Seasonal Forests DVD

Question 1

What type of trees are found in the taiga?

Answer 1

• conifers

Question 2

Describe some of the abiotic factors that limit biodiversity in the taiga.

Answer 2

• snow
• permafrost
• short growing season

Question 3

Why are lynx numbers so limited in the taiga?

Answer 3

• few prey

Question 4

Moose can digest evergreen needles, why are they so distasteful to other herbivores?

Answer 4

• conifers protect needles by filling them with resin to reduce water loss while making needles distasteful

Question 5

Give an example of a physical and behavioural adaptation of the wolverine.

Answer 5

• bulk conserves body heat

- can bring down caribou

Question 6

Give an example of a physical and behavioural adaptation of the wolverine.

Answer 6

1. bulk conserves body heat

2. can bring down caribou

Question 7

How is it beneficial to the capercaile species in the long-term to have the males fight over the right to breed with females?

Answer 7

• controls pop, “survival of the fittest”

Question 8

What are two limiting factors present in temperate forest of pacific NW that allows trees to grow much taller than usual?

Answer 8

1. extra moisture from sea

2. extra sun

Question 9

Why are animals relatively scarce within temperate rainforests?

Answer 9

• inedible needles means scarce prey

Question 10

What does the pine marten feed on?

Answer 10

Variable diet.

• eggs in spring
• squirrels in other seasons

Question 11

How are monkey puzzle trees similar to coniferous trees of NA and Europe?

Answer 11

• has waterproof scales instead of needles

Question 12

What do animals of Valdivian forests in Chile have in common?

Answer 12

• supports very few animals, and those that it does support are small

Question 13

What is an advantage and disadvantage of broad, flat leaves of deciduous forest?

Answer 13

advantage: traps more light energy
disadvantage: thin, soft and edible

Question 14

Periodical cicadas are slow, clumsy and defenceless against predators, how can they survive as a species?

Answer 14

• billions exist, so predators can only eat so many before they get full

Question 15

How does fighting of red deer result in next generation having better genes?

Answer 15

• best fighter wins and gets to reproduce, survival of the fittest

Question 16

What is the niche of vultures and Amur leopards in winter?

Answer 16

• eat dead animals

Question 17

Why does it take longer for Amur leopards to raise young than African leopards?

Answer 17

• harsher climate and scarcer food sources

Question 18

Why do deciduous plants produce brightly-coloured, nectar-filled flowers?

Answer 18

• to make it easier to attract new insects

Question 19

How does the lower layer of deciduous forest compare with the canopy?

Answer 19

• variety of plants/flowers cover forest floor and bloom before trees get leaves to take in as much sun as possible

Question 20

Why would deciduous trees living in tropical latitudes need to drop its leaves?

Answer 20

• protect from losing water through transpiration in dry season

Question 21

What is mutualistic relationship b/w langur monkeys and chital deer?

Answer 21

• the monkeys drop flowers from trees that are filled with water, lets deer drink
• the monkeys follow deer to know when predators are around

Question 22

What adaptations do Baobab trees have for surviving dry season in Madagascar?

Answer 22

• collect water and store in large trunks to prepare for dry season

Question 23

What is mutualistic relationship b/w hawk moths, baobab trees and mouse lemurs?

Answer 23

• lemurs drink nectar from baobab flowers
• nectar is meant for moths who fertilize flowers
• lemurs eat the moths
• lemur fur gets pollen on it and becomes a pollinator