terrestrial biomes

Question 1

broad, regional ecosystems that occur within a certain range of temperature and precipitation conditions

Answer 1

biomes

Question 2

temperature and precipitation change with elevation, creating different vegetation zones defined by altitude

Answer 2

vertical zonation

Question 3

characteristics of tropical rainforests

Answer 3

Abundant rainfall, >200cm/yr
Warm to hot temp year round
Extremely diverse
Thin, nutrient-poor soil

Question 4

characteristics of Tropical seasonal forests

Answer 4

Wet and dry seasons
Warm to hot temp year round
Higher nutrient soils  more agriculturally productive
Highly endangered

Question 5

characteristics of tropical savannas

Answer 5

sparse tree cover
dry and rainy seasons
drought and fire adapted

Question 6

characteristics of grasslands

Answer 6

no tree cover
dry and rainy seasons
drought and fire adapted

Question 7

characteristics of deserts

Answer 7

Precipitation is low and sporadic, <30 cm/yr
Can be hot or cold
Generally 30° N or S of equator
Vegetation with water-storing adaptations
Nocturnal animal life
Vulnerable to damage and overgrazing

Question 8

characteristics of temperate grasslands

Answer 8

Enough rain for grasses, but not enough for forests
Drought- and fire-adapted vegetation
Thick, rich soils
Heavily converted to agricultural lands

Question 9

characteristics of Temperate scrublands

Answer 9

Dry, hot and cool, moist seasons
Variable mix of grasses, shrubs, and sparse trees; drought-adapted vegetation
Fire is important in succession
Hot spots of biodiversity
E.g., chaparral of California and Mediterranean coast

Question 10

characteristics of temperate forests deciduous

Answer 10

Plenty of rain, but not as much as a rainforest
Seasonal temperature variation
Diverse, seasonal understory
Lose leaves in winter
Regrow quickly, but still heavily impacted by human activity

Question 11

characteristics of temperate forests coniferous

Answer 11

Variable conditions – wet or dry
Temperate rainforests – up to 250 cm of rain – e.g., Pacific Northwest
Maintain needles year round

Question 12

characteristics of boreal forests

Answer 12

Cold temperatures and moderate precipitation
Slow-growing trees, cold tolerant
Heavily used for timber, hunting, mining

Question 13

characteristics of tundra

Answer 13

Below freezing most of the year
Water locked up in ice
Treeless, occurs in high latitudes (artic) or on mountains (alpine)
High migratory bird influxes, but overall relatively low diversity