Abiotic Factors: Sunlight

Where does the sunlight strike the Earth most directly throughout the year?

• equator

• poles

• mid-latitudes

While tropical areas have a ​ (a)   amount of biodiversity because they have more direct sunlight, arctic areas near the ​ (b)   , which get less direct sunlight, have much​ less biodiversity.

• greater
• lesser

• equator
• poles

How is the amount of sunlight related to the temperature of an ecosystem?

• The more sunlight in an ecosystem, the warmer the temperatures.

• The less sunlight in an ecosystem, the warmer the temperatures.

• The more sunlight in an ecosystem, the cooler the temperatures.

• There is no direct connection between the amount of sunlight and the temperatures in an ecosystem.

The seasons are caused by the ​ (a)   of the Earth as it ​ (b)   around the ​ (c)   This means that ​the (d)   hemisphere, where we live, will get a different amount sunlight than the ​ (e)   hemisphere during the same time, creating opposite seasons.

• tilt
• orbits
• sun.
• northern
• southern

Match each to the correct season.

Groups:

(a) summer

,

(b) winter

• less plant life available

• animals hibernate

• more plant life available

• colder temperatures

• animals migrate to

• animals forage for food

• more sunlight

• animals migrate away

• warmer temperatures

• less sunlight

Add the labels to the correct locations of each.

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

Northern Hemisphere

North Pole

Pacific Ocean

Southern Hemisphere

Atlantic Ocean

equator

South Pole