Abiotic factors as the determinants of terrestrial biome distribution
Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersWhat is a biome?
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 12 Flashcards — Abiotic factors as the determinants of terrestrial biome distribution
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
What is a biome?
Answer
A **large region** with a particular **climate** and a **characteristic community** of organisms (e.g. tropical rainforest, tundra).
Question
Which two abiotic factors are used most to classify biomes?
Answer
**Temperature** and **precipitation** (rainfall).
Question
Define climate.
Answer
The typical pattern of **temperature and precipitation** in a region, averaged over many years.
Question
Define an abiotic factor.
Answer
A **non-living** physical or chemical feature of the environment (e.g. temperature, rainfall, light, soil).
Question
Hot + very dry climate → which biome?
Answer
**Hot desert** — sparse, drought-adapted plants.
Question
Hot + very wet climate → which biome?
Answer
**Tropical rainforest** — dense, tall evergreen trees.
Question
Cold climate → which biome?
Answer
**Tundra** — low mosses, lichens and small shrubs.
Question
Moderate temperature + moderate-to-high rainfall → which biome?
Answer
**Temperate forest** — deciduous broadleaf trees.
Question
On a temperature-vs-precipitation biome graph, how do you identify a biome point?
Answer
Read **both** coordinates (its temperature AND its rainfall) and match them to the biome whose climate fits.
Question
Why does a biome's climate decide its community?
Answer
Climate sets the **vegetation** that can grow, and the vegetation decides which **animals** can live there.
Question
Why are temperature and rainfall the two key factors?
Answer
Plants are the base of the community and are limited most by **how warm it is** and **how much water** there is.
Question
Why do a hot desert and a tropical rainforest differ, though both are hot?
Answer
They differ in **rainfall**: the desert is very dry (sparse plants) and the rainforest is very wet (dense trees).
Read the notes
Full study notes for Abiotic factors as the determinants of terrestrial biome distribution
Topic 2.9 hub
Adaptation to environment
More from Topic 2.9
All flashcards in this topic
Biology exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free