14.2.2 Terrestrial Biomes: Water-Limited Environments Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 14.2.2 Terrestrial Biomes: Water-Limited Environments Deck (14)
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1
Q

Terrestrial Biomes: Water-Limited Environments

A
• Review: Five major land biomes are;
· polar and high mountain ice
· tundra
· taiga
· temperate deciduous forests
· tropical forests
• The other four major land biomes are:
· desert
· grassland
· savannah
· chaparral
• Many plants in chaparrals, savannas, and grasslands have adapted to and depend on periodic fires.
2
Q

deserts

A
  • Water is a limiting factor in deserts. By definition, a desert receives less than 30 centimeters of rain annually. Most deserts are concentrated around specific latitudes that have descending masses of warm, dry air that create the dry climate. Plants and animals that occur here are adapted to conserve water. Cacti are specialized to store water for long periods of time. Many desert animals have thick skins or exoskeletons to prevent water loss.
3
Q

grasslands

A
  • The grasslands of central North America, Russia, and parts of Africa are climatic zones in between forest and desert where fire and grazing animals prevent the spread of trees. Tall or short grasses, depending on the amount of rainfall available regionally, characterize grasslands. Bison and pronghorn antelope are native to North American grasslands. Giraffes, zebras, white rhinoceroses, and various species of antelopes occur in African grasslands.
4
Q

Savannahs

A
  • Savannahs are tropical grasslands that have patches of thorny trees. The large animals that occur there also inhabit the adjacent grasslands. Herds of wildebeest, Thompson’s gazelles, and black rhinos inhabit the African savanna. Savannas receive most of their rainfall during the wet season.
5
Q

True or false?

All deserts are hot.

A
  • false
6
Q

True or false?

The continued existence of both grasslands and savannahs is dependent on both fire and grazing animals.

A
  • true
7
Q

Which are characteristics of hot desert animals?

A
  • Nocturnal lifestyle
  • Not needing to drink
  • Extracting water from food
8
Q

Deserts occur in regions with an annual rainfall of less than

A
  • 30 cm
9
Q

In which ways are grasses in grasslands adapted to periodic fires and grazing by large animals?

A
  • Nutrients are stored underground in the root system.

- The roots of grasses are quite deep.

10
Q

Forbs

A
  • are a type of broadleaf plant that grow with grasses.
11
Q

Which of the following is characteristic of chaparral?

A
  • Coastal
  • Mild winters and hot, dry summers
  • Periodic fires
12
Q

A limiting factor is a single _______________ factor, scarce in supply, which when increased will bring about _____________________________.

A
  • abiotic; the production of more organisms.
13
Q

Which of the following biomes are adapted to episodes of fire?

A
  • grasslands
  • chaparral
  • savannas
14
Q

Adaptations of plants to hot dry environments include all but which of the following?

A
  • deciduous leaves

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