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 floor
Understory
Canopy
Emergents
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.