Question 1

What are terrestrial biomes?

Accepted Answer

All biomes that exist on land

Question 2

Desert

Accepted Answer

A dry biome that receives very little rainfall and has low primary productivity

Plants in deserts must adapt to having little water

Question 3

Savanna

Accepted Answer

A dry grassland spotted with low-lying shrubs and scattered trees; between a desert and a forest

Has distinct dry/wet seasons, but not too much rainfall

Question 4

Tropical Rainforest

Accepted Answer

A hot, moist biome that receives rainfall all year and is incredibly biodiverse

Found close to the equator; typically low soil quality due to fast nutrient uptake

Question 5

Temperate Grassland

Accepted Answer

An open and flat biome filled with grass; medium rainfall and soil productivity

Question 6

Shrubland

Accepted Answer

A biome made up of shrubs that thrive on steep rocky slopes; not enough rain to support trees and low productivity

Frequent fires due to lightning in the hot summers

Question 7

Temperate Seasonal/Deciduous Forest

Accepted Answer

A biome with hot summers and cold winters (seasons); tall trees and high primary productivity

Leaves change colors, fall off, and grow back to adapt to the temperature

Question 8

Temperate Rainforest

Accepted Answer

A coastal biome with mild summers and winters and heavy rainfall

In temperate (more Northern or Southern) regions as opposed to the Tropical Rainforest

Question 9

Taiga

Accepted Answer

A forest in a cold, subarctic region with temperatures often below freezing

Low nutrient levels because soils don't decompose easily in the low temperature

Question 10

Tundra

Accepted Answer

A treeless, frigid biome in the arctic and on the tops of mountains, with a cold climate and very little rainfall

Nutrient-poor soils and low primary productivity; only a couple of plants can survive

Layer of permafrost covering the ground

1.2 Terrestrial Biomes, AP Environmental Science Flashcards