Biomes/ALZs
We will use this page for good resource links and test question suggestions. PLEASE keep in mind that the test is 75% from the book, and 15% from projects. So, don’t write obscure questions classmates who did not do your research won’t know. Maybe reread what is the book first? Help each other understand unique (but not obscure) climate features, dominant vegetation, and representative animals that occur there for biomes and unique zonation, productivity, and relative salinity for ALZs (fresh, brackish, salt).
Comment from Evan Rodbell
Time October 24, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Here are two questions for the Alpine Tundra.
1) In respect to precipitation, the Alpine Tundra is analgous to: (answer is desert)
2) Which fuana adaption is NOT one for Alpine Tundra:
a. Long hibernation periods
b. small appendages
c. thick fur and fat
d. camouflage
(d is the right wrong answer)
Comment from max.lawrence
Time October 24, 2010 at 8:30 pm
1) Of the flora of the Savanna, which of the following is not an adaptation.
a. Leaf rolling
b. Underground stems
c. Thick Waxy bark
d. Huge size to better gain access to sunlight (correct wrong answer)
2) Which of the following is a human impact on the savanna (Answer is poaching)
3) Which animal has a huge nose to help it gain food and breath under water
a. Elephant
b. Zebra
c. Giraffe
d. Lion
Hopefully you can use one of these. If not, email me for other suggestions.
Comment from emilyholway
Time October 25, 2010 at 8:56 am
What adaptation do temperate grassland plants have to avoid trampling by herds?
Why is grazing in a herd advantageous?
Which of these four is not a major name for a temperate grassland area?
a. veld
b. steppe
c. chaparral
d. pampas
Comment from derrickwillard
Time October 25, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Evan, Max, and Emily. Thanks for jumping on this. Not that you have to change your questions, but I’ve updated the prompt at the page so you might want to read it.
Comment from joy.greenberg
Time October 25, 2010 at 4:49 pm
1) What are corals made of and what lives inside them that is critical for their growth?
2) What are the three largest coral reef systems?
Comment from derrickwillard
Time October 25, 2010 at 6:26 pm
A good page explaining NPP:
http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=4&secNum=3
Comment from lexylong
Time October 25, 2010 at 9:09 pm
What is the average yearly rainfall for a tropical desert region?
Where are the tropical desert regions and how do they differ from the temperate desert regions? (latitude)
Comment from annastrattonbrook
Time October 25, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Why is the chaparral prone to fires and how do they help the chaparral?
What is one plant adaptation for chaparral and why is this useful for plants in this biome?
Comment from miriamaniel
Time October 25, 2010 at 9:34 pm
swamps are characterized by:
a) the dominance of trees in the area
b) the little amount of biodiversity
c) the extremes of temperatures
d) the remarkably low amount of precipitation it recieves
(answer is a )
The most prominant zone of the inland wetland biome (swamps) is:
a) the littoral zone
b) the profundal zone
c) the limnetic zone
d) the ‘swampy’ zone
(answer is a )
Comment from katherinerush
Time October 25, 2010 at 9:35 pm
What are two advantages to plants in the temperate desert having spines instead of leaves?
What is one adaptation that animals use to escape the temperate desert heat?
Comment from caroline.james
Time October 25, 2010 at 10:06 pm
The profundal zone of a lake is:
a) the zone away from shore that sunlight penetrates enabling photosynthesis and plant growth
b) the zone that sunlight does not reach, limiting plant and animal life
c)the zone in which aquatic plants grow in the mud and reach above the water’s surface
d) the zone including the bottom of the lake that houses many invertebrates and detritus in the mud
(answer is b)
In relation to other major aquatic life zones, the average world net primary productivity level of lakes and streams (billion kcal/yr) in relation to worldwide distribution is:
a) very highly productive
b) moderately-highly productive
c) relatively non-productive
d) somewhat productive
(answer is c…because worldwide, although lakes/streams are moderately productive, they are not incredibly abundant/cover a relatively small surface area overall)
Comment from parkercalandra
Time October 25, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Why does the tropical rainforest have nutrient poor soil?
Why does the tropical rainforest have a consistent high temperature?
What is the importance of buttress roots?
Comment from natalieburke
Time October 25, 2010 at 11:33 pm
1. Why does the salinity in an estuary make it a harsh climate for organisms to survive in?
(answer: the salinity varies with the tide going in and out, so organisms have to adapt to a constantly changing environment)
2. In an estuary, what is the adaptation of different sizes of beaks and legs on birds an example of?
(answer: resource partitioning)
3. What is an adaptation that plants in both estuaries and deserts share? (answer: they can store water in their tissues because there is little water (or fresh water) in both areas)
Comment from David Bailey
Time October 26, 2010 at 7:51 pm
1. What are the major differences as far as adaptations in flora and fauna between rocky coasts and sandy coasts?
2. Why is it that dunes have signs such as “Do not walk on Dunes”?
Comment from derrickwillard
Time October 26, 2010 at 7:52 pm
David, thanks, but we are not testing human impacts. So, maybe volunteer something else instead?
Comment from derrickwillard
Time October 26, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Links that might be helpful to review?
Good, concise text summary/comparison chart at this web page:
http://www.sciencebugz.com/apenv/Notes/biome.htm
More complete summaries with pics here:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/index.php