Biomes
What is a biome?
A biome is a large geographic area characterized by its climate, soil, plants, and animals. Examples include deserts, rainforests, and tundras.
What are the major impacts on the environment? Name two
Climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, biodiversity loss and resource depletion
What are human activities that impact biomes?
Human activities like deforestation, pollution, urbanization, and agriculture alter landscapes, destroy habitats, and reduce biodiversity.
How do human settlements affect natural biomes?
Settlements change biomes by clearing land, altering water sources, reducing biodiversity, and increasing pollution.
What are economic activities, and how do they relate to biomes?
Economic activities are human actions that generate income, such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and tourism. They depend on natural resources provided by biomes.
Climate refers to?
the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.
What is the only continent with land in all four hemispheres?
Africa! It is in the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Hemispheres.
Name one major biome in Australia
What factors determine the type of biome in a region?
The main factors are climate (temperature and precipitation), latitude, altitude, and soil type. These influence the types of plants and animals that can survive in a biome.
What is habitat destruction, and how does it impact biomes?
Habitat destruction occurs when forests, wetlands, or grasslands are cleared for human use, displacing wildlife and disrupting ecosystems.
How does urbanization affect forest biomes?
Expanding cities destroy trees, reduce carbon absorption, and disrupt ecosystems that depend on forests.
How do biomes influence the types of economic activities found in a region?
Climate, soil fertility, water availability, and biodiversity determine which industries thrive. For example, farming is common in grasslands, while fishing is key in marine biomes.
A climate graph shows?
Minimum and maximum temperatures and precipitation.
Which country has the most time zones?
France! It has 12 time zones due to its overseas territories.
Name two biomes
Rainforest, desert, tundra, alpine, grassland, savanna etc
What are the differences between terrestrial and aquatic biomes?
Terrestrial biomes are land-based (e.g., forests, deserts, tundras), while aquatic biomes are water-based (e.g., freshwater rivers, marine oceans, coral reefs).
How does agriculture impact different biomes?
Agriculture leads to deforestation (rainforests), soil degradation (grasslands), and water depletion (wetlands and freshwater biomes) due to excessive irrigation and chemical use.
What are the main environmental challenges caused by human settlements?
Deforestation, air and water pollution, soil degradation, overpopulation, and increased energy consumption.
Which economic activities are most common in the tropical rainforest biome?
Logging, agriculture (coffee, cocoa, palm oil), ecotourism, and medicinal plant harvesting are common, but they often lead to deforestation.
Vegetation is?
Plants considered collectively, especially those found in a particular area or habitat.
What is the longest river in the world?
The Nile River in Africa, stretching about 6,650 km (4,130 miles).
How do desert plants survive in harsh conditions?
Desert plants, like cacti, have adaptations such as thick, waxy coatings to reduce water loss, deep or widespread roots, and the ability to store water.
How do temperature and precipitation influence biome distribution?
Hot, wet climates support tropical rainforests, while cold, dry climates create tundras. Deserts form in areas with very little rainfall, while grasslands and forests develop in moderate climates.
How does mining affect biomes?
Mining leads to soil erosion, habitat destruction, and water contamination from toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide.
How does human settlement contribute to climate change?
Cities and industries release greenhouse gases, leading to rising temperatures, altered weather patterns, and biome shifts.
What industries are important in the desert biome?
Oil and gas extraction, tourism (safaris, cultural heritage sites), and solar energy production are major economic activities in deserts.
Soil fertility is?
How much nutrients the soil has to create production.
What is the smallest country in the world?
Vatican City! It is only 0.49 square kilometers (0.19 square miles).
What are the main types of biomes?
The main types include biomes like forests, deserts, grasslands, and tundras, and aquatic biomes like freshwater and marine environments.
Why do different biomes support different types of plant and animal life?
Each biome has unique climate conditions, food sources, and habitats that determine which species can thrive. For example, cacti in deserts store water, while trees in rainforests have broad leaves to absorb sunlight.
What is deforestation, and why is it a major problem?
Deforestation is the clearing of forests for agriculture, logging, or urban expansion, leading to loss of biodiversity, climate change, and disruption of water cycles
What happens to local wildlife when human settlements expand?
Animals lose their habitats, leading to population declines, conflicts with humans, and some species becoming endangered.
How does deforestation for timber and agriculture impact biomes?
Deforestation leads to habitat loss, carbon emissions, soil erosion, and disruption of water cycles.
What does the word trend refer to on a graph?
Something that happens consistently over time
What is the highest mountain in the world?
Mount Everest at 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet)!
What is the difference between a tropical rainforest and a temperate deciduous rainforest?
location to the equator, climate cold vs hot
Why do different biomes support different types of plant and animal life?
Each biome has unique climate conditions, food sources, and habitats that determine which species can thrive. For example, cacti in deserts store water, while trees in rainforests have broad leaves to absorb sunlight.
