ENV - Chapter 5. Biomes: Global Patterns of Life

Match the correct tree type to the best description. 1.) Deciduous trees 2.) Evergreen trees

1.) Trees that lose their leaves seasonally. 2.) Trees that are cone-bearing

Select the best definition for the term tundra.

A treeless landscape occurring at high latitudes

Which organisms below have a symbiotic relationship and together create living reefs?

Colonial animals (coral polyps) and photosynthetic algae

Which of the following are threats to the rich, diverse communities found in coral reef biomes?

Destructive fishing methods Excess nutrient runoff from land Trash and sewage Introduced pathogens and predators

What is not a characteristic of a tropical seasonal forest?

Dry year-round

Which of the following is the best definition for the term biome?

Environments that have similar climate, growth patterns, and vegetation

True or false: Coral reefs are formed by plants.

False Reason: Coral reefs are formed by colonial animals (coral polyps) and photosynthetic algae (not plants).

What is the greatest threat to coral reefs?

Global warming, which causes coral bleaching

What is the main reason grasslands are one of the most disturbed biomes?

Grasslands tend to make good farmland.

Which of the following characteristics produce a temperate shrubland? (Select all that apply.)

Hot season coincides with a dry season Cool, moist winters

How is marine productivity best described in the open ocean?

It can be described as a biological desert because of the low productivity.

Why are freshwater ecosystems biologically important?

Most terrestrial species rely on them for survival. They support high levels of biodiversity.

What organisms form the base of the marine ecosystem?

Phytoplankton

What is the difference between grasslands and savannas?

Savannas have a sparse tree cover in addition to the grass-covered areas

A grassland receives too little rain to support a forest. If the grassland starts to get enough rain to support a sparse tree cover, the grassland may transition into a ______ over time.

Savvanna

Why are temperate broadleaf forests the most completely human-dominated major biome?

Temperate broadleaf forests develop under conditions that are also ideal for human occupation, thus they are cleared for that purpose.

What will likely happen to deciduous northeastern forests, that currently supply most of our maple syrup, in response to climate change?

The timing and amount of sap will be less reliable.

What characteristic defines anaerobic bacteria?

They do not use oxygen (O2)

Why are phytoplankton a key part of the marine ecosystem?

They form the base of the marine food web.

The controlling factor in determining where grasslands will occur as a terrestrial biome is the ______.

amount of rain the region receives

Bacteria that live in anoxic or low-oxygen conditions in marine sediments are ______ bacteria.

anaerobic

Wetlands are shallow ecosystems in which the land surface is submerged in water ______.

at least part of the year

An ecological community with distinct temperature and precipitation patterns is called a(n) ________.

biome

The ______ biome is defined by unpredictable and low (under 30 cm per year) precipitation rates.

desert

In Arizona, most birds gather in trees and bushes surrounding the few available rivers and streams. This behavior shows that _______.

freshwater ecosystems are important to the survival of some terrestrial species

In a tundra, vegetation includes ______, and ______ can occur any month of the year.

grasses and lichens; frost

Tropical ____ forests all have abundant moisture and uniform temperatures.

moist

Deciduous temperate forests tend to occupy _____ and _____ climates, while coniferous forests tend to occupy _____ and _____ climates.

moist; moderate; dry; cold

Deserts occur where ______.

precipitation is rare and unpredictable with usually less than 30 cm of rain per year

there is enough rain to support abundant grass but not enough for forests

rainfall; temperatures

The maple syrup industry that exists in the deciduous forest of Quebec and the northeastern U.S. will ______ as climate changes.

suffer

In Russia, a boreal forest often mixes with open tundra to create what is known as the ______.

taiga

An area known for hot,dry summers and cool, moist winters would most likely be a ____ biome.

temperate shrubland

Because of the lack of nutrients, biological productivity is often low in ______.

the open ocean

A taiga is ______.

the ragged edge of the boreal forest where it gives way to open tundra. Extreme cold and short summers lead to slow growth rates here

Under what conditions do grasslands occur? They occur where ______.

there is enough rain to support abundant grass but not enough for forests

A community with drought-tolerant forest species, hot temperatures year-round, and low precipitation for most of the year except for periodic rain to support tree growth describes the ____ biome.

tropical seasonal forest

Migratory birds have suffered due to the loss of ______ across the world because they have been drained and filled in for other land uses. The area covered by these ecosystems is half what it was 100 years ago in the U.S.

wetlands

The loss of _____ worldwide has been extensive, as they have been filled, drained, converted to farmland, or lost due to coastal erosion.

wetlands

Vegetated land surfaces which are saturated or submerged in water for at least part of the year are called ______.

wetlands