Constructed Response
Terrestrial Biomes
Terrestrial Biomes
Teacher Guide
Students will need about 30 minutes to complete these constructed response tasks.
Objectives assessed:
• Describe the characteristics of the terrestrial biomes.
1. A biome is characterized by its temperature patterns, precipitation patterns, animal and
plant life, and its location on Earth.
•
Describe each of these characteristics for Earth’s terrestrial biomes that are shown in
the chart.
Biome
General
Temperature
Patterns
Annual
Precipitation
Patterns
Living
Organisms
(one plant and
one animal)
Major
Location(s) on
Earth
Precipitation
Living
Organisms
Sagebrush,
Torrey pines,
jack rabbits,
toads
Cacti,
succulents,
nocturnal
animals
Short and tall
grasses
Coniferous
Location on
Earth
Middle latitudes,
coastal areas,
Mediterranean
coast
Southern
hemisphere, in
general
Chaparral
Desert
Grasslands
Taiga
Tundra
Correct response(s):
Sample Correct Response:
Biome
Temperatures
Chaparral
Hot summers,
mild winters
Dry summers,
moderate
winters
Desert
Extreme, can
be hot or cold
Very little, arid
Grasslands
Temperate
(mild)
Extremely cold
Variable
Taiga
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High levels
Near middle
latitudes
Just below
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Terrestrial Biomes
winters, warm
summers
Tundra
Extremely cold
and windy
Dry
forests,
squirrels,
moose, bobcats
Low growing
plants, caribou,
polar bears
Arctic circle
Northernmost
latitudes
Response scoring tool:
Score
5
4
3
2
1
0
Content
Correctly describes the main characteristics of the five terrestrial biomes.
Correctly describes the main characteristics of four terrestrial biomes.
Correctly describes the main characteristics of three terrestrial biomes.
Correctly describes the main characteristics of two terrestrial biomes.
Correctly describes the main characteristics of one terrestrial biome.
No response, or response not appropriate to the question.
Objectives assessed:
• Describe the characteristics of the terrestrial biomes.
2. Three main forest biomes exist on Earth: tropical rain forest, temperate rain forest, and
temperate deciduous forest.
•
Compare the average annual temperatures, average annual precipitation, and general
locations of each forest biome.
Correct response(s):
Sample Correct Response: The tropical rain forest biome is hot and humid all year,
whereas the other forest biomes have seasonal variations in temperature. The temperate
deciduous forest receives about 75–150 cm of rainfall per year. The temperate rain forest
receives high amounts of annual rainfall, with some areas receiving up to 300 cm per year.
The tropical rain forest receives the most annual rainfall at approximately 300 cm per year.
Tropical rain forest biomes are located near the equator. Temperate rain forests are located
near the equator and along coastal areas. Temperate deciduous forests are located along
the mid-latitudes.
Objectives assessed:
• Compare variations of organisms living in different ecosystems
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Terrestrial Biomes
3. When comparing organisms in different ecosystems, great differences can often be found.
This is because different ecosystems present different selection pressures on the organisms creating
the need for different traits.
What is an ecosystem and describe it in relation to a biome? Compare and explain the variations and
organisms living in two different ecosystems.
Correct response(s):
Sample Correct Response: An ecosystem describes the interactions that take place
between animals, plants, soil, and other living organisms within a specific area.
Biomes contain multiple ecosystems.
Living in the Arctic, animals and plants need to be well adapted for cold, dry weather. The
top predator in the Arctic, the polar bear, has, below its white fur, black skin to absorb as
much heat from the sun as it can. Its fur is clear, but reflects the light coming off the snow,
so it appears white. This camouflages it while it is hunting prey. Polar bears also have very
wide feet that act like snowshoes. These prevent the bear from falling into the snow as it is
walking around hunting for prey. Other organisms, such as the snowshoe hare have the
same adaptation Whales are also well adapted to the cold. They have a very thick layer of
blubber that acts as insulation as they are moving through the frigid waters of the north.
Plants are also well adapted to this region. Since there is very little rain, the leaves of many
trees have been modified into thin needles. This reduced surface area prevents water loss.
Many smaller plants are dormant in the cold winter months.
Compared to living in the Arctic, animals and plants living in the hot desert have adaptations
that have evolved to cope with the hot, arid climate. Plants often have small spiky leaves to
reduce transpiration and protect from predators. Many plants store water. Cacti store water
in their stems but other desert plants have underground tubers that act as storage organs for
water and food. Others drop their leaves or die back in the driest part of the year. Many
desert animals protect themselves from the hot desert sun by seeking out shade during the
hottest part of the day. Many live in burrows and come out only in the cool of the night.
Desert animals often have special cooling mechanisms. For example the big ears of the bateared fox act as radiators. Many desert animals can go without drinking, obtaining their
water entirely from food.
Response scoring tool:
Score
5
Content
A score of 5 indicates complete understanding of the definition of an
ecosystem and relation to biomes, and of the two compared ecosystems
and the traits animals and plants have developed to live there. There is
discussion of several different organisms and the adapted traits for the
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Terrestrial Biomes
4
3
2
1
0
biomes.
A score of 4 indicates understanding of the definition of an ecosystem
and relation to biomes, and of the different ecosystems and the
adaptations organisms have to live there. While some traits are present,
not all are discussed.
A score of 3 shows understanding of the definition of an ecosystem and
relation to biomes, and that organisms have evolved traits to live in the
ecosystems they do, but there is no connection between those traits and
why they work for survival.
A score of 2 shows recognition of different ecosystems, but minimal
connections with any traits or mention of biomes. Few, if any traits are
discussed.
A score of 1 indicates minimal understanding of what an ecosystem is
and its relation to biomes, and there is no discussion of any traits or the
functions of those traits.
No response, or response not appropriate to the question.
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