Which biomes are most affected by deforestation?
Tropical rainforests suffer the most, especially in the Amazon, where vast areas are cleared for farming and cattle ranching.
How do human settlements affect soil and agriculture?
Deforestation and over-farming degrade soil, reducing fertility and leading to erosion and desertification.
What are the environmental consequences of overfishing?
Overfishing disrupts food chains, reduces fish populations, and harms ecosystems, leading to economic losses for fishing communities.
Buttress refers to what part of a tree?
Rainforest Tree roots
Which country has the most lakes?
Canada! It has about 60% of the world’s lakes.
Why are coral reefs considered a biome?
Coral reefs are a marine biome that supports a vast diversity of life, providing food and shelter for many marine species. They are sometimes called the "rainforests of the sea."
What are some ways that animals and plants in different biomes are adapting to climate change?
Some species migrate to cooler areas, while others change their behavior or breeding seasons. For example, some birds migrate earlier due to warmer temperatures.
What is water pollution, and how does it impact aquatic biomes?
Water pollution from plastic waste, chemicals, and oil spills kills marine life, disrupts food chains, and contaminates drinking water.
What do human settlements require in rainforest biomes?
Sustainable farming methods, elevated buildings to prevent flooding, and careful land use planning to reduce deforestation.
How do economic activities in rainforests impact the environment?
Activities like logging, mining, and large-scale agriculture lead to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and climate change. These industries remove trees that absorb carbon dioxide, disrupt ecosystems, and contribute to global warming. Sustainable practices like selective logging, agroforestry, and ecotourism help reduce environmental damage.
What does the word patterns refer to on a graph?
Repeated characteristics
What’s the only U.S. state with a tropical rainforest?
Hawaii! The state has lush rainforests thanks to its warm, wet climate.
Which biome has the highest biodiversity? Why?
The tropical rainforest has the highest biodiversity, with millions of plant and animal species due to its warm, wet climate.
Why are rising sea levels a threat to coastal and wetland biomes?
Higher sea levels flood coastal habitats, destroy nesting sites for birds, and lead to saltwater intrusion, making it harder for plants and animals to survive.
How does air pollution affect biomes?
Air pollution from industries and vehicles leads to acid rain (damaging forests), respiratory issues in animals, and climate change due to greenhouse gases.
What do human settlements need in areas with frequent wildfires?
Fire-resistant buildings, controlled burns to manage vegetation, and emergency evacuation plans.
How can economic activities in biomes become more sustainable?
Using renewable resources, reducing pollution, protecting biodiversity, and enforcing environmental regulations can balance economic growth with conservation.
What are the 4 layers of a rainforest?
emergent, canopy, understory and forest floor
Which desert is the largest in the world?
Antarctica! Even though it’s icy, it’s technically a desert.
What is the main difference between a grassland and a savanna?
A grassland has mostly grasses and few trees, while a savanna has scattered trees and experiences a wet and dry season. Savannas are common in Africa.
What are the differences between terrestrial and aquatic biomes?
Terrestrial biomes are land-based (e.g., forests, deserts, tundras), while aquatic biomes are water-based (e.g., freshwater rivers, marine oceans, coral reefs).
What are the consequences of losing forest biomes?
Loss of forests leads to soil erosion, reduced oxygen production, extreme weather events, and displacement of indigenous communities.
How do human settlements in flood-prone biomes protect themselves?
Flood barriers, elevated homes, and drainage systems help reduce water damage.
What are the economic benefits and risks of tourism in fragile biomes?
Tourism creates jobs and protects nature but can lead to pollution, habitat destruction, and overcrowding if not managed well.
Spatial Distribution is?
Spatial perspective is defined as a way of thinking about how and why physical features or processes are positioned in geographic space.
What’s the deepest ocean trench in the world?
The Mariana Trench, with its deepest point, Challenger Deep, at about 10,994 meters (36,070 feet)!
How do biomes differ from ecosystems?
A biome is a broad category of similar ecosystems, while an ecosystem refers to the interactions of living and nonliving things in a specific area.
How does soil quality vary between biomes, and why is this important for plant growth?
Rainforests have nutrient-poor soil because nutrients are quickly recycled. Grasslands have rich, fertile soil, making them ideal for farming. Deserts have sandy, nutrient-poor soil, limiting plant growth.
What are some solutions to deforestation?
Solutions include reforestation, sustainable logging, agroforestry (growing trees and crops together), and creating protected forest areas.
What sustainable practices can human settlements adopt to reduce their impact on biomes?
Renewable energy, green architecture, reforestation, efficient water use, and waste reduction can minimize environmental damage.
How do deserts contribute to the global energy industry?
Many deserts are rich in oil and gas reserves and have ideal conditions for solar energy production.
Relationships on a graph refer to?
Which island is the largest in the world?
Greenland! It’s 2.16 million square kilometers (836,000 square miles).