Unit 5 Biomes Flashcards
Abiotic and Biotic
Abiotic: Refers to the non-living components of an ecosystem, such as rocks, water, and air.
Biotic: Refers to the living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.
Flora and Fauna
Flora: Refers to the plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.
Fauna: Refers to the animal life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.
Biome
A large-scale community of plants and animals that occupy a distinct region defined by its climate and geography.
Sustainable
Refers to the ability to maintain or support a process or system without depleting natural resources or causing damage to the environment.
Ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Food chain, Predator, Secondary consumer, Primary consumer, Producer
Food chain: The transfer of energy and nutrients between organisms in an ecosystem through a series of organisms, in which each organism feeds on the one before it and is, in turn, preyed upon by the one after it.
Predator: An animal that preys on other animals for food.
Secondary consumer: An organism that feeds on primary consumers, which are herbivores that eat plants.
Primary consumer: An organism that feeds on producers, which are plants and other autotrophic organisms.
Producer: An organism that creates its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.
Adaptation
The process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment through genetic or behavioral changes over time.
What is a biome and where can the different biomes be found?
A biome is a large-scale community of plants and animals that live in a specific region with a distinct climate and geography. There are several different biomes in the world, including tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, grasslands, and desert. Each biome has a unique set of plants and animals that have adapted to the specific environmental conditions found in that region.
What are the main factors affecting biome location?
The location of a biome is primarily determined by climate, including factors such as temperature, precipitation, and humidity. Other factors that may affect biome location include altitude, soil type, and topography.
What are the main processes of a biome?
The main processes of a biome include energy flow and nutrient cycling. In energy flow, plants use sunlight to produce food through photosynthesis, which is then consumed by herbivores, and then by carnivores and omnivores. Nutrient cycling involves the movement of nutrients through the ecosystem, including the recycling of organic matter and the conversion of nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants.
How do plants and animals adapt to various biome conditions?
Plants and animals adapt to the conditions of their specific biome in a variety of ways. For example, animals in the tundra biome have thick fur to keep them warm in the cold climate, while plants have adapted to grow low to the ground to avoid being damaged by strong winds. In the desert biome, plants have adapted to conserve water by having small leaves or no leaves at all, while animals have adapted to survive in extreme temperatures by being nocturnal or burrowing underground.
How do humans interact and survive in various biomes?
Humans interact and survive in various biomes in a variety of ways, depending on the specific biome and the cultural practices of the local population. In some biomes, such as the rainforest, humans have traditionally relied on subsistence agriculture and hunting and gathering. In other biomes, such as the grasslands, humans have traditionally relied on pastoralism and herding. In more modern times, humans have developed a variety of industries, such as tourism and mining, that can impact the natural environment of various biomes.
