 9

1. Canopy-treetops; a lot of light is absorbed here
2. Understory-shrubs and younger trees; unevenly spaced
3. Forest floor- small plants and decomposing biomass

Question 10

Tropical Rainforest characteristics?

Answer 10

1. 50-400 inches of rain per yr.
2. Covers 6% of planet’s surface and home of 50% of Eukaryotic species
3. Average 20-34 C.

Question 11

Temperate Forest characteristics?

Answer 11

1. Has 4 seasons
2. 29-59 inches of precipitation per year
3. Much more light penetrates canopy

Question 12

Chaparral characteristics?

Answer 12

1. Warm and dry climate
2. Trees tend to be short and spread out
3. Thick, tough leaves are common
4. Many nocturnal animals

Question 13

Taiga (Boreal Forest) Characteristics?

Answer 13

1. Cold (-54 to 30 C.)
2. 10-40 inches of rain
3. Dense, uniform canopy consisting of evergreens.

Question 14

Grassland Biomes characteristics?

Answer 14

1. Very complex with low-growing flowering plants

2. Shrubs and trees may be present, but low precipitation makes it difficult to support large numbers.

Question 15

There are two forms of grassland biomes what are they?

Answer 15

Temperate Grasslands & Savanna

Question 16

Temperate Grasslands characteristics?

Answer 16

1. Rainfall ranges from 25-60 inches with temp ranging from -40 to 21 C.
2. Erratic rainfall makes it difficult for trees to grow.
3. Large grazing mammals are common

Question 17

Savanna characteristics?

Answer 17

1. Often found at the boundary of forests and grasslands; can be temperate or tropical.
2. More shrubs and trees than grasslands

Question 18

Desert characteristics?

Answer 18

1. Low rainfall under 6 inches.
   2 Very hot 20 to 50 C. or cold -2 to 26 C.
2. Plants like cacti have evolved to maximize water retention and minimize water loss.

Question 19

Tundra characteristics?

Answer 19

1. Frozen desert
2. Temp -35 to 10 C.
3. Vegetation mainly small grasses and shrubs, mosses and lichen

Question 20

Polar Ice characteristics?

Answer 20

1. All fresh water is frozen

2. No real vegatation, but green and red algae can grow in the snow.

Question 21

A large geographical area containing a characteristic collection of naturally occurring plants and animals best defines which of the following?

Answer 21

biome

Question 22

What two factors are most important in determining the predominant vegetation of terrestrial biomes?

Answer 22

precipitation and temperature

Question 23

Which of the following is an abiotic factor of a biome?

Answer 23

precipitation

Question 24

Biomes vary in biodiversity. Which of the following has the highest level of biodiversity?

Answer 24

rainforest

Question 25

Certain features are characteristic of each biome. Which biome has rich topsoil, many broad-leafed hardwood trees, 75–150 cm (29–59 inches) of precipitation annually, and warm summers and cold winters?

Answer 25

temperate deciduous forests