Climates and Ecosystems of Latin America Practice 100%

The semiarid climate region is labeled with the number _____ on the map above.

D. 4

Francisco is a twelve-year-old boy living in the Andes Mountains. One of his favorite things to do is build bird feeders for the hummingbirds that live in his region. He has made about five that hang from tree branches. His most recent goal is to hang one of his bird feeders in a palm tree.

D. the deciduous forest in Colombia

The following characteristics describe which climate region? i. It has extreme daily temperature variations. ii. It receives little to no rainfall throughout the year. iii. It is located throughout Latin America.

A. arid

Which climate region is labeled with the number 1 on the map above?

C. Mediterranean

Using complete sentences, discuss the similarities and differences between the types of climate regions on the map above and their locations in Central and South America.

Central and South America contain the same five climate regions: tropical dry, tropical wet and dry, highlands, semiarid, and arid. The locations of these climate regions are similar; both of the tropical wet and tropical wet dry regions are near the Equator. The further a region is from the Equator, the drier the climate becomes. The semiarid and arid climate regions in Central America are farther north of the Equator, and those in South America are farther south of the line. The highland climate regions start in the center of Central America and are found mostly along the western borders of both regions, near the Pacific Ocean. The main difference between the two regions is that South America has a few additional climate regions south of the Equator. All three are moderate climate regions - humid subtropical, Mediterranean, and marine west coast. None of these regions is located in Central America.

Latin Americans have created different elevation zones to describe the climates that they live in. Which of the following patterns places the elevation zones in the correct order, starting at the bottom of the pyramid and ending at the top?

D. tierra caliente, tierra templada, tierra fria, tierra helada

Using complete sentences, describe the damages caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. How did Latin Americans respond to this disaster? What other common natural disasters affect people living in Latin America?

Hurricane Mitch was a devastating storm that hit Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula in 1998. Honduras and Nicaragua were the two countries that were most affected by the hurricane and received the majority of the damages. Between both countries, over 11,000 people were killed and more than 6 billion dollars was needed to repair all the damages. This hurricane made the people in the region rethink some of their building techniques. New building standards were put into place to make sure structures were built with strong, reliable materials. Unfortunately, hurricanes are not the only natural disasters that plague the region. Latin America is also affected by earthquakes, floods, mudslides, and active volcanoes.

Explain the relative location of the Amazon Rainforest. Describe at least four unique characteristics of the Amazon Rainforest, including the types of plants and animals that live in the ecosystem. Make sure to compose your answer using complete sentences.

The Amazon Rainforest is located in the northeastern portion of South America, just west of the Atlantic Ocean and mostly within Brazil's borders. The Amazon Rainforest ecosystem is found in both the tropical wet and tropical wet and dry climate regions of South America. The region is warm year-round and receives constant precipitation, usually over 100 inches of rain annually. This region is often referred to as the lungs of the planet because it produces over 20% of the world's oxygen. The Amazon is the largest rainforest and has the greatest concentration of diverse plants and animals species in the world. It is home to over two-thirds of the world's plant species, including bromeliads and a variety of ferns and vines. Animals in the Amazon include large creatures such as jaguars, tapirs, and anacondas. There are also small animals across the rainforest, including thousands of species of insects.

Using complete sentences, briefly describe what the image above represents. What are the main differences between the tierra caliente level and the tierra fria level?

The image above represents how climate zones are divided by elevation in Latin America; the higher a level is, the farther from sea level it is. Each level can support its own crops and economic activities. The tierra caliente zone, the lowest level, includes all lands below 3,000 feet. This level contains tropical climates with hot temperatures and plenty of precipitation. Rainforest ecosystems are found in this level and contain great biodiversity. Agriculture thrives in this region because crops such as sugarcane, bananas, and cacao can be grown here. This is very different from the tierra fria level, which is located between 6 and 12 thousand feet in elevation. This level contains highland climates with cool to cold temperatures and varying amounts of precipitation. Ecosystems at the top level are tundra at near 12,000 feet and forests at lower elevations. Most economic activities revolve around livestock such as llamas and alpacas and crops such as beans, wheat, and potatoes.

What two types of ecosystems are located in Latin America's highland climate regions? Describe the location of each ecosystem and identify at least two plants and animals that live in each system.

The two ecosystems located in the highlands of Latin America are coniferous forests and deciduous forests. Coniferous forests stretch across the mountains of Central America. The plants in this forest include pine-oak trees and other coniferous trees, and the animals include rabbits, woodpeckers, and jays. A unique characteristic of the coniferous forest in Mexico is that it contains over 160 species of butterflies. Deciduous forests are located in the Andes Mountains in Colombia. Plants in this region include palms, shrubs, and a variety of grasses. Animals include tapirs, speckled bears, and hummingbirds.