Biomes Basics
What is a biome?
A large area with similar plants, animals, and climate.
What is Australia’s largest biome?
Desert.
What do we call land used for growing crops?
Arable land.
Food security means everyone has enough… what?
Food.
Cutting down trees is called what?
Deforestation.
Which two things mainly decide a biome?
Temperature and rainfall.
In which biome do we grow wheat?
Grassland.
What is irrigation and why is it used?
Artificially supplying water to crops—to overcome rainfall variability and boost yields.
Name one reason a family might not get food.
Too expensive / not available.
What happens if we use too much water on farms?
Soil gets salty / waterlogged.
Why does a rainforest have more species than a desert?
More rain and stable warm climate give better growing conditions.
Why are tropical biomes good for sugarcane?
Warm temperatures and high rainfall help it grow.
Why do farmers irrigate crops?
To give water when rain is not enough.
Which pillar means food is safe and nutritious?
Utilisation.
How does crop rotation help the soil?
Different crops stop nutrients being used up and reduce pests.
Which biome usually lies between deserts and forests?
Grasslands.
Why is Tasmania mostly temperate forest?
It has cooler temperatures and more rain than mainland Australia.
Why do farmers use fertilisers, and what is one problem if too much is used?
Helps plants grow, but too much can pollute rivers and soil.
Why does stability matter for food security?
People need food to be reliable, not just available sometimes.
What happens to biodiversity when forests are cleared?
Animals lose homes, species numbers drop.
Explain one way latitude influences biome distribution.
Distance from the equator affects solar energy and climate, producing predictable bands of biomes.
How did Indigenous fire use help the land?
It encouraged new plant growth and created habitats for animals.
What is the difference between intensive and extensive farming?
Intensive uses small areas with lots of inputs (e.g., vegetables); extensive uses large areas with fewer inputs (e.g., sheep grazing).
Give one example of how drought can make food less secure.
Crops fail → less food in shops and prices go up.
How might climate change affect Australian farming?
More droughts and heat waves make it harder to grow crops.