http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/biomes.htm
PREDICT THE BIOME
Name: _____________________________ Hr: _______
Note that in Whittaker's diagram the temperature axis is reversed; that is temperature goes DOWN as you move to the right. Theoretically, if
you know the average temperature and precipitation for a site, you should be able to predict what biome will develop there. Try your hand - look
at the values in the table below, compare them to the diagram above, and predict the biome.
Average Temperature oC
Annual Precipitation (cm)
22.1
403
Tropical Rain Forest
12
105
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Pasadena California
18.2
51.8
Savanna
Ferron, Utah
8.8
20.9
Desert
Tucson, Arizona
21.1
21.9
Subtropical Desert
Santa Rosa, Costa Rica
26
165
Tropical Seasonal Forest
Brazzaville, Congo
25
137
Tropical Seasonal Forest
Lambarene, Gabon
25.7
195
Tropical Seasonal Forest
20
410
Tropical Rain Forest
Toolik Lake, Alaska
-8.8
18
Tundra
Beijing, China
11.8
63.5
Temperate Grassland
Seoul, South Korea
11.2
137
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Archbold Biological Station
29.1
131
Tropical Seasonal Forest*
Everglades National Park
(Flamingo)
28.1
159
Tropical Seasonal Forest*
Place
La Selva, Costa Rica
Marietta, Ohio
Amauulu, Hawaii
Biome
Questions:
1. Deserts are areas that receive less than ≈ten inches of rain per year (1 in = 2.54 cm). Using Whittaker's diagram, list all of the
places that are deserts based upon that definition:
2. Are all deserts hot? Provide evidence to support your answer.
3. Temperatures in deserts change a lot from day to night and from summer to winter. The organisms that live in a desert need to
be able to survive these drastic temperature swings along with dry conditions, so the density and diversity of species are very low.
In other words, the desert has a low carrying capacity. Tropical rain forests have a high carrying capacity. What can you infer about
the density and diversity of species in a tropical rain forest?
4. There are few trees in the tundra, desert, and savannah biomes; is precipitation or temperature the reason? Support your answer
with evidence.
5. Evergreens (conifers) grow in the Taiga biome. The shape of a conifer is an adaptation to its environment. Why is the "Christmas
tree" shape helpful?