Biomes Around the World
What is a biome?
A very large ecosystem made up of specific vegetation types, climate and the animals that depend on them.
What does biome productivity mean?
How much biological material, such as plant growth and biomass, is produced in a biome over time.
What is a natural resource?
A material, system or service provided by the environment that people rely on to survive and develop.
What is crop yield?
The amount of food harvested per area of land.
What does food demand mean?
How much food people want, need and are able to buy.
Name two major terrestrial biomes.
Forest, savanna, grassland, desert or tundra.
What are the three major controlling factors of biome productivity?
Climate, soils and vegetation.
Name two ways humans depend on biomes.
Food, timber, fibre, fuel, farming, tourism, water cycles, soil fertility or climate regulation.
Why do humans alter biomes for food production?
To produce more food more efficiently and reliably for growing populations.
What does food supply mean?
The availability, accessibility and reliability of food produced and distributed.
What is the difference between a biome and an ecosystem?
A biome exists on a global scale, while an ecosystem is more local. A biome contains many ecosystems.
Why is productivity often highest near the Equator?
Areas near the Equator usually receive consistent sunlight and high rainfall, allowing plants to grow throughout the year.
What are the four main types of biome value?
Economic, environmental, social/cultural and scientific value.
What is vegetation removal? And is vegetation removal good or bad for a biome? Explain.
Clearing natural plants such as forests or grasslands to create space for crops or livestock.
Vegetation removal can help food production by creating space for crops and livestock. However, it can also reduce biodiversity, expose soil to erosion and damage ecosystems.
Name the four main factors that affect food supply and demand. Provide an example of at least one affecting either food supply or demand.
Environmental, social, economic and technological factors.
Compare a tropical rainforest biome and a desert biome.
Tropical rainforests are hot, wet and have dense vegetation. Deserts are dry and have sparse vegetation. Rainforests usually form near the Equator where rainfall is high, while deserts form in areas with very low rainfall.
Why do polar regions usually have low biome productivity?
They have limited sunlight, freezing temperatures and short growing seasons.
Bonus for 100 points: Why can a hot biome still have low productivity?
Why are ecosystem services important for agriculture? (revisit)
They support farming through soil fertility, water regulation, pollination, pest control and climate regulation.
How does terracing make steep land more suitable for farming?
It creates step-like platforms that slow water runoff, reduce soil erosion and allow crops to grow on slopes.
How can population growth and urbanisation affect food demand in Asia?
More people need food, and city lifestyles can increase demand for processed, packaged, convenience foods, meat and dairy.
Explain how temperature, rainfall and elevation can influence where biomes are found.
Temperature affects plant growth, rainfall controls how dense vegetation can be and higher elevations are colder, which changes the type of vegetation that can survive.
Explain why tropical rainforests can be highly productive even if their soils are not very fertile.
Warm temperatures and high rainfall allow rapid plant growth and fast nutrient cycling. Nutrients are quickly taken up by vegetation rather than remaining in the soil.
Explain how damaging the environmental value of a biome can also reduce its economic value.
If soils lose nutrients, water becomes polluted or biodiversity declines, farming becomes less productive. This means the biome produces less food or income over time.
Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of irrigation.
Irrigation allows crops to grow in dry areas, increasing food production. However, overuse of water can damage ecosystems, reduce river flows or cause salinisation.
Explain how extreme weather can affect both food supply and food demand.
Extreme weather can damage crops and reduce food supply. When supply falls, food prices rise, which can increase demand for imports or cheaper alternative foods.