Questions and Answers
What is a savannah/tropical grassland?
A tropical or subtropical grassland containing scattered trees and drought-resistant undergrowth.
What characterizes a boreal forest/Taiga?
Low biological diversity, long cold winters, and dominated by coniferous evergreens.
What defines a grassland?
Regions where moderate annual average precipitation supports the growth of grass but not enough for large trees.
What are the key features of a desert?
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What is a deciduous forest?
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How is a temperate forest characterized?
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What is lichen?
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What does deciduous mean?
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What is permafrost?
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What does terrestrial mean?
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What is a habitat?
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What is an ecosystem?
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What is a niche?
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What characterizes the tundra biome?
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What are temperate deciduous forests known for?
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What defines temperate rain forests?
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What are temperate grasslands characterized by?
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What describes a tropical rain forest?
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Study Notes
Savannah/Tropical Grassland
- Tropical or subtropical grassland with scattered trees and drought-resistant undergrowth.
- Characterized by warm temperatures year-round and alternating wet and dry seasons.
- Hosts grazers like herbivores that eat grass and browsers such as giraffes that consume leaves.
Boreal Forest/Taiga
- Low biological diversity, long cold winters with short warm seasons.
- Dominated by coniferous evergreens, forming dense evergreen forests.
- Vulnerable to common fires, storms, and insect outbreaks; contains commercially valuable trees.
Grassland
- Found in regions with moderate annual precipitation (25-76 cm or 10-30 in).
- Sufficient moisture to support grass and small plants, insufficient for large trees.
- Example location: plains of the USA.
Desert
- Characterized by low moisture and unpredictable precipitation.
- Experiences wide fluctuations in daily and seasonal temperatures.
- Known as the driest biome; examples include the Sahara and areas in the United States, Mexico, and Australia.
Deciduous Forest
- Defined by warm summers and cold winters; trees (e.g. oak and maple) lose their leaves in winter.
- Supports hibernating animals like white-tailed deer, raccoons, and red foxes.
Temperate Forest
- Features cool, humid weather with abundant rainfall.
- Tree branches draped with mosses and trunks covered with lichens; forest floor layered with ferns.
Lichen
- Vegetation comprising fungus and algae, forming crustlike or branching structures on rocks and tree trunks.
Deciduous
- Trees that shed leaves during winter, enriching the soil.
Permafrost
- A permanently frozen layer of soil found beneath the ground surface.
Terrestrial
- Relating to the earth and its land-based inhabitants.
Habitat
- The specific area where an organism lives, influenced by both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
Ecosystem
- A community of organisms interacting with their nonliving environment within a particular area.
Niche
- The specific role or function an organism fulfills in its environment.
Tundra
- Low rainfall and permafrost characterize this biome, leading to treeless plains and low average temperatures.
- Two forms: Arctic (in high latitudes) and Alpine (in high elevations).
Temperate Deciduous Forests
- Occupy warmer climates than Taiga, primarily in North America, Eurasia, and Japan.
- Economically significant for hardwood trees, with minimal low-level vegetation.
Temperate Rain Forests
- Located in both hemispheres, these forests have temperatures remaining above freezing.
- Low diversity of plants and animals, yet significant economically; receive rainfall exceeding 250 cm annually.
Temperate Grasslands
- Found in regions too dry for forests and too moist for deserts; dominated by grasses and flowering plants.
- Includes North American prairies, Eurasian steppes, African plains, and South American pampas.
- Known for rich agricultural soil and a high diversity of large mammals; fire is a natural occurrence.
Tropical Rainforest
- Characterized by hot and wet conditions, high humidity year-round, near the equator.
- Home to Earth’s richest diversity of plant and animal species, containing two-thirds of known flowering plants.
- Abundant populations of insects and invertebrates prevalent in equatorial zones.
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Description
Test your knowledge of various biomes with these flashcards from Chapter 4 Part 2. Learn about tropical grasslands, such as savannahs, and boreal forests, also known as taiga. Perfect for visual learners and those looking to deepen their understanding of ecological zones.
