Local and Distant Biomes

LOCAL AND DISTANT BIOMES

Name: ______

Background

Each major biome is characterized by plants that have particular adaptations to the climate of their biome. In the following activity you will be responsible for demonstrating your ability to identify vegetation characteristic of each biome, as well as describe the specific adaptations plants (and their leaves) have within the climate of each biome.

Materials

Leaves from plants that are representative of a number of distinct biomes.

Procedure

1. After you are assigned to a small group, migrate one of the lab stations. There, you should find leaves from plants that are representative of three distinct terrestrial biomes. After viewing the three leaves answer question 1.

2. Next, use your textbook to answer question 2 about the biomes that are represented by these leaves.

3. Then, use your collective brains to answer the remaining questions.

Questions

1. Make a brief sketch of each numbered leaf, identify the type of plant from which was acquired, as well as the biome which each represents.

Leaf Sketch / Plant / Biome
1
2
3

2. Re-identify the biomes for each numbered leaf, document the location of each biome, and record important abiotic characteristics that distinguish each biome.

Biome / Location / Abiotic Characteristics
1
2
3

3. Compare and contrast the structure and function of the three leaves. While doing so, hypothesize how the abiotic characteristics associated with their biomes shape their structure and function.

4. Imagine what the entire plant from which the representative leaves where collected. Compare and contrast the structure and function of the plants in general, and again hypothesize how the abiotic characteristics associated with their biomes shape the structure and function.

Homework (chapter 50)

1. Identify each of the remaining terrestrial biomes, document the location and abiotic characteristics of each, and note at two adaptations that vegetation have in each biome.

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2. Contrast microclimate and macroclimate, and give an example of each.

3. Describe how the Great Lakes affect the climate of those cities surround those lakes.

4. Describe how mountains have affected the distribution of grasslands in the United States.

5. Interpret the adjacent climograph.

3. What is an ecotone? Why is it an important concept?