AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Bio Terrestrial Biomes Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
8124460297Tropical forestsare found close to the equator. rain forest: receive constant high amounts of rainfall (200 to 400 cm annually). dry forest: precipitation is seasonal, 150-200cm annually, 6-7 month dry season air temperatures range between 25°C and 29°C year round. vertically layered are stratified, and competition for light is intense. Animal diversity is higher than in any other- amphibians, birds and other reptiles, mammals, and arthropods terrestrial biome.0
8124460298Desertsnear 30° north and south latitudes and in the interior of continents. have low and highly variable rainfall, generally less than 30 cm per year. Temperature varies greatly seasonally and daily- maximum may exceed 50°C and fall below 30°C vegetation is usually sparse and includes succulents such as cacti, herbs that grow during infrequent moist periods, and deeply rooted shrubs. many plants do C4 or CAM photosynthesis Many animals are nocturnal, so they can avoid the heat snakes, lizards, scorpions, ants, beetles, migratory and resident birds, and seed-eating rodents organisms display adaptations to allow them to resist or survive desiccation.1
8124460299Savannafound in equatorial and subequatorial regions. Rainfall is seasonal, averaging 30-50 cm per year. dry season can last up to 8 or 9 months is warm year-round, averaging 24-29°C with some seasonal variation. vegetation is grassland with scattered trees. plant species are adapted to fire and drought Large herbivorous mammals are common inhabitants. The dominant herbivores are insects, especially termites. Fire is important in maintaining2
8124460300Chaparralsoccurs in midlatitude coastal regions have highly seasonal precipitation with mild, wet winters and dry, hot summers. Annual precipitation ranges from 30 to 50 cm. fall, winter, and spring are cool dominated by shrubs and small trees, with a high diversity of grasses and herbs. plants adapted to drought and fire Plant and animal diversity is high. deer, goats, insects, birds and other reptiles, and amphibians3
8124460301Temperate grasslandsprecipitation is highly seasonal, annual precipitation averages between 30 and 100 cm dry winters and wet summers exhibit seasonal drought, occasional fires, and seasonal variation in temperature. grasses anf forms are dominant Large grazers, such as bison, and burrowing mammals are native Deep fertile soils make temperate grasslands ideal for agriculture, especially for growing grain. Most in North America and Eurasia has been converted to farmland.4
8124460302Northern Coniferous Forest/Taigathe largest terrestrial biome on Earth. 30 to 70cm of percipitation have long, cold winters and short, wet summers. The trees that inhabit these forests are adapted for snow and periodic drought. cone bearing trees like pine, the cone shape prevents too much snow from accumulating and breaking their branches are home to many birds and mammals. These forests are being logged at a very high rate and old-growth stands of conifers may soon disappear.5
8124460303Temperate broadleaf forestsMidlatitudes in Northern Hemisphere 70 to over 200 cm precipitation annually very cold winters, hot and humid summers has distinct vertical layers, including a closed canopy, one or two strata of understory trees, a shrub layer, and an herbaceous layer. The dominant deciduous trees in Northern Hemisphere drop their leaves and become dormant in winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, many mammals in this biome hibernate in the winter, while many bird species migrate to warmer climates. Humans have logged many forests around the world.6
8124460304Tundracovers large areas of the Arctic, up to 20% of the Earth's land surface. alpine tundra: high winds and low temps produce similar plant communities on high mountain tops at all latitudes including the tropics 20 to 60 cm annual precipitation, may exceed 100cm in alpine tundra The plant communities in alpine and Arctic are very similar. The winter is long and cold, while the summer is short and mild. The growing season is very short. vegetation is mostly herbaceous, consisting of a mixture of lichens, mosses, grasses, forbs, and dwarf shrubs and trees. A permanently frozen layer of soil called permafrost prevents water infiltration and restricts root growth. Large grazing musk oxen are resident, while caribou and reindeer are migratory. Migratory birds use Arctic tundra extensively during the summer as nesting grounds. is sparsely settled by humans but has recently become the focus of significant mineral and oil extraction.7
8124460305Desert8
8124460306Tropical forest9
8124460307tropical froest10
8124460308savanna11
8124460309temperate grassland12
8124460310coniferous forest/taiga13
8124460311Temperate braodleaf forests14

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!