30: Terrestrial ecosystems - forests and grasslands

climograph for biomes

relationship of climate (temperature and precipitation) to biomes

what can survive dry season where annual rainfall is 100-200mm?

only grasses

what can survive dry season where annual rainfall is up to 300mm?

shrubs

what can survive dry season where annual rainfall up to 400mm?

solitary trees

what can survive dry season where annual rainfall over 400mm?

dense trees

which is not a type of tropical forest

tropical wet forest

3 multiple choice options

tropical rainforest

- near equator

- over 2,500 mm rainfall/yr

- over 50% of earth's has been destroyed

tropical deciduous forest

- areas with distinct wet and dry season

- trees and shrubs are deciduous

- 32% of forest in tropics

tropical dry forest

- lowland areas with prolonged dry season and scarce rainfall

- thorny shrubs and trees and succulents

- 43% of forest in tropics

what type of forest is most common in the tropics?

dry forest makes up 43%

2 multiple choice options

tropical rainforest is characterised by what type of trees?

tall and slender

3 multiple choice options

there are more plant and animal species in ______ ________ than in all other biomes combined

tropical rainforests

epiphytes

plants that grow on other plants

high temperature and rainfall throughout the year in tropical rainforests results in

rapid nutrient cycling

in tropical rainforests, leaching is _____ leading to _____ soil development

high, poor

where are tropical forests located?

within 23.5 latitude of equator

tropical forests are located between the tropics of

cancer and capricorn

where are temperate and boreal forests located?

mid latitudes to arctic circle

arctic and alpine climograph

low precipitation and low temperature

boreal forest winter

long & cold (short day length)

boreal forest summer

short & wet (warm)

boreal forest soil

thin, nutrient poor and acidic

boreal forest principal trees

conifers

temperate forests make up __% of the worlds forests

16%

temperate forest location

mid latitudes

temperate forest summers

warm

temperate forest winters

cold

temperate forest growing season

6-9 months

temperate forest precipitation

relatively high and throughout the year

temperate forest soil

deep & fertile with a thick litter layer

tropical vs temperate forest soil

tropical forest soil is poor, with high leaching

temperate forest soil is deep and fertile, with a thick litter layer

2 multiple choice options

deciduous habit

light penetration, hydrological cycle, litter production, soil fertility, tree growth

grassland is characterised by

long, seasonal drought

annual rainfall in grassland

250-750 mm/yr

natural grassland makes up __% of the land surface

42%

temperate grassland

occurs where rainfall is intermediate between desert and temperate forest biomes.

long dry season with cold winters and occasional fires.

temperate grassland occurs where rainfall is _________ between desert and temperate forest biomes

intermediate

temperate grassland fertility

low rainfall - low leaching - fertile soils

1 multiple choice option

what is usually grown in temperate grasslands?

corn and wheat crops

tropical grassland aka

savanna

tropical grassland climate

warm

tropical grassland dry season

5-7 months (dormant period)

a biomes dormant period is the

dry season

tropical grassland ______ has fires

regularly (every year)

1 multiple choice option

fire and grazing are important elements in

nutrient cycling and preventing tree growth

savanna tree distribution is determined by

soil moisture

savanna soils have

high porosity and little mulch

1 multiple choice option

savanna soils drainage

high drainage with loss of nutrients

what adapts grassland plants to grazing

basal meristem

tillering

rhizomes

secondary chemical compounds

spines

agricultural land use in ireland

53% pasture

17% rough grazing

23% hay/silage

7% tillage

agriculture accounts for __% of Ireland's GHG emissions

32

agriculture accounts for __% of EU GHG emissions

9

tropical rainforest raunkiaer plant life forms

highest = phanerophytes

lowest = therophytes

temperate forest raunkiaer plant life forms

highest = hemicryptophytes

boreal forest raunkiaer plant life forms