Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

1. Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

2. I consist mostly of cone-bearing trees, I can be found south of the Arctic tundra in northern America, Asia, and Europe, my trees waxy leaves can withstand the intense cold and snow because my winters are long and cold. What biome am I?

3. I can be found along coastal areas as well as parts of the Appalachian Mountains. On the west coast I consist mostly of redwoods and Douglas firs. I get plenty of rainfall, some place receive 14 feet of rain a year. Very little light reaches my forest floor. What biome am I?

4. I am a fragile biome. My growing season is only 6 to 8 weeks. Soil and vegetation recover very slowly here. Animals in my area have thick fur and short extremities to help them keep warm. Tall trees and plants cannot survive in my area. The permafrost prevents trees from taking root. What biome am I?

5. My winters are cold and my summers are dry and hot. I am a great biome for growing crops and raising cattle. The grasses in my area are drought-tolerant and fire-resistant. My animals are quick and agile or they can dig holes to avoid predators. I can be found mainly in the American mid-west. My area is prone to wind erosion when humans remove my grass to grow their crops. What biome am I?

6. I have moderate average temperatures with abundant precipitation throughout the year. My trees, such as oaks, hickories, poplars, and maples, drop their leaves in the Fall. My forest floor is covered with decaying leaves that are storehouse of nutrients for future growth. What biome am I?

7. People like living here because of my moderate, sunny climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. I have a thin layer of soil which is not very fertile. I have dense growths of low-growing evergreen shrubs with leathery leaves that reduce evaporation. Because of my frequent fires many of my plants have adapted by storing food reserves in their fire-resistant roots and they have seeds which sprout only after fires. What biome am I?

8. As you can see I do not have much vegetation. My winters are cold and my summers are hot. I have very little precipitation. I am the result of a rain shadow effect caused by the Himalaya Mountains. My animals have thick outer coatings to help retain moisture. What type of desert am I?

9. I am dotted with widely scattered clumps of trees covered with thorns to keep the herbivores away. I have alternating dry and wet seasons. I have occasional fires caused by lightning which allows nutrients to be added back to the soil. I have many species which migrate in large herds. My animals are far-sighted, swift, and stealthy. What biome am I?

10. I am found near the equator. I have uniformly warm temperature year around. I am dominated by a variety of broadleaf evergreen plants. My trees are very large with wide bases and shallow roots. My dense canopy prevents light from reaching the forest floor. My soil is acidic and low in nutrients. Pollination depends on bats, butterflies, birds, and bees because there is little wind. What biome am I?