Biomes

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AP Environmental Science › Biomes

Questions 1 - 10
1

Which of the following does NOT characterize a tropical forest?

Nutrient-rich and pH-neutral soil

Over 2000 mm of annual rainfall

Highly diverse set of flora and fauna in the local biosphere

Consistently warm temperatures falling between 20-25oC

Little light reaching the forest floor

Explanation

Heavy decomposition of plant and animal matter contribute to highly acidic soil in tropical rainforests. Additionally, abundance of plant life in tropical rainforests results in "soil leaching," which means that the nutrients in the soil are drained and taken up by the plants themselves.

2

Which of the following is not a reason for the fragility of desert ecosystems?

Top predators are usually not checked in growth and can grow exponentially

Plant growth is slow

There is a low species diversity

Nutrients are slow to cycle through the ecosystem

There is a lack of water

Explanation

Top predators will generally never "grow unchecked". By the very nature of their diet (dependent on other populations), predator population growth is limited by the availability of their food. The famous study of lynx-hare population fluctuations demonstrates how a predator population will adjust to lower prey populations.

3

Which of the following environments gets less than 25 cm of rainfall each year?

Desert

Deciduous forest

Chaparral

Tropical rainforest

None of these

Explanation

The correct response is desert. The desert environment is characterized by low rainfalls (less than 25 cm per year). They are one of the most dry biomes on the planet. The desert biome also has highly variable temperature swings, with high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night.

4

In pictures from your family vacation, you see hardwood trees whose leaves have fallen. You know that the region you visited receives 75-250 cm of rain each year. Which biome did you visit?

Deciduous forest

Prairie grassland

Desert

Coniferous forest

Coastal chaparral

Explanation

The correct response is deciduous forest **.**The unique characteristic of the deciduous forest is that the trees shed their leaves each year. Maple and Oak trees are common in this biome. Prairie grasslands do not contain trees, rather they contain fields of grasses. The desert biome does not receive as much rainfall as the deciduous forest, nor does it contain many hardwood trees that shed their leaves. While the coniferous forest contains lots of hardwood trees, they very rarely shed their leaves. The coastal chaparral biome does not receive as much rainfall, and is dominated by small trees and shrubbery.

5

Which biome is characterized by a short growing season, harsh winters, no trees, mostly migratory animal species, and less than 10in of rain per year?

Tundra

Desert

Grasslands

Conifer forest

Explanation

Though grasslands and deserts share some of these characteristics, the tundra is the only biome listed that is characterized by a short growing season, harsh winters, no trees, mostly migratory animal species, and less than 10in of rain per year.

6

The evaluation of biomes takes into account which of the following?

Both temperature and precipitation

Temperature

Precipitation

Latitude

Explanation

Latitude is not considered in climate evaluations; for instance, the poles are considered deserts based on their precipitation levels per year, meaning deserts can occur along the equator or the poles. Temperate and tropical forests also exhibit similar precipitation levels, but due to their temperature differences, they are considered separate biomes.

7

Which of the following has the least amount of rainforest?

Mexico

Brazil

Peru

Indonesia

Explanation

Brazil, Indonesia, Peru, and Zaire contain over half of the world's tropical rainforest biome. Mexico does contain some rainforest that extends into Guatemala, but not as large an area as the other countries listed.

8

Which of the following biomes consists largely of coniferous forests at high latitudes?

Boreal Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Tundra

Temperate Rainforest

Savannah

Explanation

Boreal forest, also known as "taiga," is a biome spread across the northernmost latitudes, including Canada, Alaska, Russia, and parts of northern Europe. It is characterized by coniferous forests and generally low temperatures.

9

Biomes are fairly distinct regions with a similar climate, plants, soils, and animals. They can occur on multiple continents.

What two climate factors determine where a biome is located?

Temperature and precipitation

Humidity and precipitation

Temperature and atmospheric pressure

Wind and temperature

Humidity and atmospheric pressure

Explanation

Humidity, atmospheric pressure, and wind are all aspects of climate but not the determining factors. In the higher latitudes, temperature is the more important factor. In the lower latitudes, precipitation is the more important factor.

10

Which is not a type of forest?

Arid

Tropical

Temperate

Polar

Explanation

Polar forests are also known as "taiga"

There is no arid forest, as most arid regions are home to mostly shrub and brush-like plants. Arid areas with trees are not dense like true forests.

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