Tundra, Grassland and Tropical Rainforest

Question 1

What is the tundra biome characterised by?

Answer 1

Permafrost, a permanently frozen subsoil consisting of gravel and finer material

Question 2

What does the word tundra mean?

Answer 2

Treeless plain

Question 3

What is the climate like in the tundra biome?

Answer 3

It is the coldest biome on Earth, with temperatures ranging from -34°C to 12°C

Question 4

What is the latitude range for the tundra biome?

Answer 4

60-70°N of the equator

Question 5

What is the average yearly precipitation for the tundra biome?

Answer 5

150-250mm per year, it is an arid biome

Question 6

What happens during summer in the tundra biome?

Answer 6

There is 24 hours of sunlight per day

Question 7

What is the flora made up of in the tundra biome?

Answer 7

Shrubs, heath, sedge, moss and lichen

Question 8

What is the soil like in the tundra biome?

Answer 8

Poor in nutrients

Question 9

How much of the Earth’s surface does the tundra biome cover?

Answer 9

20 percent

Question 10

What are the 2 types of tundra?

Answer 10

Alpine and Polar

Question 11

What are the growing seasons in alpine and polar tundra?

Answer 11

Polar tundra has a 50-60 day growing season whereas alpine tundra has a 12-14 week growing season

Question 12

Where is polar tundra located?

Answer 12

Northern hemisphere, areas such as Greenland, Norway and Canada

Question 13

Where is alpine tundra located?

Answer 13

At a high altitude, areas such as the Himalayas, Pyreness and Scandinavian mountains

Question 14

Which type of tundra has the greater biomass and why?

Answer 14

Alpine tundra due to the higher latitudes and more isolation

Question 15

What is most precipitation in the alpine tundra in the form of?

Answer 15

Snow

Question 16

What are 3 biotic factors of a grassland?

Answer 16

Grass, herbivores and insects

Question 17

What are 3 abiotic factors of a grassland?

Answer 17

Climate, wind and topography

Question 18

Why are grasslands important to humans?

Answer 18

They provide food, fibre, biodiversity and grazing lands

Question 19

What can grasslands also be known as and where are these different types found?

Answer 19

Prairies- found in USA, Savannahs- found in North Africa, Pampas- found in South America, Veldt- found in South Africa, Steppes- found in Russia and Mongolia

Question 20

Which continents do grasslands cover the most?

Answer 20

Most of Australia can be classified as a grassland and Africa is dominated by grasslands

Question 21

What has greatly impacted grasslands over time?

Answer 21

Introduced grazing animals

Question 22

What are grasslands strongly influenced by?

Answer 22

Latitude

Question 23

What is the rainfall pattern per year for grasslands?

Answer 23

508-1270mm of rainfall per year evenly spread for 6-8 months, followed by a dry period

Question 24

What is the flora and soil like in grasslands?

Answer 24

Grasses dominate the flora with some shrubs, usually rich, fertile and deep soil

Question 25

What latitudes are temperate and tropical grasslands found at?

Answer 25

Tropical grasslands between 15-23.5° South | Temperate grasslands between 30-45° South

Question 26

Why is there such an abundance of species of life found in the Columbian Rain Forest?

Answer 26

It has an ideal climate, plenty of water, food and shelter

Question 27

How many insect species per hectare are there in the Columbian Rain Forest?

Answer 27

100,000 per hectare

Question 28

What is a major problem in tropical rainforests?

Answer 28

Leaching

Question 29

What is leaching?

Answer 29

The washing or dissolving away of water-soluble nutrients from the soil due to rainfall or irrigation

Question 30

What are Australian soils described as?

Answer 30

Old, thin, salty and low in nutrients

Question 31

How much of Australia is covered by rainforests?

Answer 31

Only 2.5%

Question 32

What are resources that rainforest have provided us for thousands of years with called?

Answer 32

Ecosystem services

Question 33

What are the resources that rainforests provide us with?

Answer 33

Oxygen production, temperature regulation, drugs, rubber and timber

Question 34

What is the percentage of plant, animal and insect species that live in tropical rainforests?

Answer 34

50%

Question 35

What is temperature range in tropical rainforests all year round?

Answer 35

Between 26-32°C all year round

Question 36

What latitude range are 90% of tropical rainforest found between?

Answer 36

0-23.5° North and South of the equator

Question 37

What is the rainfall and sunlight hours like in a tropical rainforest?

Answer 37

2000mm of rainfall per year with a wet and dry season | 12 hours of sunlight per day

Question 38

What are the 4 layers of a tropical rainforest from highest to lowest level?

Answer 38

Emergent trees, canopy layer, understory and forest floor