Sahara Desert Biome

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary use of bison hides by tribes in the Great Plains?

For shelter and clothing (correct)

For medicine

For tools

For food

What has led to the decline of bison populations in the Great Plains?

Conversion of tallgrass prairie to farmland (correct)

Human overhunting

Climate change

Disease

What type of ecosystem exists under the canopy in the Amazon rain forest?

Canopy ecosystem

Forest floor ecosystem

Understory ecosystem (correct)

Tundra ecosystem

What is the definition of an ecosystem?

A geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary threat to rain forest ecosystems in the Amazon?

Deforestation for agriculture and urbanization Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a small ecosystem?

A tide pool Signup and view all the answers

What is the main benefit of clearing forests for agriculture in the Amazon?

Economic benefits for poor farmers Signup and view all the answers

What is a biome?

A large section of land, sea, or atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of ecosystems?

They can be very large or very small. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a type of biome?

Forest Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?

Temperature Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

Biotic factors depend on abiotic factors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of butterflies in forest floor ecosystems in the Amazon?

Prey for animals like spiders Signup and view all the answers

What type of ecosystem is the tallgrass prairie an example of?

Grassland ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary location of the protected bison herds mentioned in the text?

Yellowstone National Park Signup and view all the answers

Which ecosystem is supported by a few mosses in Antarctica?

Desert ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

Which ecosystem in the Sahara Desert is characterized by date palm trees and freshwater?

Oasis ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

Which Native American tribe developed a complex lifestyle based on the native plants and animals of the Great Plains?

Lakota Signup and view all the answers

What happens when there is a change in an ecosystem?

Every factor in the ecosystem is affected, either directly or indirectly. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the arid climate in the Sahara Desert biome?

Hot weather and limited rainfall Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of the Gobi Desert biome in Mongolia and China?

Kilometers of bare rock Signup and view all the answers

Which organism is found in the Gobi Desert ecosystem?

Takin Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the desert ecosystem in Antarctica?

Thick ice sheet covering a continent Signup and view all the answers

What is a biotic factor that was important in many Plains Indians cultures?

Bison Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Sahara Desert Biome

The Sahara Desert biome includes a variety of ecosystems, such as oasis ecosystems, dune ecosystems, and a marine environment.
Oasis ecosystems feature date palm trees, freshwater, and animals like crocodiles.
Dune ecosystems have a constantly changing landscape determined by the wind, and organisms like snakes and scorpions must adapt to survive in the sand dunes for long periods.
The marine environment is characterized by cool fogs created by the Atlantic Ocean on the Northwest African coast, and is home to shrubs and animals that feed on small trees, such as goats.

The Gobi Desert Biome

The Gobi Desert biome in Mongolia and China is distinct from the Sahara Desert biome.
The Gobi Desert is a cold desert with frequent snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Ecosystems in the Gobi are based on kilometers of bare rock, rather than sand.
Some grasses can grow in the cold, dry climate, supporting grazing animals like gazelles and takin, an endangered species of wild horse.

The Antarctic Desert Biome

The Antarctic Desert biome is characterized by a thick ice sheet covering a continent made almost entirely of dry, bare rock.
Only a few mosses can grow in this desert ecosystem, supporting a few bird species, such as skuas.

Ecosystems and Human Activity

Human populations have overtaken many ecosystems, leading to the destruction of habitats and the loss of biodiversity.
The tallgrass prairie of the Great Plains, once home to bison herds, was converted into farmland, leading to a decline in bison populations.
Today, a few bison herds survive in protected ecosystems like Yellowstone National Park.
Similarly, the Amazon rainforest ecosystems are threatened by human activity, such as deforestation for farmland, housing, and industry.

Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems can be small or large, and are characterized by a complex web of relationships between biotic and abiotic factors.
Tide pools are an example of a small, complete ecosystem, featuring seaweed, herbivores like abalone, and carnivores like sea stars.
The Amazon rainforest ecosystems support vast food webs, including canopies, understories, and forest floors, and are home to a wide variety of plants and animals.

Biomes and Ecosystems

Biomes are large sections of land, sea, or atmosphere, characterized by the types of plants and animals that live in them.
Ecosystems are often connected in a larger biome, and are organized based on the types of plants and animals that live in them.
Examples of biomes include forests, ponds, reefs, and tundra.

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Description

Explore the Sahara Desert's diverse ecosystems, including oasis and dune ecosystems, and the unique organisms that inhabit them.