Types of Biomes Quiz

Biomes

• Biome: An area of the planet characterized by specific plants and animals, defined by temperature, soil, light, and water.
• Characteristics of biomes include: temperature, soil type, amount of sunlight, and water availability.
• Different types of biomes: Alpine, chaparral, desert, grassland, savanna, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, and tundra.

Types of Biomes

• Alpine: Mountainous regions, cold temperatures, and limited plant growth.
• Chaparral: Hot, dry summers and mild winters; prone to fires; low-lying vegetation.
• Desert: Can be hot or cold; has very little vegetation due to low rainfall.
• Grassland: Large areas of grasses with few trees; susceptible to fires.
• Savanna: Grassland with scattered trees; warm and rainy seasons, but drought periods.
• Taiga: Largest biome; long, cold winters; coniferous trees.
• Temperate Deciduous Forest: Four distinct seasons; many deciduous trees.
• Tropical Rainforest: Warm, rainy weather year-round; high biodiversity.
• Tundra: Extremely cold; treeless; permanently frozen ground (permafrost).

Climate vs. Weather

• Climate: Long-term average weather conditions.
• Weather: Daily average weather conditions.

Keystone Species

• Keystone species: Species that have a large impact on their habitats and many other species.

Indicator Species

• Indicator species: Species that are very sensitive to environmental changes, and provide insight into the health of the habitat.

Mangrove Trees

• Mangrove trees: Their leaves filter excess salt from brackish water; roots stabilize coastlines and reduce erosion; provide habitat for fish.

Succession

• Primary succession: Occurs on surfaces where no soil exists (e.g., volcanic rock); pioneer species like lichens break down rock to form soil.
• Secondary succession: Occurs on surfaces where soil already exists (e.g., after a flood or fire); existing soil supports faster growth.

Pioneer Species

• Pioneer species: The first species to inhabit an environment lacking vegetation. (e.g., lichens)

Biodiversity Index

• Biodiversity index: Measures the number of species in an area and the number of individuals of each species (a higher index indicates higher diversity).

Invasive Species

• Invasive species: Species that spread rapidly and outcompete native species for resources.

Line Transect

• Line transect: A sampling method used to count the number of species along a measured line.

Climatograms

• Climatograms: Show temperature and rainfall over time, used to identify biomes. They can help measure human activity impact.