Lecture 2:Biomes

Question 1

What do biomes represent?

Answer 1

Large regions e.g. deserts with distinct climate and specific species adapted to it that form complex communities.

Question 2

The equivalent term for aquatic biomes?

Answer 2

Aquatic life zones

Question 3

Aquatic life zones are divided into?

Answer 3

1. Freshwater life zones
2. Marine/Ocean life zones

Question 4

What is common across different biomes?

Answer 4

Food webs that facilitate the transfer of energy from producers that harness energy from the sun.

Question 5

There is an agreed upon classification for the biomes of the world. (true or false)

Answer 5

False.
1. It is contested between different studies
2.Existence of small scale variations and transition zones.

Question 6

Which two major factors determine a biome?

Answer 6

1. Average temperature
2. Average precipitation
   (these are then determined by latitude and altitude)

Question 7

What makes a region a desert?

Answer 7

Low and unevenly scattered annual precipitation.

Question 8

Deserts cover about 30% of earth’s land surface. (true or false)

Answer 8

True

Question 9

Vegetation that may be found in deserts is?

Answer 9

Sparse

Question 10

List 4 types of deserts.

Answer 10

1. Tropical
2. Temperate
   3, Cold
3. Semi-deserts

Question 11

What causes the different types of deserts to occur?

Answer 11

Difference in average temperatures

Question 12

Remember latitude zones

Answer 12

———————- 90N (polar)
polar zone
———————- 66.5N (artic zone)
temperate zone
———————- 23.5N (tropic of cancer)
tropical zone
———————— 0 (equator)

Question 13

Topical deserts are? (keep in mind tropical and sahara as an example)

Answer 13

Hot and dry. (hot since located within the tropics)

Question 14

Temperate deserts are characterized by? (keep in mind seasons of temperate zones like US)

Answer 14

High summer temperatures, low winter temperatures

Question 15

Do temperate deserts experience more precipitation than tropical deserts? (Yes or No)

Answer 15

Yes

Question 16

Describe vegetation in temperate deserts. (think movies you have seen deserts in US)

Answer 16

Sparse drought resistant shrubs and succulents. e.g. sagebrush- from mint family

Question 17

Where are semi-desert biomes located?

Answer 17

In semiarid zones between deserts and grasslands

Question 18

Give two characteristics of semi-desert biomes

Answer 18

1. have thorn trees and shrubs adapted to long dry spells
2. experience short and sometimes heavy rains (recall documentary seen in class about Kalahari)

Question 19

How much precipitation do grasslands receive?

Answer 19

Enough to support grasses but not large stands of trees

Question 20

Name 3 factors keep trees from growing in grasslands

Answer 20

1. Seasonal drought (amount of precipitation)
2. Grazing and browsing by herbivores
3. Occasional fires

Question 21

Name three types of grasslands. (think latitude regions)

Answer 21

1. Tropical
2. Temperate (prairies or steppes)
3. Polar (tundra)
   (remember precip constant but temp variable)

Question 22

Name one type of tropical grassland.

Answer 22

savanna

Question 23

Climate characteristics of savannas. (think climate here in Ngong)

Answer 23

1. Warm-hot temperatures year round
2. Two dry seasons
3. rain in rest of seasons

Question 24

Why do African tropical savannas contain enormous herds of browsing and grazing animals?

Answer 24

Have higher net productivity.

Question 25

Describe climate of temperate grasslands

Answer 25

cold winters with hot and dry summers

Question 26

Why go temperate grasslands have deep and fertile soils?

Answer 26

soil is packed with the roots and rhizomes (underground stems) of grasses for anchorage and absorption. during winter when water is unavailable grasses die and their structures decay.

Question 27

Due to their high fertility many of the world’s natural grasslands are being lost to crop farming. (true or false?)

Answer 27

True

Question 28

Where do polar grasslands occur?

Answer 28

Just south of the artic polar ice cap

Question 29

What is another name for polar grasslands?

Answer 29

Artic tundra

Question 30

Describe climate of polar grasslands.

Answer 30

long dark winters with low snowfall. i.e. freezing desert

Question 31

Describe vegetation of polar grasslands.

Answer 31

thick spongy mat of low growing plants