Chapter Review Assess your understanding of concepts related to this chapter by answering the questions below. Click the question to reveal the correct answer.
The tropical rain forests are considered an open forest while the tropical monsoon is considered a closed forest. The crowns of tropical rain forest trees intermingle creating a dense canopy that inhibits the penetration of light to the surface. This prevents much dense undergrowth to develop on the forest floor. The tropical monsoon forest has a dense undergrowth as the canopy is more open allowing light to the surface.
Arctic Tundra (Tundra Climate) -> Northern Coniferous Forest (Subarctic Climate) -> Midlatitude Broadleaf and Mixed Deciduous Forest (Humid Continental) ->Tall Grass Prairie (Humid Continental) ->Southern Coniferous Forest (Humid Subtropical Climate)
Sclerophyllus Woodland (Dry Summer Subtropical Climate) ->Mountain ( Undifferentiated Mountain Climate)-> Cool Shrub Desert (Midlatitude Desert Climate) Short Grass Prairie (Midlatitude Steppe Climate) -> Tall Grass Prairie (Humid Continental Climate) Midlatitude Deciduous Forest (Humid Continental Climate) -> Southern Coniferous Forest (Humid Subtropical Climate).
The savanna biome is characterized by drought tolerant grasses with scattered trees. The tropical savanna is associate with the wet/dry tropical climate.
The short and tall grass prairies reflect the climate the flourish under. Short grass prairie, as its name implies, is comprised of short grasses (e.g., little bluestem grasses, generally less than 2 feet tall and will appear in clumps or patches, especially where the climate (midlatitude steppe) is drier. The tall grass prairie lying on the drier side of the humid continental and moist side of the midlatitude steppe has grasses that stand 2 to 4 feet and sometimes taller. Big bluestem grasses and Black-eyed Susans are common plants.
Permafrost refers to permanently frozen ground. Actually, the ground has two layers which freeze. A surface layer, called the active layer, thaws during the short "summer" and often subsides. Beneath the active layer is the inactive layer which stays frozen throughout the year. Permafrost creates a barrier to the root development. Larger trees can grow along better drained river valleys where the depth to permafrost is greater. The annual freezing and thawing disrupts root systems inhibiting the growth of very tall vegetation. Permafrost creates an unstable surface for the construction of buildings and other structures.
Thick bark and small, waxy leaves are two adaptations to prevent excessive loss of moisture during the severe summer drought experienced in the dry summer subtropical climate.
Desertification is the expansion of dry lands due to poor agricultural practices (e.g. overgrazing, degradation of soil fertility and structure), improper soil moisture management, salinization and erosion, forest removal, and climate change.
The temperate rain forest is comprised of lush vegetation and home to some of the largest trees on earth, the coast redwoods. It lacks the diversity of species that the tropical rain forest has made up mostly of a few species of broadleaf and needle leaf trees, huge ferns, and thick undergrowth. The lush vegetation is due to its location on the windward slopes of the Cascade and Coast ranges in North America that receive over 100 inches of rainfall.
The Northern Coniferous forest is dominated by coniferous trees, with hardy deciduous trees mixed in. Trees in the northern coniferous forest primarily possess pine needles instead of broad leaves like those of the temperate forests to the south. Being dark in color they absorb what little light falls on their surfaces. Retaining their needles at the end of each growing season gives the tree a head start at growth during the spring as they do not have to waste their energy in producing new foliage. The sloping sides of the conical canopy helps catch the low angle sun rays typical of high latitude locations.
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