Characteristics of Biomes

Which biome is characterized by low temperatures and low amounts of rainfall?

• tundra
• desert
• temperate deciduous forest
• tropical rain forest

Which biome covers most of the land mass near the Earth's equator?

• tundra
• desert
• grassland
• tropical forest

Which biome, because of its climate, has the largest number of species of plants and animals?

• tundra
• desert
• rain forest
• pine forest

One characteristic feature of tundra is that only the surface thaws in the summer and refreezes in the winter, leaving a layer of permanently frozen subsoil.  This characteristic is known as

• glaciation
• permafrost
• crystallization
• soilfrost

Which type of trees is found in a temperate forest?

• deciduous
• evergreen
• ginko
• palm

Which major biome is home to cacti, mesquite, white thorn, pack rats, small reptiles, and coyotes?

• desert
• taiga
• tundra
• grassland

Most of the organisms in the ocean exist in the shallow water over the continental shelves.  Why is this true?

• Producers, the beginning of all food chains, can only exist where there is sunlight.
• Sea predators can easily catch their prey where the water is shallow.
• Water over the continental shelves has more minerals than deep ocean water.
• Ocean storms destroy organisms living in deep water.

In which biome is Virginia located?

• tropical rainforest
• temperate rainforest
• deciduous forest
• alpine forest

Which biome receives between 0 to 25 centimeters of rain per year, has a temperature range of 0 to 50 degrees Celsius, has poor soil, and is home to lizards, scorpions, and snakes?

• desert
• mountain
• taiga
• tundra

Which biome receives between 0 and 25 centimeters of precipitation each year, has a temperature range from -27 to 5 degrees Celsius, has frozen soil, and is home to hares, caribou, and wolves?

• desert
• mountain
• savannah
• tundra