Question

notes - how geography shapes biomes
name: oly
date:

1. what are biomes?

• biomes are large regions defined by their geography.
• biomes contain unique ecosystems and (climate & animals).

1. factor 1: insolation

• islands often have unique (plants & animals).
• leads to species (endemic).

example: hawaiian honeycreeper, galápagos tortoise

1. factor 2: topography

• as altitude increases, temperature
• mountains create a effect.

1. rain shadow example: the himalayas

• windward side (india):
• leeward side (tibet/mongolia):

1. factor 3: proximity to coastlines

• coastal regions =
• inland regions =
• climates, more rainfall
• climates, less rainfall

1. terrestrial biomes overview

• tundra -
• taiga (boreal) -
• temperate forest -
• grassland -

Explanation:

1. Biomes are large regions defined by climate and geography, with unique ecosystems and plant - animal life.
2. Insolation affects the presence of endemic species.
3. Topography impacts temperature as altitude changes and mountains create a rain - shadow effect.
4. The Himalayas create a rain - shadow effect with drier leeward sides.
5. Proximity to coastlines affects climate with coastal regions having more rainfall and inland regions having less.
6. Tundra has cold, treeless landscapes; Taiga has coniferous forests; Temperate Forest has a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees; Grassland has mainly grasses.

Answer:

1. climate and geography; plant - animal life
2. endemic
3. decreases; rain - shadow
4. drier
5. wetter; drier
6. cold, treeless landscapes; coniferous forests; mix of deciduous and coniferous trees; mainly grasses