Biomes

Question 1

characteristics of the tundra

Answer 1

• youngest biome
• northern latitudes (50-70 north of the equator)
• cold year round
• nutrient poor soil/permafrost layer
• months of darkness/months of sunshine
• animals adapt to severe cold (hibernation, burrowing lifestyle)
• wide open spaces

*similar to the taiga but without ability to grow trees

Question 2

characteristics of the alpine

Answer 2

• generally cold
• moderate precipitation
• occur in high altitudes 10,000 feet or higher
• low CO2, high UV, windy year round, extreme cold
• low diversity

Question 3

characteristics of the taiga

Answer 3

aka “needleleaf forest, boreal forest”

• mild summer, cold winter (harsh and snowy)
• occur just south of the tundra biomes
• regular precipitation year round
• low plant diversity, high insect load with insect predators (lots of birds)
• just like the tundra, but there is a growing season

Question 4

characteristics of the temperate coniferous forest

Answer 4

• warm summer, mild winter
• more humid on coast, dry inland
• lots of broadleaf/needleleaf conifers
• regular rainfall
• high biodiversity
• broadleaf evergreen and deciduous trees

Question 5

characteristics of the deciduous forest

Answer 5

• warm average annual temp
• 4 seasons
• what WE live in!
• highly fertile soil
• leaves drop in the winter
• moderate annual precipitation

Question 6

characteristics of the temperate grassland (prairie)

Answer 6

• broad areas of open meadow
• grasses, annuals, herbs
• fire-regulated/grazing-regulated
• tall grass prairie is humid/wet
• short grass prairie is dry and more extreme
• always windy
• no trees

Question 7

characteristics of the desert

Answer 7

• hot and dry days
• cold and dry evenings
• limited vegetation
• lots of adaptation from lack of water stresses

Question 8

characteristics of chaparral

Answer 8

(aka mediterranean)

• hot summer, milder winter
• most precipitation is in the winter
• mid latitude climates

Question 9

characteristics of savanna

Answer 9

(aka tropical grassland)

• hot summer, hot winter
• lots of rain in rainy season, none in dry season
• broad grasslands with shrubs and trees
• home to large grazing animals
• found between grasslands and rainforests

Question 10

characteristics of the rainforest

Answer 10

• dominated by large trees
• high average annual rainfall
• warm all year, no fluctuation
• many medicinal plants in rainforests
• now occupy less than 6% of earths surface (sadly due to construction)
• over 1/2 of all species live in rainforest biomes