Test Corrections: Terrestrial Biomes
Form C
1. GRAPH what has happened to the amount of old-growth forests here in the U.S. since the
frontier era. How is a second-growth forest different than an old-growth forest?
2. What are the two most important factors that determine a region’s climate?
3. GRAPH: Make a graph that has the months of the year on the x axis and temperature on the y
axis. Put TWO lines on the graph – one should represent temperature for the northern
hemisphere and one should represent temperature for the southern hemisphere. Make sure I
can tell which line represents which hemisphere!
4. List three activities that ARE allowed on/in rivers that are a part of the Wild and Scenic system.
5. GRAPH: What happens to temperature over a 24 hour period in a tropical desert vs. a tropical
rain forest? There should be two lines on your graph – each representing one of the biomes.
Make sure I can tell which line belongs to which biome. WHY does the desert line look different
than the tropical rain forest?
6. If a manager of a tree stand wanted to maximize paper production, would he use a short or a
long rotation cycle for those trees?
7. Why are crown fires considered more dangerous than surface fires?
8. Graph: what happens to water temperature off the coast of North and South America during an
El Nino. EXPLAIN your graph.
9. Which country has the largest area of boreal forests?
10. Describe the following controversies: (give both sides of the argument)
a. Northern spotted owl vs. logging
b. ANWR
11. Why does there tend to be a high amount of naturally occurring fires in southern California?
12. Describe how overgrazing of grasslands is an example of Tragedy of the Commons.
13. Contrast the type of trees you would find in the taiga vs. a deciduous forest.
14. Describe three ways in which surface fires can benefit an ecosystem. GRAPH: what happens to
the amount of kindling, leaf litter, slash, and slag over the course of ten years if there isn’t a
single surface fire during those ten years.
15. Graph: what happens to temperature as you drive from a rural country-side into a city. List
THREE things that would cause this temperature change.
16. What is the difference between an old-growth forest and a monoculture? GRAPH: what has
happened to the amount of old-growth forests over the course of time starting in 1600 and
ending in 1900. (Show the overall trend).
17. Describe why it would be a disadvantage for desert animals to lose water through their skin.
What would eventually happen to a population of frogs that respire through their skin if their
habitat suddenly became very dry and desert-like? (Use “adaptation” and “natural selection” in
your answer).
18. List five things that are allowed (with a permit) on multiple use lands.
19. What is the Neem Tree? How could the tree help to slow down deforestation of tropical rain
forests?
20. What is a monoculture? List two examples of monocultures. GRAPH what happens to
biodiversity when an old growth forest is cut down and a monoculture is planted in its place.
21. GRAPH: What is happening to temperature if you start at the equator (0 degrees) and walk to 90
degrees north?
22. Make a BAR GRAPH that depicts soil nutrient level for these biomes: a grassland vs. a deciduous
forest vs. a tropical rain forest.
23. Fronts and low pressure systems usually produce clouds and precipitation. Why do high
pressure systems usually produce sunny days?
24. Describe two measures that Costa Rica has taken in order to preserve their tropical biodiversity.
25. Why are upwellings considered a good thing for the human population?
26. GRAPH: What happens to carbon dioxide levels over time as forests are burned and/or cut
down?
27. Which type of public land is best described by: “walk in and walk out!”
28. List 10 characteristics and/or plants and animals that make up a temperate grassland.
29. List five characteristics that are typical of the arctic tundra.
30. Name two biomes that are more prone to frequent fires. Describe two benefits these biomes
receive because of frequent fires.
31. GRAPH: the level of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere as tropical forests are
burned down.
32. Which biome are succulent plants mostly found? List ONE example of a succulent plant.
33. In a tropical rainforest, where does photosynthesis mostly take place?
34. Does an even-aged tree stand have a long or a short rotation cycle? Are the trees more than
likely the same age in order to maintain biodiversity or turn a profit quicker?
35. Which type of lands does the Wilderness act pertain to: multiple use, restricted use, or the most
restricted use?
36. What is the number one reason for species extinction? (Specifically – don’t use the underlying
cause of “overpopulation”). Based on your answer, what would be the number one thing that
we could do to help stop species extinction?
37. On which continent is each of the following found? Steppes, veldt, pampas, prairies.
38. Which government agency oversees National Wildlife Refuges?
39. Make a BAR GRAPH that depicts soil nutrient level for these biomes: a grassland vs. a deciduous
forest vs. a tropical rain forest.
40. What are the advantages of “selective cutting” for an ecosystem. Include “biodiversity” and
“sustainability” in your answer.
41. What is a “synergistic interaction”?
42. GRAPH: a climatogram for a savanna ecosystem.
43. What biome consists of needle-leaf evergreen trees? (List all three names for it!)
44. GRAPH: the rate of decomposition in a tropical rain forest vs. the tundra. You should have two
lines – each one representing the rate for each biome. Make sure I can tell which line belongs to
which biome.
45. Contrast: seed-tree cutting vs. strip-cutting vs. shelterwood cutting
46. Describe how countries such as the U.S. and China are contributing to the deforestation of the
Amazon Rain Forest.
47. Describe THREE ways in which clear-cutting harms the environment more than any other type of
tree harvesting.
48. Does an un-even aged tree stand have a long or a short rotation cycle? Are the trees more than
likely un-even aged in order to maintain biodiversity or turn a profit quicker?
49. How many belts of prevailing winds are there? Name them.
50. The last gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park was shot in 1930. The USFWS reintroduced the
endangered gray wolf into Yellowstone in 1995. GRAPH: the population of Gray wolves from
1800 until 2010. (You don’t have to be EXACT but your line should show a trend).