terrestrial & aquatic biomes Flashcards
name 4 things about the tropical rainforest biome (general, climate, soil comp, and human impact)
canopy density/layers = lighting
high biodiversity
humid tropical climate
acidic light-colored humus, iron + aluminum compounds + clay
low nutrient soil -> leached by rain & used quickly
high decomposition
low organic matter
human impact: deforestation to expand forestry and agriculture
name 4 things about the subtropical desert biome (general, climate, soil comp, and human impact)
extremely hot & dry climate
low vegetation
plants adapted for less water and air exchange
weak humus-mineral mixture, dry brown-reddish brown with variable accumulations of clay, calcium & carbonate, and soluable salts; poor nutrient soil
human impact: climate change and draining underground water for use
name 4 things about the woodland/shrubland biome (general, climate, soil comp, and human impact)
dry hot summers & mild rainy winters
natural wildfires
no trees/small
low soil nutrients (bc leaching winter rains)
human impact: grazing animals and drought resistant crops; increased development and fires
name 4 things about the tropical savana (dry forest) biome (general, climate, soil comp, and human impact)
wet and dry seasons
grasses and few deciduous trees (diff from other grasslands)
high soil fertility bc high decomp (little rain so plants can’t use)
human impact: convert for agri & grazing
name 4 things about the temperate grassland biome (general, climate, soil comp, and human impact)
hot dry summers & cold harsh winters
semi arid climate
wildfires
grasses and non-flowering plants
high nutrient soil
alkaline, dark, and rich in humus
human impact: 98% of US prairies converted in agri for wheat and grazing cattle
name 4 things about the temperate seasonal forest biome (general, climate, soil comp, and human impact)
warm summers & cold winters
humid mild climate
deciduous trees (broad leaf)
leaf litter
rapid decomp
organic & high nutrient soil
forest litter leaf + mold + humus-mineral + silt + dark brown firm clay
human impact: historically cleared for agri
name 4 things about the temperate rainforest biome (general, climate, soil comp, and human impact)
mild winter, mild summers
water from coast
leached nutrients, used by plants = nutrient poor soil
slow decomposition (faster than tundra and taiga)
nutrient poor soil
human impact: deforestation, mining
name 4 things about the taiga [boreal forest] biome (general, climate, soil comp, and human impact)
coniferous trees (cone-bearing)
short growing season (temp. constrained)
humid cold climate
nutrient poor soil (slow decomp.)
acid litter + humus + light colored acidic + iron & aluminum compounds
human impact: logging
name 4 things about the tundra biome (general, climate, soil comp, and human impact)
permafrost
no trees (no root growth)
slow rate of decomp = low nutrient soil
human impact: climate change melting permafrost – release greenhouse gases
name 4 things about the polar ice caps biome (general, climate, soil comp, and human impact)
mostly ice covered ground/desert
very cold and lacks rainfall
seasonal sunlight all day and darkness all day
little vegetation
near coastline is moss algae and some grass
human impact: climate change melting ice caps, land based ice causes sea levels to rise – habitat loss
what is a biome
a region of the global that shares similar characteristics
lotic system
can be divided into 3 zones
system falls into a watershed [drainage basin]
the area of land where all of the water drains off it does into the same place
freshwater biome zones
** DO = dissolved oxygen
NPP = next primary productivity
source zone:
shallow cold clear fast flowing stream
high DO
low nutrient levels = low NPP
transition zone:
wider stream bed
warmer and slower water
lower DO
more NPP
floodplain zone:
wide stream bed
warmest temp
high turbidity
least DO
highest NPP
what is the lentic system
oligotrophic:
deep steep sided banks, fed by ice in snow melt
low nutrients = low NPP
eutrophic:
shallow high turbidity
high nutrients = higher NPP
what are the zones of the freshwater ponds and lakes
littoral zone:
lots of lights [reaches bottom]
high NPP
lots of biodiversity
rooted plants
limnetic zone:
lots of light
low nutrient levels = low NPP
free floating plants (algae)
profundal zone [not in ponds]:
low light
low NPP
benthic zone:
no light
lots of nutrients
low DO
low NPP
mostly decomposers live here
refers to the bottom sediment layer of a body of water
