Biomes

The term biome refers to a geographic region that has a distinct climate. A biome contains characteristic types of plants and animals adapted to the region and its climate.

The climate of a location determines which types of organisms are able to live there. Climates that are very cold are home to plants and animals that have adapted to the extreme temperatures. The same is true for climates that are extremely hot and dry.

The biotic factors of a biome are the plants and animals that live there. For example, deer, maple trees, and lichen are some of the biotic, or living, factors that characterize the deciduous forest biome.

All ecosystems consist of two parts--the abiotic environment and the biotic environment. The abiotic environment includes all of the non-living parts of the environment, such as water and rocks. The biotic environment includes all of the living parts of the environment, such as plants and animals. Denise is studying an ecosystem at her local park. She has made a list of all the abiotic and biotic parts of the ecosystem. Which of the following lists would be correct for Denise's ecosystem? A. B. C. D.

ANSWER: C.

The abiotic factors of a biome are nonliving things The abiotic factors of a biome are nonliving things. For example, very low temperatures and very little precipitation are some of the abiotic, or nonliving, factors that characterize the tundra biome.

The major biomes on Earth include: tropical rainforest, desert, grassland, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, tundra, estuary, savanna, and taiga.

Tropical Rainforest The climate of a tropical rainforest is hot and wet. Heavy rainfall (around 150 cm per year) and year-round warm temperatures make it very humid. This climate is found near the equator. A tropical rainforest is very dense with lots of large trees that block out sunlight. Very little sunlight reaches the rainforest floor. Rainforests are very hot and wet.

Desert The climate of deserts is very hot and dry. The amount of precipitation in these areas is less than the amount of water that could potentially evaporate. Deserts get less than 25 centimeters of rain every year. Desert plants and animals are adapted to store water and withstand year-round hot temperatures. Deserts are very hot and dry.

Desert plants are sparse. These include: Cacti, and sagebrush.

Lizards, snakes, scorpions, and mice are examples of organisms that live in desert ecosystems.

Grassland Grasslands receive enough rainfall to support grasses, but not enough to support the growth of large trees. Drought and wildfire are common. Temperatures in grasslands are warm in the summer and cold in the winter Drought and wildfire are common in grasslands.

GRASSLAND BIOME Some of the animals that can be found in a grassland ecosystem include grasshoppers, prairie dogs, and bison.

Deciduous Forest The climate of a deciduous forest is temperate with four distinct seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter). Deciduous forests have warm summers and cold winters. They have moderate precipitation throughout the year. ***We live in the Deciduous Forest Biome

Deciduous Forest During winter months, however, the precipitation is usually frozen and unavailable to the organisms that live there. Trees in a deciduous forest usually lose their leaves during the winter and have thick bark to conserve water and protect them from the cold. Deciduous forests have four distinct seasons.

Coniferous Forest Coniferous forests are located in northern latitudes. The climate in coniferous forests is very cold and dry. Coniferous forests have cold, snowy winters and warm summers.

Coniferous Forest The main types of vegetation located in coniferous forests are conifers, such as pine trees. These trees are evergreens that have needles that stay on them all year long and produce cones. Coniferous forests are very cold and the plants that grow there are evergreens.

Coniferous Forest Arctic foxes, wolves, and snowy owls are a few examples of the animals that live in coniferous forests.

Tundra The tundra has very low temperatures and very little precipitation. Winters in the tundra are long and extremely cold; summers are short, mild, and cool. The tundra is very cold and dry.

Tundra The animals living in tundra ecosystems have adaptations that allow them to stay warm in the very low temperatures. For instance, Arctic foxes, grizzly bears, and ermines (a kind of weasel) all have thick fur that protects them from the cold.

Tundra Tundra is characterized by its frozen subsoil, which makes only a small layer of soil available to plant life. This limits the plants that can grow to small low growing plants such as mosses and grasses and makes it impossible for trees to grow.

Estuary An estuary is an area in which fresh water and salty ocean waters mix together. These areas may include bays, mouths of rivers, salt marshes, and lagoons. These brackish (salt mixed with fresh) water ecosystems shelter and feed marine life, birds, and other wildlife with nutrients from the ocean. Estuaries provide a place where young animals can grow up.

Estuaries The plants in estuaries are marsh grasses and other plants that are adapted to water levels that change with the tides. Muskrats, herons, egrets, shrimp, and crabs are animals often found in estuaries.

Savanna A savanna is a dry tropical grassland where trees are present but more widely scattered than in most rainforest ecosystems. The savanna climate has a temperature range of 68° to 86°F. Savannas receive around 125 centimeters of rain every year, with most of the rain falling during the summer. Giraffes have long necks that allow them to reach tree leaves.

Savanna Zebras, giraffes, lions, and acacia trees are found in the savannas of Africa. Giraffes have long necks that allow them to reach tree leaves.

