Biomes Flashcards

Question

How do these plants survive? Lichen (polar)

Answer 1

does not need soil to grow incredibly slow growing high tolerance for cold and can survive for long periods under the ice till it melts in the summer

Answer 2

A vast, treeless landscape covers almost 20% of the earth’s surface Soil - high in organic material because it is too cold for dead organisms to decompose.

Answer 3

cold, windy and little rainfall. Snow covers the ground for much of the year. Average temperature in the Arctic tundra is between -12°C and -6°C. The summer season lasts for 50-60 days each year during which there is permanent daylight.

Answer 4

Arctic foxes, polar bears, grey wolves, caribou, snow geese and musk-oxen are found here. In mountainous areas, goats, sheep and marmots can be found. When the surface layer of the permafrost melts in the summer, shallow lakes and bogs appear which attract insects, birds and other wildlife

Answer 5

Sometimes called coniferous forest or taiga covers vast areas of the northern hemisphere - 17 million square km – 11.5% of Earth’s land area Making it the largest forest biome

Answer 6

contains more surface freshwater than any other biome, has large tracts of unmanaged forests across the high-latitude regions of Canada, Russia, and the United States. From a biological perspective, boreal forests are defined as forests growing in high-latitude environments where freezing temperatures occur for 6 to 8 months trees are capable of reaching a minimum height of 5m and a canopy cover of 10%.

Answer 7

Moose, reindeer, and wolves range through these forests While owls and ravens patrol the skies above. Bobcats, wolverines and beavers can also be found in the boreal forests of North America

Answer 8

Mountain Vegetation or alpine biomes all over the world – usually found at altitudes above 3000m Climate receive a lot of sunlight, making them feel very hot in the summer months. However, it can also make them very cold in the winter. wide fluctuations in daily and yearly temperatures. The average annual temperature is between -2°C and 4°C Home to large variety of specialised flora and fauna highly susceptible to wildfires, as they are often dry and don’t receive much precipitation Soil plants decompose slowly after they die + high exposure to the elements = in poor soil conditions - rocky and sandy soil. Permafrost can also be found in this biome

Answer 9

Snow leopards Chinchillas Mountain goats Alpacas

Answer 10

Temperate forest exist across different continents, North America, Europe and Asia. Due to these different latitudes, the climate and seasons are different in each. Precipitation is abundant and means fertile soil. In the northern hemisphere, it can be clear what season it is in a temperate forest as it is usually cold during the Winter months, cool during the Autumn months and warm in the Summer.

Answer 11

Deer, squirrels and bears are the animals that can usually be found in temperate forests.

Answer 12

There are two different types of grasslands: Savannas Temperate grasslands Although very similar they also differ in areas such as the animals found and soil. In Temperate Grasslands, soil is usually richer. Savannas exist in areas where climate is warm with a wet and dry season. Most precipitation falls during a few months of the year. Temperate Grasslands are mostly known for their rich soil and growth of grasses. The climate in Grasslands biome is ideal for grass growth only. They are mostly large, open areas of grassland where tree growth is rare. There is enough precipitation for grass growth but not tree growth. Low rainfall, grazing animals and wildfires are the three factors that help maintain grasslands.

Answer 13

African elephants can be found in grassland biome. Prairie dogs are burrowing animals, and they are mostly found in temperate grasslands. Grevy’s zebra are a grazing animal in grasslands.

Answer 14

Desert biomes cover more than one-fifth of the Earth’s land area A place that received less than 25 centimeters of rain per year is considered a desert. Most are covered by gravel, stone or sand. These areas are considered to be in ‘moisture deficit’. That means they lose more moisture through evaporation than they receive from rainfall. This also means that there is close to zero humidity. This means there are both hot and cold deserts. The largest hot desert is the Sahara in North Africa. It can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius during the day and minus 4 degrees during the night. There can be major winds in deserts, sometimes with speeds up to 100 k/m per hour. Windstorms are common and they carry sand and dust through an entire continent, even sometimes oceans. There are four types of desert biomes: Hot and dry deserts (this will be our main focus) Semi-arid deserts Coastal deserts Cold deserts

Answer 15

Different types of camels adapt to the climate of a dry desert. Sand lizards that are sometimes referred to as “dancing lizards” quickly flick their legs up to avoid the hot sand. Dingoes are considered wild dogs, and these are found in many deserts around the world.

Answer 16

Tropical rainforests are tall, mostly evergreen trees that have a large amount of annual rainfall. They cover roughly 6% of the earth’s surface Rainforest thrive on every continent except Antarctica. Rainforests have rich biodiversity that helps regulate climate all over the world therefore, preservation is crucial. Typically receive high amounts of rainfall and are hot year-round.

Answer 17

Tropical Rainforests are home to more than half the world’s plant and animal species. Flying/gliding animals that can maneuver through the unstable top branches are small. These include, birds, bats and butterflies White-tailed hawks and harpy eagles are rainforest's main predators. Animals that live in the canopy layers of tropical rainforests are keel-billed toucans and spider monkeys. Other animals include jaguars, the green mamba snake, sloths, pythons, gorillas and more.

Answer 18

Latitude, attitude, Landforms & ocean currents, Human activity

Answer 19

A biome is an area of the planet that can be classified according to the plants and animals that live in it. Temperature, soil, and the amount of light and water help determine what life exists in a biome.

Answer 20

Latitude refers to the invisible lines that wrap around the globe horizontally The equator is the centre point 0° Other key points include The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn the Arctic & Antarctic Circles

Answer 21

altitude is commonly used to mean the height above sea level of a location Has an impact on the temperature and oxygen levels Also impacts precipitation This affects what can survive

Answer 22

Land forms Four major types of landforms flat plains, plateaus, rolling hills, and mountains The higher the altitude, the colder it gets, e.g. Mauna Kea's peak gets snow, even in tropical Hawaii. Prevailing winds blowing across such a high landform create very different climates Ocean currents Such as the warm Gulf Stream, these currents also affect climates at higher latitudes by transporting heat towards the poles. Without this, northern Europe would be much colder

Answer 23

farming, mining, industrialisation, urbanisation Taking away man-made to human-made by recreating areas by doing things such as deforestation

Answer 24

Characteristics how do they affect life

Biomes Flashcards

(49 cards)