APES Study Guide
Unit 4
The Earth’s Biomes
In this unit we see the relationship between climate, topography, and ecosystems, and observe how
organisms adjust to these relationships.
Reading
Miller, Living in the Environment, 15th Edition, Chapters 5 & 6
Other Sources
Video: Several episodes of Planet Earth
Major Assignments
 Activity: Climatograms
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*Biome PowerPoint
Vocabulary
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weather
climate
front
warm front
cold front
upwelling
El Nino (ENSO)
monsoon
greenhouse gas
greenhouse effect
microclimate
rain shadow effect
latitude
altitude
biome
succulent plant
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broadleaf evergreen plant
broadleaf deciduous plant
coniferous evergreen plant
desert
grassland/prairie
permafrost
forest
edge effects
plankton
nekton
benthos
euphotic zone
coastal zone
estuary
coastal wetland
mangrove swamp
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intertidal zone
barrier island
coral reef
open sea
freshwater life zone
lake
oligotrophic lake
eutrophic lake
mesotrophic lake
surface water
runoff
watershed
drainage basin
inland wetland
Unit Objectives:
Distinguish between weather and climate, and be able to describe various weather-related influences.
Understand the greenhouse effect, and how greenhouse gases affect it.
Be able to describe how climate affects the distribution of plant and animal life on earth.
Compare the climate and adaptations of plants and animals in deserts, grasslands, and forests.
Summarize the distribution of light, salt, and temperature in different aquatic life zones.
Evaluate the significance of the ecological contributions of the oceans.
Distinguish between coastal and inland wetlands.
List and compare the 4 zones of a lake. Distinguish between oligotrphic and eutrophic lakes. Describe stratification
and turnover of a lake.
Define watershed and distinguish between the 3 zones of a river system.
Significance of wild species: economic, medical, scientific, ecological, aesthetic, recreational, and ethical. What is
your position toward protection of different species?
Extinction
 Describe the general process of extinction.
 List 9 characteristics of extinction prone species.
 Distinguish among local, ecological, and biological extinction.
 List three root causes of extinction.
 List 8 human activities which directly increase the wildlife extinction rate.
Understand the purpose of the Endangered Species Act. List 4 strategies that have been used to weaken the law.
List 3 recommendations to strengthen the law.
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of using wildlife refuges, gene banks, botanical gardens, and zoos to protect
wildlife.