All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What soil property is most typical of temperate grasslands and supports agriculture?
Answer: Deep, nutrient-rich topsoil (high organic matter). Grass decomposition builds thick, fertile soil layers.
Flashcard 2: Which biome is a cold forest dominated by conifers and has long winters and short growing seasons?
Answer: Boreal forest (taiga). Conifers' needle leaves resist cold and snow damage.
Flashcard 3: Which biome has permafrost, very low temperatures, and a short growing season with low shrubs and mosses?
Answer: Tundra. Extreme cold limits plant height and diversity.
Flashcard 4: Identify the term for permanently frozen subsoil that limits root growth and drainage in tundra.
Answer: Permafrost. Frozen soil prevents deep roots and water drainage.
Flashcard 5: What soil characteristic is most typical of tropical rainforests?
Answer: Nutrient-poor, highly leached soils. Heavy rainfall washes nutrients from soil layers.
Flashcard 6: Which terrestrial biome is characterized by warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons?
Answer: Tropical seasonal forest (tropical dry forest). Monsoon patterns create alternating wet and dry periods.
Flashcard 7: Which biome has the highest biodiversity and consistently warm temperatures year-round?
Answer: Tropical rainforest. Year-round warmth and moisture support maximum species diversity.
Flashcard 8: Which biome is dominated by grasses with scattered trees and frequent fires in warm climates?
Answer: Savanna (tropical grassland). Fire and herbivores prevent tree establishment in these grasslands.
Flashcard 9: What precipitation pattern best describes a tropical rainforest?
Answer: High precipitation in all months. Constant moisture supports lush vegetation year-round.
Flashcard 10: What is the primary ecological role of periodic fires in savannas and temperate grasslands?
Answer: Maintain grass dominance by suppressing woody plants. Fire prevents succession to forest ecosystems.
Flashcard 11: Which biome has very low precipitation and organisms adapted to conserve water?
Answer: Desert. Extreme water scarcity drives specialized adaptations.
Flashcard 12: What adaptation is most associated with desert plants such as cacti?
Answer: Water storage and reduced leaf surface area. Minimizes water loss through transpiration in arid conditions.
Flashcard 13: Which biome has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, often with fire-adapted shrubs?
Answer: Chaparral (Mediterranean shrubland). Mediterranean climate creates unique fire-prone ecosystems.
Flashcard 14: Which biome is best matched to this pattern: very cold winters, conifer dominance, and low decomposition rates?
Answer: Boreal forest (taiga). Cold slows decomposition, creating acidic soils.
Flashcard 15: Which biome has four seasons, moderate precipitation, and broadleaf deciduous trees?
Answer: Temperate deciduous forest. Seasonal temperature changes trigger leaf phenology.
Flashcard 16: What is the dominant plant strategy in temperate deciduous forests during winter?
Answer: Leaf drop to reduce water loss and frost damage. Deciduous strategy conserves energy and prevents freezing damage.
Flashcard 17: Which biome is dominated by grasses, has fertile soils, and experiences periodic drought and fires?
Answer: Temperate grassland (prairie/steppe). Insufficient moisture limits tree growth despite fertile soils.
Flashcard 18: What is a climograph used to show for a terrestrial biome?
Answer: Average monthly temperature and precipitation patterns. These graphs help identify biomes by their climate patterns.
Flashcard 19: What two abiotic factors most strongly determine the distribution of terrestrial biomes?
Answer: Temperature and precipitation. These climate factors control water availability and energy for plant growth.
Flashcard 20: What is the definition of a terrestrial biome in AP Environmental Science?
Answer: A large land region defined by climate and dominant vegetation. Climate patterns create predictable plant communities across regions.
Flashcard 21: What factor most directly determines the distribution of major terrestrial biomes worldwide?
Answer: Climate, especially temperature and precipitation patterns. Temperature and moisture patterns create conditions that support specific plant communities.
Flashcard 22: What is the key difference between weather and climate in environmental science?
Answer: Weather is short-term; climate is long-term average conditions. Weather occurs over days/weeks; climate represents 30+ year patterns.
Flashcard 23: What is the typical precipitation range that defines a desert biome?
Answer: Less than about 25 cm of precipitation per year. Extremely low moisture limits plant growth and diversity.
Flashcard 24: Which terrestrial biome has the highest biodiversity and consistently warm temperatures?
Answer: Tropical rainforest. Year-round warmth and moisture support maximum species diversity.
Flashcard 25: Which biome is characterized by permafrost, low precipitation, and a short growing season?
Answer: Tundra. Coldest biome where frozen soil prevents tree growth.
Flashcard 26: What is permafrost in the context of the tundra biome?
Answer: Permanently frozen subsoil that limits drainage and rooting. Frozen layer prevents water infiltration and deep root growth.
Flashcard 27: Which biome is dominated by coniferous evergreen trees and has long, cold winters?
Answer: Boreal forest (taiga). Conifers adapted to cold, short growing seasons dominate.
Flashcard 28: Which biome is a grassland with scattered trees, maintained by seasonal drought and fire?
Answer: Savanna (tropical grassland). Wet-dry seasons prevent forest but support grasses and scattered trees.
Flashcard 29: Which biome is dominated by grasses, has fertile soils, and experiences periodic drought and fire?
Answer: Temperate grassland (prairie/steppe). Moderate rainfall supports grasses but not forests; rich soils from decomposition.
Flashcard 30: Which biome has mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers, with frequent natural fires?
Answer: Chaparral (Mediterranean shrubland). Mediterranean climate creates fire-adapted shrubland communities.