Biomes

Biomes

The Environment

Remember, the environment means the living and non-living elements of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, and is the product of both natural and human processes (for a reminder on environmental processes, review the previous lesson). 

The environment is also both natural and built!

 

The natural environment is important because it provides raw material and food, absorbs and recycles our natural wastes, and maintains various habitats and ecosystems!

Fill in the Blanks

Environment means the

and non-living elements of the Earth's surface.

Multiple Choice

National parks such as Kakadu National Park or Great Sandy National Park are examples of the ___________ environment

• built

• natural

Multiple Choice

the cities of Melbourne or Brisbane are examples of the ________

environment.

• natural

• built

Introduction to biomes

Earth is full of so many amazing and varied environments! 

These environments are sometimes classified into biomes - the subject of this introductory lesson.

By the time you've completed this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Define biomes.

2. Outline the six major biomes on Earth.

3. Understand how biomes are spatially distributed.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are true of biomes?

• Each type of biome exists in a particular type of climate

• Each biome tends to have particular plants and animals within it

• Each continent is made up of one biome

• Biomes are mainly found in areas with a lot of sunlight

Multiple Choice

Which part of the world is the north of Australia most like?

• Sonora Desert

• Sahara Desert

• India

• South Africa

Multiple Choice

Most of NSW has a climate most like which country?

• Argentina

• South Africa

• India

• The USA

The characteristics of biomes

Each biome has different characteristics, determined by its latitude and climate.  

This, in turn, determines what kind of plants and animals live there.

What is latitude and how does it relate to climate?

Multiple Choice

Which climate region is typically located in the middle of continents and receives less than 10 inches of rain per year?

• steppe

• tropical savana

• desert

• tundra

Multiple Choice

What two factors make up climate? 

• Temperature & Weather
• Weather & Climate
• Precipitation & Elevation
• Temperature & Precipitation

Multiple Choice

Which BEST describes why latitudes closest to the equator have warmer climates?

• they are at lower elevations
• they receive more solar energy
• they are nearer to ocean currents
• they get more winds that carry energy in the form of heat

Multiple Select

What Biome would you expect to see close to the Equator?

• Desert

• Grasslands

• Tundra

• Rainforest

Multiple Choice

The Heat Equator receives __________ direct insolation than the Poles, making it __________.

• less; cooler.

• less; warmer.

• more; cooler.

• more; warmer.

Multiple Choice

How many major lines of latitude are there?

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Multiple Choice

What is the name given to the 23.5 degrees South of the Equator?

• Tropic of Cancer

• Tropic of Capricorn

• Prime Meridian

• South Pole

Multiple Choice

The imaginary horizontal lines running parallel on the Earth is called

• Grid

• Latitude

• Longitude

• Heat zone

Multiple Choice

Which type of tree is most common in the Taiga biome?

• Eucalyptus

• Oak

• Maple

• Conifers

Multiple Choice

 Which of the following BEST describes the Tundra biome? ­­­­­­­­­­

• a.  A treeless plain found in the Artic or on the tops of mountains that is characterized by very low winter temperatures and short, cool summers. 
• a.  A region that has little or no plant life, long periods without rain, and extreme temperatures; usually found in hot climates. 
• a.  An area that often has scattered trees and that is found in tropical and subtropical areas where seasonal rains, fires, and drought happen. 
• a.  A forest biomes where the leaves on the trees fall off during winter, or the dry season, and grow back in the spring and summer.

Multiple Choice

Which biome is MOST LIKE the "desert" in terms of precipitation?

• tropical rainforest
• temperate deciduous forest
• tundra
• coniferous forest

Multiple Choice

The permanently frozen soil that prevents plants from growing deep within the soil is called ________

• concrete soil

• water table

• permafrost

• estruary

Open Ended

Name three animals common in the savannah.

Multiple Choice

What is the most important climate feature that makes a desert a desert?

• It is hot

• It is sandy

• It is dry

• Cactus plants

Multiple Choice

Which biomes are found mostly around the equator?

• Tropical Rainforest

• Taiga

• Tundra

• Desert

Multiple Choice

Which biomes are found mostly near the north and south poles?

• Tropical Rainforest

• Taiga

• Polar

• Desert