Name Class Date. Vocabulary Preview

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1 6.2 Biomes SKILL BUILDER Vocabulary Preview Define each vocabulary term in your own words. Then, write yourself a quick note on how you will remember each. One term has been done for you. Term Definition Example Canopy A dense covering of tall trees in the rain forest that reaches heights of 50 to 80 meters above the ground Emergent layer Top layer of the rainforest canopy, made up of the tallest trees Understory Shorter trees and plants that are part of the rainforest canopy Epiphyte A plant that grows on other plants instead of the soil Spanish moss and some orchids will grow on the trunks of trees in the tropical rain forest Deciduous A type of tree that loses its leaves and stops photosynthesis during part of the year maple trees, oak trees Estivation A deep, sleeplike period of dormancy experienced by some animals when conditions are dry reptiles in the dessert will go into estivation when the temperatures are too hot and water is scarce 99

2 Term Definition Example Coniferous A type of tree that produces seed-bearing cones firs, spruce, and pines Hibernation Permafrost A deep, sleeplike state that an animal enters for most of the Underground soil that remains frozen year-round *black bear hibernate through *raccoons hibernate through soil in the Tundra

3 1. Organize Information Fill in the chart with information about each biome. To complete the Locations column, you can refer to the map in Lesson 1 as well as the text in this lesson. Biome Locations Climate Interesting Details Sample answers: Tropical rain forest Central America, South America, Southeast Asia, West Africa, other tropical regions Year-round warm temperatures; at least 2 meters of rain per year Great diversity of plants and animals; tall forest canopy; shallow plant roots to maximize nutrient absorption Tropical dry forest Savanna India, Africa, South America, northern Australia Africa, South America, Australia, India, other dry tropical regions Warm year-round; dry seasons that span about half a year; heavy precipitation during wet season Less rain than in tropical dry forests, but more rain than deserts; cooler during dry season Less dense canopy than in tropical rain forest; most trees are deciduous; organisms have adapted to seasonal variations in precipitation Rainy seasons; porous soil; mainly deciduous plants with waxy coatings; some animals migrate here to find water Desert Africa, North America, Australia, Asia, South America Driest of all biomes, receiving fewer than 25 centimeters of rain each year; hot during the day and cool at night Not much plant life; soils contain very little organic matter; many nocturnal animals; mainly shallow plant roots rain forest Pacific Northwest coast of the United States, South America, Asia Heavy rainfall and year-round moderate temperatures Coniferous trees common; moss blanket most of forest floor; moisture-loving animals are common forest Europe, eastern Asia, eastern United States, South America, Australia Precipitation spread relatively evenly throughout the year; temperatures ranging from quite hot to very cold Broadleaf deciduous trees common; some animals hibernate in ; most birds migrate 101

4 Biome Locations Climate Interesting Details Sample answers: grassland Chaparral North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia Around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe and Africa; Australia; coasts of California, Chile, and southern Africa Temperatures more extreme than in temperate forest; moderate seasonal precipitation Mild, wet s and warm, dry summers with prolonged periods of hot temperatures and dry conditions Short vegetation; thick mats form from roots of grasses to help capture moisture; some animals burrow underground to hide from predators Plant life able to withstand periods of drought; some animals with long ears that help regulate body temperature Boreal forest (taiga) Stretches in a broad band across much of Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Scandinavia Strong seasonal variation in day length, temperature, and precipitation; long, cold s and short, cool summers Species diversity low; few species of coniferous trees; animals with small extremities and thick insulation Tundra Very high latitudes along the northern edges of Russia, Canada, and Scandinavia Nearly as dry as a desert; extremely cold, dark s and moderately cool summers Permafrost; caribou that migrate to biome to breed; many polar bears and oxen yearround 2. Why does the soil of Antarctica have little organic content? It is permanently covered in ice. 3. Why are polar ice caps not considered a biome? They are not considered a biome because they do not have an assortment of plants and animals, and much of the life there does not live on land, but in the water. 4. Identify three adaptations found among animals that live in the polar caps. Thick fur, blubber, proteins that prevent blood from freezing 102

5 5. Think Visually Describe the types of plants you might find as you hike up a mountain slope with communities ranging from desert to tundra. Sample answer: At the base of the mountain, I would see desert plants. As I climb further up, I would find grassland, oak woodland, pine forest, and finally spruce-fir forest at the top of the mountain. Boreal forest Tundra forest Chaparral Grassland Desert Elevation 6.2 SELF-CHECK Answer the questions to test your knowledge of lesson concepts. You can check your work using the answers on the bottom of the page. 6. Contrast the precipitation amounts of the biome with the greatest precipitation with those of the biome that has the least precipitation. A tropical rain forest receives over 2m of rain per year while a desert receives less than 25cm. 7. Write a general statement, one that applies to all biomes, about the type of organisms found within a biome. Organisms found in each biome have adaptations that allow them to survive in that biome's climate. 103