Ecology Ch 2 Pt 2: Life on Land

What are the 5 terrestrial biomes?

Tropical rainforest, mediterranean woodland and shrubland, temperate grassland, and boreal forest

What determines where terrestrial biomes are found?

Climate, especially temp and precipitation

Where are the tropical rain forests found, and what is their climate like?

Mostly within 10°N and 10°S of the equator. They are warm and wet year round, with about 2,000-4,000mm of rain annually

What are the soil characteristics of tropical rain forests?

Thin, acidic, and nutrient poor because heavy rainfall causes leaching. Nutrients are mostly stored in living organisms rather than the soil

What is an important adaptation that helps tropical rain forest plants get nutrients?

Mycorrhizae, which are fungi associated with plant roots that help plants obtain nutrients

What is the vegetation and biodiversity like in tropical rain forests?

They are dominated by tall trees, average around 40m, and have extremely high plant and animal diversity

How have humans affected tropical rain forests?

They have been used for food and medicine, but humans have also caused major clearing and exploitation of rain forests