Topic 31

Question 1

Biomes

Answer 1

basic community types occurring in particaunaular region, typically defined by the type of vegetation

Question 2

Flora

Answer 2

plant species of the region

Question 3

Fauna

Answer 3

animal species of the region

Question 4

Convergence

Answer 4

evolution of similar growth forms among distantly related species in response to similar selection pressures

Question 5

Terrestrial biome characterized by

Answer 5

climate (average annual precipitation vs average temp)

Question 6

Biomes don’t function in

Answer 6

isolation

Question 7

We focus on how many biomes

Answer 7

7

Question 8

Tropical rainforest

Answer 8

from equator to 20 degrees. high stable temp (25-27C) high annual rainfall (2000-4000 mm). immense diversity (250-300 species) 882000 biomass/hectare growing to 75m

Question 9

Tropical rainforest vegetation

Answer 9

high degree of vertical structure in vegetation, soil is thin and low in nutrients, carbon is trapped in living organisms. large leaves (evergreen)

Question 10

Tropical rainforest plant order

Answer 10

emergent trees, canopy, epiphytes and vines, understory, scrubs and forbs

Question 11

Plants in rainforest have access to plenty of water that may leech…

Answer 11

valuable nutrients (but compete for light)

Question 12

Epiphyte

Answer 12

plants that use another plant as a substrate (buttress roots that grow above ground in tall trees.

Question 13

Many prescription drugs are..

Answer 13

derived from tropical plants

Question 14

Tropical rainforest vegetation is a major

Answer 14

carbon sink (37% of the terrestrial carbon pool) and removal contributes to atmospheric carbon and global warming

Question 15

Tropical savannah

Answer 15

20-30 degrees N and S. high temp year round. seasonal variation in precipitation. periodic fires, annual draught/flood, grazing by animals favours growth of bunched grass species. spread out deciduous trees lead to microhabitats, migratory bands of animals.

Question 16

Relatively nutrient rich soils in tropical savannah lead to early man..

Answer 16

colonizing savannah and converting to agricultural practices

Question 17

Desert

Answer 17

2 distinct bands around 30 degrees N and S. 20% of land surface. characterized typically by high temp during the day but mostly by low levels of annual precipitation (highest 300mm) and evaporation exceeds precipitation

Question 18

Vegetation in desert

Answer 18

sparse, algal, fungal or lichen mats can bind it in a fragile layer

Question 19

Soil in desert is

Answer 19

gravel, sand, rock or alkaline

Question 20

Though abundance is low in desert diversity can be..

Answer 20

high due to high fluctuations in abiotic conditions

Question 21

Plants in desert

Answer 21

high degree of convergence in plant species, cacti of the west, euphorbs of the east. stem succulence, reduction or loss of leaves, hairy leaves, dormant seeds/annual habit. reduced pigmentation

Question 22

Desertification

Answer 22

long term droughts in association with unsustainable grazing practices that results in loss of plant cover and soil erosion

Question 23

Temperate shrub land

Answer 23

30-40 degrees. erred Chaparral in North America. (not in antarctica) dry summers and winter rain.

Question 24

Plant species in temperate shrub land

Answer 24

highly adapted for fires in dry summer climate, contain flammable oils, underground storage organs, quick dispersal and germination (helps to prevent succession to fester landscape). limited agriculture capacity cause converted to urban area all over the world

Question 25

Sclerophyllous leaves

Answer 25

tough, leathery and stiff *temperate shrub land”

Question 26

Temperate grassland

Answer 26

30-50 degrees. strong seasonality in temperature and precipitation (highest in summer) period fires and grazing wildlife promote grass and for spices similar to savannahs.

Question 27

Meristems located

Answer 27

undergoing as an adaptation for grazers in temper-ate grasslands

Question 28

Temperate forests

Answer 28

cold winter temps results in deciduous forests. coastally temperate rainforests exist with evergreen trees. same vertical vegetation structure as rainforests without epiphytes. soil in deciduous forests is enriched by decomposition of leaf litter. not much of this biome remains (harvested for wood and paper, cleared for agricultural land)

Question 29

Evergreen rainforests have

Answer 29

nutrient poor acidic soils

Question 30

Deep roots in temperate grasslands ..

Answer 30

stabilize and enrich soil (breadbasket)

Question 31

Level of moisture in temperate grasslands determines heigh so..

Answer 31

• short grass prairie (5 cm)

- tall grass parries (300m)

Question 32

Boreal forest

Answer 32

50 degrees N. insufficient land mass in the south to support this biome. largest biome in area (1/3 Earths forests land) precipitation stable but long cold winters (6 months) highest temp ranges (siberia -70 to 30 C) cone shaped trees adapted to snow cover. same species occur across northern hemisphere. thin, relatively infertile soils with slow decomposition rates

Question 33

Boreal forest dominated by ..

Answer 33

evergreen coniferous trees with needle like leaves (and birch)

Question 34

Taiga

Answer 34

transition zone to tundra where eventually trees can no longer take root

Question 35

Permafrost

Answer 35

layer under the soil that stays frozen year round. precipitation levels are low, drainage of water is prevented by permafrost layer, soil become saturated and period fires can melt permafrost and create peat bogs (harvest for limber and paper products)

Question 36

Tundra

Answer 36

mostly in arctic circle (Antarctica peninsula). beyond 65 degrees. extreme seasonal variations (24 hours of light in summer) low precipitation (200-600 cm) but exceeds evaporation.

Question 37

Vegetation in tundra

Answer 37

low perennial grasses, sedges, scrubs, mosses and lichens. ensure fierce winds and annual freezing temps. heliotropic flowers, hairy leaves and stems, permafrost prevents drainage. constant freeze/thaw and contraction of soil creates polygons and separates soil particle size creating growth ridges. largest remaining natural habitat (global warming melts permafrost)