Study the Earth's Major Ecosystems
1. What is a biome?
A biome is a prevailing ecosystem constituted by similar biotic and abiotic factors present in one or more regions of the planet.
2. What are the major terrestrial biomes?
The major terrestrial biomes are: tundra, taigas (or boreal forest), temperate forests, tropical forests, grasslands and deserts.
3. What are the typical vegetation and the typical fauna of the tundra?
Tundra has vegetation formed mainly by mosses and lichens. In the fauna the densely furred animals, like caribous, musk oxen and polar bears, and also migratory birds are found.
4. What are the typical vegetation and the typical fauna of the taigas?
Taiga, or the boreal forest, is characterized by coniferous trees, pine forests. There are also mosses, lichens, small bushes and angiosperms. In the taiga many mammals, like moose, wolves, foxes and rodents, migratory birds and a great diversity of insects are found.
1. What is a biome?
A biome is a prevailing ecosystem constituted by similar biotic and abiotic factors present in one or more regions of the planet.
2. What are the major terrestrial biomes?
The major terrestrial biomes are: tundra, taigas (or boreal forest), temperate forests, tropical forests, grasslands and deserts.
3. What are the typical vegetation and the typical fauna of the tundra?
Tundra has vegetation formed mainly by mosses and lichens. In the fauna the densely furred animals, like caribous, musk oxen and polar bears, and also migratory birds are found.
4. What are the typical vegetation and the typical fauna of the taigas?
Taiga, or the boreal forest, is characterized by coniferous trees, pine forests. There are also mosses, lichens, small bushes and angiosperms. In the taiga many mammals, like moose, wolves, foxes and rodents, migratory birds and a great diversity of insects are found.
5. What are the typical vegetation and the typical fauna of the temperate forests?
In the temperate forest deciduous trees predominate. Mammals are found in great number, like bears and deer.
6. What are deciduous trees?
Deciduous trees are plants that lose their leaves in a period of the year. In the case of the deciduous trees of the temperate forest the fall of the leaves occurs in the autumn (fall). The loss of leaves is a preparation to face the cold months of the winter: roots, stem and branches are more resistant to low temperature and snow than the leaves; without leaves the metabolic rate of the plant is reduced; the decaying fallen leaves help to nourish the soil.
7. What is the typical localization of the tropical forests regarding latitude?
Tropical rain forests, like the Amazon forest and the Congo forest, are typically located in low latitude, i.e., in the equatorial and tropical zones.
8. What are the typical vegetation and the typical fauna of the tropical forests?
In the vegetation of the tropical forests broadleaf evergreen trees predominate. On the top of the trees epiphytes and lianas grow. Many varieties of pteridophytes can be found in these forests. Regarding the fauna, the abundance and diversity is also great: there are monkeys, rodents, bats, insectivores, felines, reptiles, birds, amphibians and invertebrates, mainly insects.
9. How can the abundance and diversity of living beings in the tropical forests be explained?
The biodiversity of these ecosystems can be explained by the great availability of the main abiotic factors for photosynthesis. Since these factors are abundant plants can perform maximum photosynthetic activity, living and reproducing easily. With a great amount and diversity of producers (autotrophs), the consumers (heterotrophic animals and microorganisms) also have abundant food and a complex food web emerges creating many different ecological niches to be explored. So the appearance of varied living beings as well as the existence of large populations is possible.
10. Why are the tropical forests also known as stratified forests?
In tropical forests tall trees of several species have their crowns forming a superior layer under which diverse other trees and plants develop forming other inferior layers. From the upper layer to the inferior layers the penetration of light lowers gradually and the exposition to wind and rain, the moisture and the temperature also vary. Different compositions of abiotic factors condition the prevailing of different vegetation in each layer.
In the temperate forest deciduous trees predominate. Mammals are found in great number, like bears and deer.
6. What are deciduous trees?
Deciduous trees are plants that lose their leaves in a period of the year. In the case of the deciduous trees of the temperate forest the fall of the leaves occurs in the autumn (fall). The loss of leaves is a preparation to face the cold months of the winter: roots, stem and branches are more resistant to low temperature and snow than the leaves; without leaves the metabolic rate of the plant is reduced; the decaying fallen leaves help to nourish the soil.
7. What is the typical localization of the tropical forests regarding latitude?
Tropical rain forests, like the Amazon forest and the Congo forest, are typically located in low latitude, i.e., in the equatorial and tropical zones.
8. What are the typical vegetation and the typical fauna of the tropical forests?
In the vegetation of the tropical forests broadleaf evergreen trees predominate. On the top of the trees epiphytes and lianas grow. Many varieties of pteridophytes can be found in these forests. Regarding the fauna, the abundance and diversity is also great: there are monkeys, rodents, bats, insectivores, felines, reptiles, birds, amphibians and invertebrates, mainly insects.
9. How can the abundance and diversity of living beings in the tropical forests be explained?
The biodiversity of these ecosystems can be explained by the great availability of the main abiotic factors for photosynthesis. Since these factors are abundant plants can perform maximum photosynthetic activity, living and reproducing easily. With a great amount and diversity of producers (autotrophs), the consumers (heterotrophic animals and microorganisms) also have abundant food and a complex food web emerges creating many different ecological niches to be explored. So the appearance of varied living beings as well as the existence of large populations is possible.
10. Why are the tropical forests also known as stratified forests?
In tropical forests tall trees of several species have their crowns forming a superior layer under which diverse other trees and plants develop forming other inferior layers. From the upper layer to the inferior layers the penetration of light lowers gradually and the exposition to wind and rain, the moisture and the temperature also vary. Different compositions of abiotic factors condition the prevailing of different vegetation in each layer.
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