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Science 10
Name: _____________________________
Chapter 1: Biomes and Ecosystems
Review Worksheet – ANSWER KEY
Know the definitions of the following words:
For definitions, see your 2-column notes or use textbook.
1.1 Biomes
1. What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors in an environment? (pg.9)
Biotic factors refer to any living organisms and abiotic factors refer to all non-living factors.
2. List the following in order of size, largest to smallest: ecosystem, biome, biosphere, habitat. (pg.9)
biosphere èbiome è ecosystem è habitat
3. Why is this statement false: “All of the biomes of Earth are terrestrial (on land)” (pg. 10)
There are aquatic biomes too; in fact, more than 70% of Earth is covered in water.
4. Use the graph to answer the following questions:
•
Which biome averages 175 cm of rain and
an average annual temperature of 5°C?
Boreal forest
•
Which biome averages 100 cm of rain and
temperatures between 0 to 20°C?
Temperate deciduous forest
•
Which biome averages 20cm of rain and
temperatures between -18 to -8°C?
Tundra
•
Which biome has high average temperatures
and high average annual precipitation?
Tropical rainforest
5. How can a biome, such as a tropical rainforest, be located in Mexico as well as on the other side of the
planet in India? (pg. 14) Regions that are similar in latitude have very similar climate and therefore have
the same biome.
6. How is it possible to find a permanent ice biome at the top of a mountain and a temperate rainforest near
the bottom of the mountain? (pg. 15) Elevation greatly alters the climate of a region so the bottom of a
mountain can be in a completely different biome than being at the top.
7. Explain the importance of adaptations to the survival of plants and animals in their biome. (pg. 18)
Each biome is different (it could have harsh, cold winters or wet, hot summers). In order to survive in
their biome, plants and animals have characteristics that help them better survive in the conditions that
are unique to that biome.
8. Describe two different adaptations that benefit animals. (pg. 18-19) Examples: A wolf has a thick coat of
fur to help it stay warm. An owl lines its nest with grass to help keep it cool in the day and warm at night.
9. Describe two different adaptations that benefit plants. (pg. 18-19) Examples: A cactus can
photosynthesize with less water than other plants to survive in deserts. A pine tree is cone-shaped so that
snow does not build on its branches and snap them.
10. Identify the biomes represented in the climatographs below: (pg. 20-28)
Desert
Tundra or cold desert
11. Briefly fill in the following terrestrial biome chart: (pg. 20-28) Check the table you created
Biome
Location
Climate
Physical Features
Tundra
Boreal Forest
Temperate
Deciduous Forest
Temperate
Rainforest
Grassland
Tropical
Rainforest
Desert
Permanent Ice
12. Match the following biomes to their descriptions: (pg. 20-28)
b
g
d
c
a
1. Tundra
2. Boreal Forest
3. Temperate Deciduous Forest
4. Temperate Rainforest
e
f
6. Tropical Rainforest
7. Desert
5. Grassland
a) distinct seasons, moderate climate
b) permafrost
c) Douglas fir trees, moss, lichen
d) Many layers of trees and plants but light gets through.
e) Great biodiversity, layers of trees & plants but light doesn’t get
through.
f) Fleshy, spiny cacti.
g) Coniferous forest.
13. Identify the two types of desert. (pg. 20-28) Hot desert and cold desert
14. Which biome has the greatest diversity of plant and animal species? (pg. 20-28) Tropical rainforest
15. What limits the variety and number of living things that can survive in the permanent ice biome? (pg.28)
Little precipitation, little sunlight, and long frozen months
16. Describe two animal adaptations for life in the Antarctica? (pg. 20-28)
Animals have thick layers of fat to help them stay warm in low temperatures (structural). Animals also
lie close to one another in herds to help prevent heat loss (behavioural).
17. Explain why temperate rainforest biomes are found along coastlines. (pg. 23)
Temperate rainforest are often found along coastlines because mountain ranges are often found near
coastlines and the ocean winds drop moisture on the windward sides of mountains.
18. Explain why there is little vegetation on the tropical rainforest floor. (pg.26)
Soil on the tropical rainforest floor is poor in nutrients and water retention, making it hard for plants to
grow there.
1.2 Ecosystems
1. What are 3 abiotic components necessary for supporting life in any ecosystem? (pg. 37-88)
Oxygen, water, light, nutrients, soil
2. Explain why soil is important to ecosystems. (pg. 38)
Without soil, there are not nutrients or water for plants. If no plants can grow, then all animals suffer
because plants are the first step in the food chain.
3. Order the following according to an ecological hierarchy: community, species, and population. (pg. 39)
species è population è community
4. Give two examples each of commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism. (pg. 40-43)
Answers may vary – see examples in textbook and workbook (p. 12). Here is 1 example of each.
Commensalism: barnacles & whales; Barnacles attach to whales and are transported to new locations in
the ocean to get food while whales are not harmed in this process, and the barnacles benefit from
acquiring new food.
Mutualism: most plants & bees; Bees act as pollinators for these plants while being able to obtain
nectar. Both benefit from this.
Parasitism: hookworm & dog; the worm lives in the dog’s intestines and feeds off the dog’s diet while
the dog loses food. The worm is the parasite and benefits while the dog plays the host and is harmed in
this relationship.
5. Give two examples each of a niche, competition, and predation. (pg.44-45) Answers may vary. Here is
1 example of each.
Niche: The blue heron lives near the water so they can fish and nest near bushes or trees. Their long legs
also help them move around in deeper water. The blue heron mainly feeds alone but will put up with
other birds in the area.
Competition: Coyotes and foxes share some common food sources but usually don’t interfere with each
other’s hunting. However, if prey numbers are low, they start battling each other for prey since food
sources become limited.
Predation: Cougars will hunt and eat small mammals such as rabbits and squirrels.
6. How is habitat different from niche?
Habitat is only the place where a species lives while niche describes the role that an organism plays in
the ecosystem, including where it lives, how they behave, and all their interactions with other organisms.
7. Why are some organisms in competition?
When resources become limited, organisms
must compete to survive.
8. Explain the predator–prey cycle described
in the graph to the right.
The numbers of predator and prey greatly influence each other. When there are more predators, it leads to a
decrease in prey because they get hunted/eaten. As the number of prey gets low, number of predators begins
to drop because this food source has become scarce. This is known as the predator-prey cycle; the predator
population numbers follow that of the prey.