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Questions and Answers
What primarily distinguishes terrestrial biomes from one another?
What are the two key factors that can predict biome type in a region?
How many terrestrial and freshwater biomes are often recognized?
What is the most significant abiotic factor affecting terrestrial biomes?
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Which factors are NOT considered when analyzing biomes according to temperature and precipitation?
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What effect does incoming solar radiation have on climate when it is at a low angle?
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How does solar radiation at the Equator influence temperature?
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What is the primary definition of precipitation?
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Where is precipitation typically highest on Earth?
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Which of the following describes how biomes can be disrupted?
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What characterizes the dry season in tropical seasonal forests?
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Which of the following tree types is commonly found in tropical seasonal forests?
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How do the soils of tropical seasonal forests compare to those of tropical rainforests?
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What is a defining feature of deciduous trees?
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Which season in tropical seasonal forests is characterized by vivid green foliage?
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Which biome is typically found near the equator?
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What characterizes the vertical zonation of vegetation on mountains?
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Which latitude is associated with deserts?
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What does the X-axis represent in climate graphs?
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Which biome is named for its latitudinal location?
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What is the primary factor that differentiates biomes from climate zones?
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What typically occurs as elevation increases in mountainous regions?
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How can climate graphs vary across geographic locations?
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What is the definition of a biome?
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Which level of organization describes a group of individuals from the same species?
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What are the major types of terrestrial biomes mentioned?
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What characteristic distinguishes biomes from one another?
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Which of the following best describes an ecosystem?
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In which biome would you most likely find a significant seasonal variation in climate?
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What is the primary focus of ecological studies on biomes?
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Which combination of levels of organization defines an ecosystem?
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Study Notes
Levels of Organization of Ecological Systems
- Individual: A single organism (plant, animal, or single-celled life form).
- Population: A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.
- Community: Different populations of different species interacting in a given area.
- Ecosystem: A system of interacting communities and its non-living environment.
- Biome: Large geographical areas with similar climates and communities.
- Biosphere: All parts of Earth where organisms can live, including land, ocean, and atmosphere.
The Biome Concept
- Communities: Interacting populations of different species living in the same place.
- Biomes: Series of communities or ecosystems over a large geographic area.
- Common Characteristics: Plants and animals in a biome have adaptations suited to the environment.
- Biomes are not limited to specific continents: They are influenced by shared abiotic factors.
- Terrestrial Biomes: Occur on land.
- Aquatic Biomes: Occur in freshwater and marine habitats.
World’s Climate Zones
- Equator: 0° latitude.
- Tropic of Cancer: 23°26’ N.
- Tropic of Capricorn: 23°26’ S.
- Tropics: Area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
- Temperate: Zones between the tropics and the polar regions.
- Polar: Regions around the North and South Poles.
Differential Heating of Earth’s Surface by the Sun
- Curvature of the Earth: The amount of solar radiation reaching an area varies with latitude.
- Low angle of incoming radiation: More diffuse heating, resulting in cooler climates.
- Direct solar radiation at the equator: More concentrated heating, resulting in warmer climates.
Global Distribution of Precipitation
- Precipitation: Any liquid or frozen water falling from the atmosphere to Earth.
- Highest precipitation: Around the equator.
Biomes Vary with Temperature and Precipitation
- Biomes change based on: Average precipitation and temperature.
- Wet and hot: Biomes located in areas with high precipitation and high temperatures.
- Dry and hot: Biomes located in areas with low precipitation and high temperatures.
- Wet and cold: Biomes located in areas with high precipitation and low temperatures.
- Dry and cold: Biomes located in areas with low precipitation and low temperatures.
Biomes Vary with Latitude
- Latitude: Distance north or south of the equator.
- Boreal forests: Found in Canada, Europe, and Siberia.
- Tropical forests: Found near the equator.
- Deserts: Found around 30°N and 30°S latitude.
- Tropical Rainforests: Occur between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.
- Arctic Tundra: Found near or above the Arctic Circle (66.6°N).
- Other factors besides temperature: Biomes are not exactly the same as climate zones.
Vertical Zonation by Elevation
- Elevation: Height above sea level.
- Mountains: Cooler and wetter than lower elevations.
- Vertical Zonation: Different vegetation types occur at different elevations.
How to Interpret Climate Graphs
- X-axis: Months of the year.
- Left Y-axis: Temperature (°C).
- Right Y-axis: Precipitation (mm).
- Dry Months: Shaded yellow.
- Wet Months: Mid-blue.
- Average annual temperature and total precipitation: Shown at the top of the graph.
Tropical Seasonal Forests
- Distinct wet and dry seasons: Though temperatures remain warm-hot year-round.
- Often called dry tropical forests: Dry for much of the year.
- Dry season: Brown and dormant vegetation.
- Rainy season: Vivid green vegetation.
- Drought-tolerant deciduous trees: Drop leaves during the dry season to conserve water.
- Soils: Have higher levels of nutrients than tropical rainforests.
Deciduous Versus Evergreen Trees
- Deciduous: Trees that drop all their leaves seasonally to conserve water.
- Evergreen: Trees that remain green year-round, shedding only a few leaves at a time.
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