Category 1: Biome Basics
What two factors determine the type and productivity of a biome?
Temperature and precipitation
What happened to invasive grasses during the 10-year drought?
The percentage of land covered by invasive grasses increased
What process allows plants to convert sunlight into chemical energy?
Photosynthesis
What is a positive feedback loop?
A process that amplifies changes, pushing the system further from balance.
What is one potential negative effect of building a new bridge across the Bay?
Destruction of wetlands and increased sedimentation.
Which biome has the highest biodiversity and NPP?
Tropical Rainforest
What happened to the number of native plant species during the drought?
It decreased over time.
What elements are involved in the flow of energy and matter in an ecosystem?
Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Which scenario best shows a positive feedback loop during drought?
Soil erosion decreases as invasive grasses spread, allowing invasive species to expand further.
Give one way to design eco-friendly structures.
Build elevated bridges or add wildlife corridors
What biome has moderate rainfall and supports large grazing animals like antelope?
Grassland
What trend was observed in the antelope population during the drought?
it declined as food sources decreased.
How does a decrease in herbivore population affect energy transfer?
Less energy moves to predators and more to decomposers
How could the loss of native plants make future droughts worse?
Less plant cover means less water retention and higher erosion, worsening drought impact.
What does sustainability mean?
Using resources without harming future generations
Which biome has the lowest plant species richness and biodiversity index?
Desert Shrub
What happened to soil erosion as invasive grass coverage increased?
Soil erosion decreased because invasive grasses stabilized the soil.
Define Net Primary Productivity (NPP).
The amount of energy plants make available to other organisms after photosynthesis.
Explain one way biodiversity can help an ecosystem resist change.
High biodiversity increases resilience because different species fill multiple roles.
Why is protecting wetlands important?
They filter pollution and provide habitat
Explain why rainforest herbivore populations changed the least after a 10-year drought.
Because the rainforest has high biodiversity and stable rainfall, which buffers population loss.
Describe one negative ecological effect of invasive grasses replacing native plants.
Reduced biodiversity and food availability for native herbivores.
Why would less rainfall reduce energy flow in a grassland ecosystem?
Drought limits photosynthesis, reducing energy available to higher trophic levels.
Why did grasslands experience more population loss than rainforests during drought?
They have lower biodiversity and depend more on consistent rainfall.
Why must we consider the environment in new projects
o protect biodiversity and ensure long-term ecosystem health