APES Biome Webquest Your Mission on this quest for knowledge is to learn about the earth’s diverse ecological regions. The biomes are distinct ecological regions based on their dominant plant life, latitude, altitude, annual precipitation and average monthly temperatures. This assignment has 3 parts, be sure to complete all parts for full credit. Point values are given for each part. I. Becoming Familiar with Earth’s major Biomes: (25 points) http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm Although there is some disagreement as to exactly how many biomes exist on the earth, most sources agree that all of the biomes on this page are valid biome classifications, For each of the 10 biomes listed, you will need to collect the following information. You may cut & paste as long as you include quotation marks around copied text and references to websites you used. 1. Where is the biome located? Answer this question with a labeled map and / or list of the areas of the world where found. 2. Biotic factors: include at least one labeled picture for each a. Dominant plant life b. Dominant animal life 3. Abiotic Factors: a. Average yearly precipitation b. Average yearly range of temperature c. Primary soil type(s) d. Climatogram 4. Human interactions with the environment: a. How / whether humans live in the region / special adaptations humans have made to survive / thrive in the climate b. Human exploitation, ecological impacts of human presence & resource use, environmental damage, remediation / protection. You will need to use more sites than merely the link listed above, that is intended as your starting point. Below is a list of further links that you may find helpful. You may also do your own web search. As usual, plagarism is NOT acceptable! Anything that you cut & paste must include proper citation! http://www.enviroliteracy.org/subcategory.php/294.html http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/intro.html http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/terrestrial.html http://www.mbgnet.net/ Climatograms http://www2.kpr.edu.on.ca/cdciw/biomes/questions/index.htm http://www.worldclimate.com/ II. Play “Match the Biome” Game (10 points) http://www.globe.gov/fsl/events/helsinki2/templ.cgi?biome_match&lang=en&nav=1 1. Report your results. How many climatograms / photographs did you get correct? 2. Reflect: Was this easy or difficult? Is it a helpful exercise for testing your familiarity with biomes & ability to interpret a climatogram? III. Construct a Climatogram using local data. (20 points) Complete the climatograms for the four cities included in this document. Graph the climate figures for precipitation and temperature for two of the four locales (you choose-if you do all 4 you will earn extra credit) onto your blank climatogram sheets. For each climatogram calculate and add the average temperature and precipitation. Be sure that you label each with its biome name. Also be extremely careful as to how you record the information. All temperature readings are measured on the right side of the climatogram. All precipitation measurements are on the left side of the climatogram. Be sure to draw a line graph for temperature and a bar graph for precipitation. Go to the following website, read the discussion on biomes as indicated on the Whittaker diagram. Add this diagram to your report. (Print or Draw) http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/biome_main.htm Cuiaba, Brazil: Tropical Deciduous Forest J F M A M J J A S O N P: 24.9 21.1 21.1 10.2 5.3 0.8 0.5 2.8 5.1 11.4 15 D 20.6 T: 27.2 27.2 27.2 26.6 25.6 23.9 24.4 25.6 27.8 27.8 27.8 27.2 Santa Monica, California: Chaparral J F M A M J J A S O N D P: 8.9 7.6 7.4 1.3 1.3 0 0 0 0.3 1.5 3.5 5.8 T: 11.7 11.7 12.8 14.4 15.6 17.2 18.9 18.3 18.3 16.7 14.4 12.8 Moshi, Tanganyika: Tropical Grassland J F M A M J J A S O N D P: 3.6 6.1 9.2 40.1 30.2 5.1 5.1 2.5 2 3 8.1 6.4 T: 23.3 23.2 22.2 21.1 19.8 18.4 17.9 18.4 19.8 21.4 22 22.4 Aden, Aden: Tropical Dessert J F M A M J J P: 0.8 0.5 1.3 0.45 0.3 0.3 0 A S O N D 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 T: 24.6 25.1 26.4 28.5 30.6 31.9 31.1 30.3 31.1 28.8 26.5 25.1