Many animals live in savannas, from invertebrates (like grasshoppers, termites, and beetles) to large mammals (like lions and leopards). The different savannas of the world support different populations of animals. Africa - aardvark, African elephant, African wild cat, antelopes, buffalo, Cape hunting dog, caracal, cheetah, eland, gerenuk, giraffe, gnu, Grant's gazelle, hippopotamus, hyena, impala, jackal, kudu, leopard, lion, meerkat, oryx, ostrich, red-billed oxpecker, rhinoceros, serval, waterbuck, vulture, zebra, purple-crested louries, grey louries, green pigeons, raptors, hornbills, shrikes, flycatchers, rollers Australia - kangaroo, wallaby, pigeon, dove, parrot, finch, wombat South America - rodents (like the capybara), rhea, and deer. India - Asiatic water buffalo, Asian elephant, Indian rhinoceros, Indian wolf, tiger, savanna nightjar Myanmar-Thailand - Asian elephant, Asiatic Water buffalo, pygmy hog, tiger

Taiga The taiga is the largest continental biome. It experiences long, cold winters; short, warm summers; and low precipitation. It is characterized by coniferous forests. Taiga covers most of Canada and Siberia and is not found in the Southern Hemisphere. The taiga is characterized by coniferous forests; long, cold winters; short, warm summers; and low precipitation.

Temperate Prairie A temperate prairie biome is found in the dry temperate interiors of continents. This biome is characterized by rich soil; moderate rainfall; a hot, dry climate; tall, thick grasses; isolated trees; and herds of grazing animals. The temperate prairie biome is characterized by thick, tall grasses.

Marine The marine biome, or saltwater biome, is the largest on Earth, covering about 75% of the Earth's surface. Because land heats up and cools down much more quickly than water, the marine biome experiences a smaller degree of temperature change than the terrestrial biome. The marine biome has a major impact on the weather and climate patterns of the terrestrial biome. The marine biome is the largest on Earth.

Chaparral Chaparral is a shrubland biome that is defined by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. During the summer, wildfires are common. The plants and animals in chaparral biomes are adapted to fire and drought The chaparral biome is covered in shrubs, dwarf trees, and grasses.

Chaparral Chaparral animals include the jackrabbit, wild goat, and animals in chaparral biomes are adapted to fire and drought

Altitude: affects which biome

A. savannah B. grassland C. deciduous forest D.tropical rainforest Which of the following biomes receives at least 50 inches of rain per year, is warm year-round, and is usually found near the equator? A. savannah B. grassland C. deciduous forest D.tropical rainforest

ANSWER: D.tropical rainforest Tropical rainforests are warm, wet environments typically located near the equator. They can receive as much as 400 inches of rain per year. The temperature remains warm (70°F to 85°F on average) all day long and year-round. Tropical rainforests produce 40% of the Earth's oxygen.

3.  A biome that experiences the seasons of winter, spring, summer, and fall, and non-extreme temperatures is likely to be a(n) _______ biome. A. arctic B. tundra C. tropical D.temperate

ANSWER: D.temperate

A partially-enclosed coastal region where sea water mixes with freshwater is called a(n) _______. A. estuary B. gulf C. strait D. fjord

ANSWER: A. estuary

Which biome is dry, cold, and has frozen soil? A. desert B. coniferous forest C. tundra D. ocean

ANSWER: C. tundra One key feature of a tundra biome is permafrost, a layer of soil beneath the surface soil that stays frozen all the time.

Abiotic factors of an ecosystem include... I. all types of plants. II. the quantity of water available. III. the temperature range. IV. all animal populations. A. I, II, and IV only B. II and III only C. I, II, III, and IV D. I and III only

Taiga Biome Features Animals bears, foxes, raccoons, birds, insects Plants pine trees, fir trees, spruce trees, mosses Average Annual Rainfall 200 to 750 mm -58°F to 86°F Geographic Features mountains, lakes The table above lists many features of an ecosystem in the taiga biome. Based on this table, what are the abiotic features of the taiga? A. bears, foxes, raccoons, birds, insects, pine trees, fir trees, spruce trees, mosses B. wide range of temperature, very little annual rainfall, foxes, bears, raccoons, birds, insects C. mountains, lakes, wide range of temperature, very little annual rainfall D. mountains, lakes, spruce trees, fir trees, pine trees, mosses

ANSWER: C. mountains, lakes, wide range of temperature, very little annual rainfall

9. Which of the following is true about the marine biome? A. The terrestrial biome has a major effect on the weather patterns of the marine biome. B. The marine biome experiences a smaller degree of temperature change than the terrestrial biome. C.Organisms with a low tolerance for salt thrive in the marine biome. D. The marine biome includes the freshwater and saltwater biomes.

ANSWER: D. The marine biome includes the freshwater and saltwater biomes.

Which of the following bodies of water are included in the freshwater biome? (rivers, oceans,lakes,streams)

Which of the following bodies of water are included in the freshwater biome? ANSWER: Rivers, lakes, and streams

Biotic factors of an ecosystem include... --all types of plants….(true or false) --the quantity of water available(true or false) --the temperature range(true or false) --all animal populations(true or false)

Biotic factors of an ecosystem include... --all types of plants….true --the quantity of water available…false --the temperature range...false --all animal populations….true

_______ is the largest continental biome _______ is the largest continental biome. It experiences long, cold winters; short, mild summers; and low precipitation. It is characterized by coniferous forests. A. Tundra B. Taiga C. Savannah D. Mountain

_______ is the largest continental biome _______ is the largest continental biome. It experiences long, cold winters; short, mild summers; and low precipitation. It is characterized by coniferous forests. B. Taiga