Discuss the two factors that are most important in the distribution of biomes? Choose one biome and explain how these two factors impact the specific plants and animals found in this biome
What will be an ideal response?
Temperature and precipitation are the two factors that determine the distribution of biomes. As average precipitation and temperature increase, the growing season is often longer, and with more water, photosynthetic rates increase, and vegetation becomes more lush and varied. For example, in the desert, with very little rainfall, the growing season is short, sometimes lasting less than a month. The plants that do thrive have evolved specialized adaptations to conserve water (reduced leaf surfaces, thorns/spines rather than leaves, and waxy leaf surfaces). Animal species have also evolved water conserving behaviors (nocturnal activity rather than diurnal feeding behavior and hibernation during the time of year with the highest temperatures). Many desert rodents also use water so efficiently that they are able to survive on the water generated from their food alone.
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The holistic principle states that we should recognize that the environmental and other problems we face are connected.
Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)
A major factor in the population explosion of the zebra mussel in the Great Lakes region is
a. the zebra mussel's specialist ecological niche b. its rapid reproductive rate c. its lack of natural enemies that might control its population d. that it is a prey species of the sea lamprey e. its rapid reproductive rate and its lack of natural enemies that might control its population
The rain shadow effect refers to
a. more light on the windward side of mountain ranges b. more light on the leeward side of mountain ranges c. drier conditions on the windward side of mountain ranges d. drier conditions on the leeward side of mountain ranges e. wetter conditions on the windward side of mountain ranges
Continental crust is very buoyant compared with oceanic crust because continental crust is
A) predominantly composed of basaltic rock that contains many air bubbles from successive lava flows. B) predominantly composed of granitic rocks, whereas oceanic crust is composed of basaltic rocks. C) thinner than the oceanic crust, forming a thin upper skin on the oceanic crust below. D) very young and fresh.