APES- Terrestrial Biomes Review
Vocabulary
Understand and be able to apply each of these terms.
1. Biome: similar climatic conditions on Earth, such as communities of plants
2. Climate: latitude, terrain, and altitude, and nearby bodies of water. Classified by temperature and precipitation
3. Rainshadow: A dry area on leeward of mountainous area. Mountains block the rain, which casts a shadow of dryness behind them
4. Windward: Side being hit with wind
5. Leeward: Side not being hit by wind
6. Latitude: A geographic coordinate going north-south
7. Altitude: The height above sea level of location
8. Primary Succession: The growth of an ecosystem over a long period
9. Secondary Succession: A process started by an event that reduces an ecosystem to a smaller population of species
10. Tropical: Warm to hot & moist year round climates with a lust of vegetation
11. Temperate: Latitudes of the globe that lie between the tropics and the polar regions
12. Desert: An area that has less than 250 mm or 10 inches of precipitation per year
13. Polar: Receives less intensive solar radiation because of the oblique angle of the Sun
Critical Thinking
Read, analyze, and give complete answers to these questions.
1. Describe the rainshadow effect and explain how it can alter the climate of the windward and leeward
sides of a mountain range.
A rainshadow effect alters the climate of the windward side of a mountain range by causing it to be dry. The climate on the windward side will have temperatures decreasing
2. What effect does living near a large ocean or lake have on average air temperatures? Why?- Explain.
Living near a large ocean or lake effects will allow the releasing of heat during the Winter, because the water has a high capacity of holding heat.
3. Complete this summary chart of the land-based ecosystems.
Understand and be able to apply each of these terms.
1. Biome: similar climatic conditions on Earth, such as communities of plants
2. Climate: latitude, terrain, and altitude, and nearby bodies of water. Classified by temperature and precipitation
3. Rainshadow: A dry area on leeward of mountainous area. Mountains block the rain, which casts a shadow of dryness behind them
4. Windward: Side being hit with wind
5. Leeward: Side not being hit by wind
6. Latitude: A geographic coordinate going north-south
7. Altitude: The height above sea level of location
8. Primary Succession: The growth of an ecosystem over a long period
9. Secondary Succession: A process started by an event that reduces an ecosystem to a smaller population of species
10. Tropical: Warm to hot & moist year round climates with a lust of vegetation
11. Temperate: Latitudes of the globe that lie between the tropics and the polar regions
12. Desert: An area that has less than 250 mm or 10 inches of precipitation per year
13. Polar: Receives less intensive solar radiation because of the oblique angle of the Sun
Critical Thinking
Read, analyze, and give complete answers to these questions.
1. Describe the rainshadow effect and explain how it can alter the climate of the windward and leeward
sides of a mountain range.
A rainshadow effect alters the climate of the windward side of a mountain range by causing it to be dry. The climate on the windward side will have temperatures decreasing
2. What effect does living near a large ocean or lake have on average air temperatures? Why?- Explain.
Living near a large ocean or lake effects will allow the releasing of heat during the Winter, because the water has a high capacity of holding heat.
3. Complete this summary chart of the land-based ecosystems.
4. For each category of biomes, give a major human impact and list 2 endangered species:
a. Deserts – Kangaroo rat, gila monster; Rapid temperature changes
b. Grasslands – Black rhino, asian elephant; Climate change
c. Forests – Golden-cheeked warbler, red cockaded woodpecker; People using too many natural resources (trees)
d. Mountains – Snow leopard, black footed ferret; People hunting animals
Climatograph
Use the data provided to construct a climatograph. Remember: Temperature should be displayed as a line
graph and precipitation as a bar graph. Identify the biome in the climatogram above- what evidence supports youranswer. Give specific observations,from your graph to justify this answer. (Answered on Aquatic study guide)
a. Deserts – Kangaroo rat, gila monster; Rapid temperature changes
b. Grasslands – Black rhino, asian elephant; Climate change
c. Forests – Golden-cheeked warbler, red cockaded woodpecker; People using too many natural resources (trees)
d. Mountains – Snow leopard, black footed ferret; People hunting animals
Climatograph
Use the data provided to construct a climatograph. Remember: Temperature should be displayed as a line
graph and precipitation as a bar graph. Identify the biome in the climatogram above- what evidence supports youranswer. Give specific observations,from your graph to justify this answer. (Answered on Aquatic study guide)