Component 3 - Topic 7 Flashcards
(16 cards)
What are biomes?
These are large scale, global ecosystems with distinctive vegetation.
What is an ecosystem?
This includes all the living and non-living things in the area.
What does the climate of an area determine?
This determines the type of biome formed, different areas have different biomes due to their climates.
What is the climate of the tropical rain forest?
Same all year (no seasons)
20-28°C all year due to it being on the equator
Day length approx 12 hour all year
High rainfall, 2000mm per year
What are the characteristics of the tropical rain forest?
Plants - most trees are evergreen, grow quickly and are adapted to get maximum sunlight
Animals - dense forest allows for a lot of food for different habitats. Many species including: gorillas, jaguars, tree frogs and many birds/insects
Soil - very nutrient rich due to trees sheding leaves all year.
What is the climate of the temperate forest like?
4 distinct seasons, cold winters and warm summers
High rainfall, up to 1500mm per year
Shorter days in winter, longer in summer
Characteristics of the temperate rainforest
Mild, wet climates supply conditions for less plant species than the tropical rain forest. Have broad leaves trees, shrubs and undergrowth
There are many mammals Like foxes and squirrels, birds and insects.
The plants lose their leaves in winter and the leaf litter decomposes leaving fairly nutrient rich soil.
What is the climate of the Boreal forest?
Short summers (10°) and long winters (-20°C) Low precipitation (>500mm per year) which a lot of is snow. Lots of daylight during summer, but very little/none during winter
Characteristics of boreal forest….
Evergreen, so they can grow whenever there’s light. Coniferous trees are common
Very few animals as little food is available, are black bears and wolves
Poor soil, which is often frozen for a lot of the time
What are the two types of grassland?
Tropical grassland and temperate grassland
What is the climate like in a tropical grassland?
They have low rainfall, approximately 800 mm per year. They also have distinct wet and dry seasons. Temperature is the highest around 35°C and lowest around 15°C, just after the wet season. As they found around the equator, they get lots of sunlight all year round.
What is the climate of the temperate grassland is like?
I have hot summers, up to 40°C. However they also very cold winters, down to -40°C. They receive 250 to 500 mm of precipitation a year, and as their further from the equator though they receive a variety of sunlight through the year.
What are the characteristics of the tropical grasslands?
They mainly consist of grass, scrubs and small plants with a few scattered trees. They are home to many insects but also larger animals like elephants and giraffes. Grass dies during the dry season leaving thin, nutrient rich soil.However these are washed out in the wet season.
What are the characteristics of the temperate grassland?
Temperate grassland is mainly consist of grasses and small plants and have very few trees. They are home to fewer animal species than the tropical grasslands, mammals including wild horses as well as rodents such as mole rats. The high temperatures which the grasslands get in summer means decomposition is fast, therefore soil is relatively thick and nutrient rich.
What is the climate in the desert like?
They have very low rainfall, less than 250 mm per year and it might only rain once every two or three years. The hot deserts are 45°C in the day however at night fall to below 0°C. More daylight in summer than winter due to the cloud cover.
What are the characteristics of the desert like?
There are very few plants due to the lack of rainfall, however cacti and thornbushes do grow. There are very few animals and as it however some have adapted, these include snakes, lizards, insects and scorpions. Due to the lack of vegetation there is very little leaf litter meaning soil is poor and thin.
