Year 9 Geography Topic Test Sustainable Biomes

Question 1

What are biomes?

Answer 1

Biomes are large communities of plants and animals that extend over large areas due to similar climatic conditions. They are a ‘major terrestrial vegetation community’.

Question 2

Where are biomes located?

Answer 2

Biomes cover the whole world, changing due to separate areas with different atmospheric conditions and climates. The vegetation and animal populations will change in each biome, depending on their preferred weather conditions.

Question 3

How does the variation in climate affect biomes?

Answer 3

The climate, and atmospheric conditions of an area affect the biome type. Levels of precipitation, and temperature changes will influence the types of vegetation, animal populations, salinity, fertility of soil and other conditions.

Question 4

What are the parallels of latitude?

Answer 4

• Arctic circle - 60°32’N

- Antarctic circle - 60°32’S

Question 5

What are the meridians of longitude?

Answer 5

• Greenwich Meridian - 0°

- International Date Line - 180°

Question 6

Why are biomes used for productivity?

Answer 6

Humans rely on biomes for survival since they provide resources used for producing food, clothing, shelter and energy.
They can be adapted to produce items needed like livestock and clothing.

Question 7

How do humans change biomes?

Answer 7

• pollution
• removing vegetation
• killing fauna
• increasing human populations
• invasive species
• introducing non-native plants
• deforestation
• livestock in forests
• overuse of natural resources
• pesticides
• construction
• mining
• agriculture

Question 8

Where can the tundra biome be found?

Answer 8

Closely below arctic circle, and closely above the antarctic circle.

Question 9

Where can the taiga biome be found?

Answer 9

Below the tundra biome, but still towards the top of Earth.

Question 10

Where can the Deciduous Forests be found?

Answer 10

Around the tropic of Capricorn and cancer, mid-Russia and mid-North America.

Question 11

What is the order of biomes - arctic circle to the equator?

Answer 11

arctic
tundra
taiga
deciduous forests
grasslands
savanna
desert/rainforests

Question 12

Where can grasslands be found?

Answer 12

Typically just above savanna, and around-just inward from the tropics.

Question 13

Where is savanna found?

Answer 13

Typically just above the equator.

Question 14

Where are deserts/tropical rainforests found?

Answer 14

Usually on the equator or around it.

Question 15

Features of tundra

Answer 15

low precipitation (snow) - stays moist due to little evaporation
low temp

Question 16

Features of taiga

Answer 16

cold and wet

Question 17

Features of arctic

Answer 17

freezing and dry

Question 18

Features of deciduous forests

Answer 18

wet and cool

Question 19

Features of grasslands

Answer 19

too wet for deserts, but too dry for forests

hot summer, cold winter

Question 20

Features of savannas

Answer 20

long, dry, dry season and short, wet, wet season
warm temperatures (20-30degrees)

Question 21

Features of Deserts

Answer 21

dry and typically very hot.

Question 22

Features of rainforests

Answer 22

very wet
average temp (20-25degrees)

Question 23

Impacts of human alterations (advantages)

Answer 23

• supplies land for agriculture, housing and roads
• intensive farming provides food and supplies for communities
• extensive farming provides income and jobs for a region or country

Question 24

Impacts of human alterations (disadvantages)

Answer 24

• land clearing causes erosion and deforestation.
• roads can divide up biomes and cut off essential parts of the ecosystem.
• habitat and biodiversity loss
• drainage
• water pollution
• salinity

Question 25

Management strategies for salinity in Australia

Answer 25

Investment in salinity, including major programs, research, salinity reviews and salinity mapping. Aussie government has started supporting salinity management in programs like National Dryland Salinity Program and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. Together, they’re focusing on working out the causes, to create practical solutions to the issue.

Question 26

How does the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Basin Plan aim to address the salinity problem?

Answer 26

The 2030 strategy in broad terms, aims to improve irrigation drainage in riverine plains, reduce salt entering river by constructing salt interception schemes, and reduce groundwater levels by: improving irrigation practise, improving irrigation management, drainage reuse, improved infrastructure and establishment of deep-rooted vegetation.

Question 27

Environmental factors influencing agricultural yields

Answer 27

• Biotic (living organisms)
• Abiotic (non-living factors; e.g. temp, water availability, soils and topography)
• climate

Question 28

Economic factors influencing agricultural yields

Answer 28

• commercialism and global trade

- industrialisation (common practise of large corporations)

Question 29

Technological factors influencing agricultural yields

Answer 29

• Technology and machines
• irrigation practises
• use of agrochemicals
• precision agriculture
• planting high-yield crop varieties (HYV’s)

Question 30

Water scarcity challenge to food production

Answer 30

• agriculture is the biggest consumer of water in Australia (70% of total water usage)
• water scarcity is big problem (especially Australia)
• less availability of water and poorer water quality leads to reduced production and increased prices of crops
• most pressing food security issues for developing countries.

Question 31

Water quality decline

Answer 31

main issues causing water quality decline are:

• increased sediment flow
• fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides
• increased salinity

increased nutrient loads cause species of algae to multiply to levels where they produce toxins that are fatal to animals and humans
increased turbidity (cloudiness in water)

Question 32

According to the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology, what will the future experience due to climate change?

Answer 32

• more extreme heat
• longer fire seasons
• increasing frequency of bushfires, droughts and floods