Biomes and Microhabitats

A student walks the schoolyard and observes that there are many living things such as different plants and animals. She notices that moss grows in moist shady areas but did not see any in the open yard where its sunny. What is the best explanation for her observation?

• Different habitats support different plants and animals

• All plants and animals can live in any environment

• Schoolyards are not able to sustain living things

• Schoolyards are the only places where moss can grow.

Which plants would most likely be found in a rain forest?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Which of the following statements about biodiversity in ecosystems is true?

• Small ecosystems have less biodiversity and are affected more by natural disasters

• Large ecosystems are so spread out that maintaining diversity is difficult

• Stresses to an ecosystem increase biodiversity by introducing factors that lead to evolution

• Despite size, ecosystems with biodiversity are better suited to handle natural disasters.

A certain kind of plant lives only in a small area of a deciduous forest. What can you conclude?

• Not all parts of a deciduous forest are the same

• A deciduous forest does not have many types of plants

• A deciduous forest does not have many types of animals

• All parts of a deciduous forest are the same.

Increasing biodiversity affects the sustainability of an ecosystem by

• always decreasing competition for limited resources within an ecosystem

• allowing an ecosystem to survive many changes

• preventing an ecosystem from surviving many changes

• always increasing competition for limited resources within an ecosystem

What is one important way the arctic fox is adapted to its environment?

• its strong paws help it climb trees

• Its small size helps the fox hide below forest plants

• Its white fur helps the fox stand out to other animals

• its small ears and nose help slow the fox's heat loss in a cold climate

The picture shows an arctic fox.

In which biome does the fox most likely live?

• Desert

• Tundra

• Grasslands

• Temperate Rainforest

Which of the following factors determines a biome's identity

• the climate that exists there

• the number of people who live there

• the amount of pollution that occurs there

• the types of activities that can be done there

You observe a garden in a schoolyard. Corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, and other crops thrive in the garden. What is most likely true of the soil in this micro-habitat?

• It is dry and frozen

• It is rocky, sandy, and dry

• It is deep, dark, and nutrient rich

• It is thin, acidic, and nutrient poor.

In which biome would you expect to find many coniferous trees?

• Taiga

• Tundra

• Savanna

• Tropical rain forest