biome miniquiz

Question 1

tropical rain forest overview

Answer 1

• have more species than all other biomes combined
• get at least 2 meters of rain a year
• tall trees form dense leafy cover called canopy
• canopy shades layer of shorter trees and vines called understory

Question 2

abiotic factors tropical rainforest

Answer 2

• hot and wet year round

- thin, nutrient-poor soils subject to erosion

Question 3

tropical rain forest plants/animals

Answer 3

• understory plants use large leaves to compete for limited light
• animals are active all year, use camouflage to hide from predators

Question 4

tropical dry forest overview

Answer 4

-grow in areas where rainy seasons alternate with dry seasons

Question 5

tropical dry forest abiotic factors

Answer 5

-warm year-round, usually period of rain is followed by long period of drought

Question 6

tropical dry forest plant/animal

Answer 6

• some plants lose leaves to survive dry season (deciduous)

- many animals reduce need for water during dry season by entering long periods of inactivity (estivation)

Question 7

tropical grassland/savanna/shrubland overview

Answer 7

• receives more seasonal rainfall than deserts but less than tropical dry forests
• mostly grass with isolated trees and small groves of trees and shrubs

Question 8

tropical grassland abiotic factors

Answer 8

• warm
• seasonal rainfall
• compact soils
• fires set by lightening

Question 9

tropical grassland plant/animal

Answer 9

• plant adaptations include waxy leaf covers and seasonal leaf loss
• many animals migrate during dry season to find water
• some small animals burrow and remain inactive during dry season

Question 10

desert

Answer 10

• have less than 25 centimeters of precipitation annually

- many undergo extreme daily temperature changes

Question 11

desert abiotic factors

Answer 11

• low precipitation

- variable temperatures

Question 12

desert plant/animal

Answer 12

• plants store water in tissues
• minimize leaf surface area to cut down on water losses
• many desert animals get water from food they eat
• many are active at night to avoid hottest parts of day

Question 13

temperate grassland overview

Answer 13

• mostly grasses, maintained by periodic fires and heavy grazing
• soils fertile and ideal for growing crops
• most converted for agriculture

Question 14

temperate grassland abiotic factors

Answer 14

• warm to hot summers
• cold winters
• moderate seasonal precipitation
• occasional fires

Question 15

temperate grassland plant/animal

Answer 15

• plants resistant to grazing and fire
• predation threat for smaller animals bc of open environment
• camouflage and burrowing are common adaptations

Question 16

temperate forest overview

Answer 16

• mostly made up of deciduous trees and evergreen coniferous trees
• soils are fertile and often rich in hummus.
• (humus is material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter)

Question 17

temperate forest abiotic factors

Answer 17

• ccold to moderate winters
• warm summer
• year round precipitation
• fertile soils

Question 18

temperate forest plants/animals

Answer 18

• deciduous trees drop leaves in autumn and go dormant in winter
• animals must cope with changing weather bs bare trees leave animals exposed in winter

Question 19

northwestern coniferous forest overview

Answer 19

• forest has variety of conifers, flowering trees, and shrubs
• moss often covers tree trunks and forest floor
• biome sometimes called temperate rain forest bc of its lush vegetation

Question 20

northwestern coniferous forest abiotic factors

Answer 20

• mild temperatures
• abundant precipitation in fall, winter, and spring
• sool dry summers

Question 21

northwestern coniferous forest plants/animals

Answer 21

• biome is less diverse than tropical rain forest
• ample water and nutrients support lush, dense plant growth
• trees here are among the world’s tallest
• camouflage helps insects and ground-dwelling mammals avoid predation

Question 22

boreal forest overview

Answer 22

• aka taiga
• dense forests of coniferous evergreens
• found along the northern edge of the temperate zone

Question 23

boreal forest abiotic factors

Answer 23

• long, cold winters
• short mild summers
• moderate precipitation,
• high humidity
• -acidic, nutrient-poor soils

Question 24

boreal forest plants/animal

Answer 24

• conifers are well suited to this biome
• their shape sheds snow
• wax covered, needlelike leaves reduce water loss
• to stay warm, most animals have small limbs and ears, and fat or downy feathers for insulation

Question 25

tundra overview

Answer 25

• indentified by permafrost, layer of permanently frozen subsoil
• in summer ground thaws to depth of a few centimeters and becomes soggy
• in winter, top layer of soil freezes again
• cycle of thawing and freezing rips and crushes plant roots
• cold temps, high winds, short growing season, humus-poor soils also limit plant life

Question 26

tundra abiotic factors

Answer 26

strong winds, low precipitation, short and soggy summers, long, cold dark winters, permafrost

Question 27

tundra plants/animals

Answer 27

• mosses and other plants are low growing to avoid damage from frequent strong winds
• many animals migrate to avoid long harsh winters
• animals that live in the tundra year-round have adaptations such as natural antifreeze to limit heat loss

Question 28

temperate woodland and shrubland overview

Answer 28

• open woodlands have large areas of grasses and wildflowers mixed with oak and other trees
• fire is constant threat because lof dense, low, oily plants

Question 29

temperate woodland and shrubland abiotic factors

Answer 29

• hot dry summers
• cool moist winters
• thin nutrient-poor soils
• periodic fires

Question 30

temperate woodland and shrubland plants/animals

Answer 30

• plants here have adapted to drought, have tough waxy leaves that resist water loss
• animals tend to be browsers that eat veried diets of grasses, leaves, shrubs and other vegetation