Tundra, Grassland and Tropical Rainforest Flashcards
What is the tundra biome characterised by?
Permafrost, a permanently frozen subsoil consisting of gravel and finer material
What does the word tundra mean?
Treeless plain
What is the climate like in the tundra biome?
It is the coldest biome on Earth, with temperatures ranging from -34°C to 12°C
What is the latitude range for the tundra biome?
60-70°N of the equator
What is the average yearly precipitation for the tundra biome?
150-250mm per year, it is an arid biome
What happens during summer in the tundra biome?
There is 24 hours of sunlight per day
What is the flora made up of in the tundra biome?
Shrubs, heath, sedge, moss and lichen
What is the soil like in the tundra biome?
Poor in nutrients
How much of the Earth’s surface does the tundra biome cover?
20 percent
What are the 2 types of tundra?
Alpine and Polar
What are the growing seasons in alpine and polar tundra?
Polar tundra has a 50-60 day growing season whereas alpine tundra has a 12-14 week growing season
Where is polar tundra located?
Northern hemisphere, areas such as Greenland, Norway and Canada
Where is alpine tundra located?
At a high altitude, areas such as the Himalayas, Pyreness and Scandinavian mountains
Which type of tundra has the greater biomass and why?
Alpine tundra due to the higher latitudes and more isolation
What is most precipitation in the alpine tundra in the form of?
Snow
What are 3 biotic factors of a grassland?
Grass, herbivores and insects
What are 3 abiotic factors of a grassland?
Climate, wind and topography
Why are grasslands important to humans?
They provide food, fibre, biodiversity and grazing lands
What can grasslands also be known as and where are these different types found?
Prairies- found in USA, Savannahs- found in North Africa, Pampas- found in South America, Veldt- found in South Africa, Steppes- found in Russia and Mongolia
Which continents do grasslands cover the most?
Most of Australia can be classified as a grassland and Africa is dominated by grasslands
What has greatly impacted grasslands over time?
Introduced grazing animals
What are grasslands strongly influenced by?
Latitude
What is the rainfall pattern per year for grasslands?
508-1270mm of rainfall per year evenly spread for 6-8 months, followed by a dry period
What is the flora and soil like in grasslands?
Grasses dominate the flora with some shrubs, usually rich, fertile and deep soil
What latitudes are temperate and tropical grasslands found at?
Tropical grasslands between 15-23.5° South
Temperate grasslands between 30-45° South
Why is there such an abundance of species of life found in the Columbian Rain Forest?
It has an ideal climate, plenty of water, food and shelter
How many insect species per hectare are there in the Columbian Rain Forest?
100,000 per hectare
What is a major problem in tropical rainforests?
Leaching
What is leaching?
The washing or dissolving away of water-soluble nutrients from the soil due to rainfall or irrigation
What are Australian soils described as?
Old, thin, salty and low in nutrients
How much of Australia is covered by rainforests?
Only 2.5%
What are resources that rainforest have provided us for thousands of years with called?
Ecosystem services
What are the resources that rainforests provide us with?
Oxygen production, temperature regulation, drugs, rubber and timber
What is the percentage of plant, animal and insect species that live in tropical rainforests?
50%
What is temperature range in tropical rainforests all year round?
Between 26-32°C all year round
What latitude range are 90% of tropical rainforest found between?
0-23.5° North and South of the equator
What is the rainfall and sunlight hours like in a tropical rainforest?
2000mm of rainfall per year with a wet and dry season
12 hours of sunlight per day
What are the 4 layers of a tropical rainforest from highest to lowest level?
Emergent trees, canopy layer, understory and forest floor
