Biomes

Thinking Questions

When settlers first came to the northeastern United

States, they cut down trees to clear land for farming. Native Americans taught settlers how to tap maple trees to make sugar. What biome did these settlers

find themselves in? How do you know?

The temperate deciduous forest

biome; maple trees are deciduous

How do coral reefs form?

Animals called corals secrete calcium

carbonate shells. When the corals die, their shells remain

and build up, forming reefs.

What are wetlands and where are they

located?

Land areas that are covered with water most of the year; located in regions that lie between

solid land and water

Describe characteristics of

organisms that live in intertidal zones.

They are adapted to dramatic changes in

temperature, moisture, and

salinity, and can withstand the force

of wave action.

Why are estuaries among the most

productive ecosystems on

Earth?

Estuaries receive tons of nutrients

washed from inland soils, so their nutrient

levels are very high.

How are grassland and tundra biomes

similar?

Both are treeless and flat. Both have

freezing temperatures in

winter. Both receive small amounts of

precipitation. Both include grazing

animals.

What are the four zones of the Tropical

Rain Forest?

Forest floorUnderstory

CanopyEmergents

Why is much of the desert bare ground?

Lack of water

What is the biggest climactic difference

between a temperate rain forest and a tropical rain

forest?

Tropical rainforests are

warmer and tend to have higher precipitation

Why does the soil of tropical rain

forests make poor farmland?

A high level of rainfall tends

to wash nutrients from

the soil.