Biology – Terrestrial Biomes Virtual Lab
Name__________________________________Date____________
Website:
http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/LS19/LS19.html
Job/Task Assignments:
Computer Operator: ______________________________________
Manager – Reading/following directions/making sure all group members are on task ____________________________
Recorder – Writing down all the data as it is provided by the computer operator ___________________
Pre-lab questions – Answer the following questions as you read the introduction to the Terrestrial Biomes
Virtual Lab.
1. Biomes are large geographic areas that have similar _____________________ and ____________________.
2. What are the six most common types of biomes? List them below.
3. How do we define climate?
4. What are the two main factors that define climate?
5. Climate will determine what _____________________ can grow in that biome.
6. The types of plant life available in each biome helps determine what _______________________ live in that
biome.
7. Where on our planet/world/biosphere can we find the tiaga biome?
8. Do biomes have sharp boundaries that distinguish one biome from the next?
9. What are the 3 factors that help determine the biome existing in a particular area of the world?
10. What is latitude and how is it expressed?
11. What is longitude and how is it expressed?
12. What is altitude and how is it measured?
13. What is precipitation and how is it measured?
14. What is this virtual lab having you analyze. Be as specific as possible.
***Before moving on to the Procedure – Show your completed Pre-lab questions to Mrs. Goodnight/Ms.
Irish/Mr. White.
Procedure:
1. Examine and analyze the location, precipitation, and temperature data for the selected (initial) city by
clicking the corresponding file tab.
2. Calculate the average yearly precipitation and temperature data for the selected city. Record the
results in the attached table.
3. Determine where the city is located and click the corresponding location on the world map.
4. After the location of the selected city is correctly determined, use the location, precipitation, and
temperature data to determine the biome in which the city is located and click the biome button that
corresponds to that biome.
a. If the city is located in the selected biome, the entire biome will fill in on the world map. If this
is the case, record the name of the biome in the table.
b. If the city is not located in the selected biome, check the location, precipitation, and
temperature data about the selected city and try again.
5. Investigate another city by clicking the New Location button.
6. Repeat steps 1-4 of the procedure until all the land biomes on the world map are filled in.
7. After all the land biomes on the world map are filled in, click the Video button below a biome button.
8. Watch the video about the biome.
9. Repeat step 8 for each of the six biomes.
10. Complete the journal questions.
11. Click the Reset button to get a different set of six cities.
Table:
Location
Average Yearly
Precipitation
Average Yearly
Temperature
Biome
Journal Questions:
1. What are the different types of land environments?
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2. Describe the climate of each biome type below in the data table.
Biome name
Description of Climate
Tundra
Taiga
Temperate Forest
Tropical Rain Forest
Grassland
Desert
3. Which 2 biomes are most similar in climate? Why?
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4. Which 2 biomes are most different in climate? Why?
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5. A large percentage of living species on the Earth live in tropical rain forests of the world. Why are so
many organisms able to inhabit the rain forest biome? (Think about the Pole to Pole video too.)
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6. What sort of problems do seasonal differences in the climate present for the animals and plants of the
in the biome? How do animals and plants adapt to the changing seasons?
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