Geography - Biomes Vocabulary
Geography - Biomes Vocabulary
**Biomes** – These are large areas on Earth with similar plant life, like a tropical forest, a
grassland that isn't too hot or cold, or a desert. Biomes show the main patterns of life across the
whole world.
**Anthropogenic Biomes** – These are also called "anthromes" or "human biomes." They describe
the Earth's land areas as they are now, changed by humans. This is because people have been
interacting with the land for a long time. The Earth's land went from being mostly wild to mostly
changed by humans around the beginning of the 20th century. That's when more than half of the
land was affected by people.
**Climatic zones** – These are areas of the Earth that have similar temperatures. The main zones
are hot, mild, and cold. They are usually separated by lines of latitude (imaginary lines that circle
the Earth).
**Spatial distribution** – This is where things are located and how they are arranged on the
Earth's surface.
**Biome productivity** – This is how much plant life or organic material is made through
photosynthesis (the process where plants use sunlight to make food). It's measured in energy or
dry organic matter. How productive a biome is can change depending on the biome, where it is,
and the time of year. The biomes that aren't very productive are usually limited by extreme
weather, like deserts and polar tundra. The ecosystems that are the most productive usually have
high temperatures, plenty of water, and lots of nitrogen in the soil. These biomes are usually the
best at producing food.
**Agricultural production** – This is using the land to grow food, non-food items, and industrial
products. For example:
* When biomes are used for their natural resources * When biomes are changed by plowing,
terracing, watering, or draining for farming * Different foods are grown in different biomes, like
forests or grasslands * **Agricultural yields** – This is how much food is produced per area of
land, like crop yields or milk yields. * **Food production capacity** – This is how well the land can
produce plants or animals for food. It can change depending on the location and the time of year. *
**Industrial produced materials from agriculture** – These are materials like rubber, opium, or
biofuel that come from agriculture. * **Fibres produced from agriculture** – These are materials
like cotton, wool, hemp, or flax that come from agriculture.
**Technological innovations** – These are new technologies that change how farming is done and
increase how much food is produced. Examples include precision agriculture, drones, and remote
sensing.
**Water scarcity** – This is when there isn't enough water available to meet the demand.
**Environmental impacts** – These are changes in the quality of the environment, like air and
water pollution, noise, access to open space, traffic, and the way buildings and roads look. They
can also be changes in **environmental functions**, which are the processes that support human
life and activities.
**Land degradation** – This is when the health of the land decreases because of human actions.
Examples include salt buildup in the soil, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity and habitats.
**Competing land uses** – This is when biomes are used for things other than agriculture, like
cities, roads, mining, or using resources like gas.
**Climate change** – This is a long-term change in regional or global climate patterns, like annual
rainfall or how often extreme weather events happen.
**Population projection** – This is a prediction of what the future population might look like,
based on what we know about past and current birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns.
**Population trends** – These are any measurable changes in the characteristics of a population
over time. This can include changes in population size, distribution, and growth.
**Food security** – This is when all people at all times have enough safe, nutritious food to live
healthy and active lives.
**Geographical challenges** – These are issues and problems that come from the interactions
between people, places, and the environment. They can threaten sustainability, like biodiversity
loss or food insecurity.
**Sustainable practices to achieve food security** – These are practices that prevent, minimize, or
fix the negative environmental effects of food production while still achieving food security.
**Weather** – The day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere in a particular place for a short period
of time. Weather can change quickly.
**Climate** – The average weather for a particular region over a long period of time. Climate is
different from weather. Weather describes the short-term state of the atmosphere. Climatic
elements include precipitation, temperature, humidity, sunshine, wind velocity, and phenomena
such as fog, frost and hail-storms.
**Precipitation** – Any form of water that falls to earth (rain, snow, hail, sleet or mist).
**Temperature** – How hot or cold something is.
**Climate graph** – A graph that shows a place's yearly climate patterns.
Reading Summary
Biomes are large areas with similar plant life, while anthropogenic biomes are areas changed
by humans.
● Agricultural production involves using land for food and other products, with yields and
capacity varying by location.
● Food security means everyone has enough safe, nutritious food, and sustainable practices
help achieve this while protecting the environment.
●
Multiple Choice Questions
Question #1
Question #2
Question #3
According to the text, what is
the definition of 'anthropogenic
biomes'?
Based on the text, which of the
following factors contribute to
making an ecosystem most
According to the text, what is
the difference between
'weather' and 'climate'?
productive?
A. Large areas on Earth with
similar plant life.
B. Areas of the Earth that have
similar temperatures.
C. Earth's land areas as they
are now, changed by humans.
D. Predictions of what the
future population might look
like.
A. Low temperatures, little
water, and lack of nitrogen in
the soil.
B. Extreme weather conditions
like deserts and polar tundra.
A. Weather is the average
condition over a long period,
while climate is the day-to-day
condition.
B. Weather includes
precipitation, temperature, and
C. High temperatures, plenty of
humidity, while climate only
water, and lots of nitrogen in
includes temperature.
the soil.
C. Weather describes the
D. Limited access to sunlight
short-term state of the
and minimal precipitation.
atmosphere, while climate is
the average weather for a
region over a long period of
time.
D. Weather and climate are the
same thing.
Short Answer Questions
Question #1
What does the text say about how 'spatial distribution' is defined?
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Question #2
What are 'climatic zones,' as described in the text?
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Question #3
According to the text, what is 'land degradation' and what are some examples of
it?
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Open Ended Questions
Question #1
Which biome do you live in or have you visited? How does the climate and
environment of that biome affect your daily life, like what you wear, what
activities you do, or the food you eat?
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The text discusses how humans have changed the Earth's biomes. Can you think
Question #2
of any examples of how your community or city has altered the natural
environment? What are some positive and negative consequences of these
changes?
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The text mentions food security and sustainable practices. What are some ways
Question #3
you and your family can contribute to food security and environmental
sustainability in your daily lives, such as reducing food waste, supporting local
farmers, or conserving water?
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This Diffit resource was created by Nicole Worrall