Deck 26: Biomes

Question 1

Fire has been a natural phenomenon in several biomes for thousands of years, and most plant species are adapted to it in various ways in the ecosystem where it occurs regularly. Should we then not extinguish forest and grassland fires when they occur?

Answer 1

Biomes are the large ecological areas on earth with good fauna and flora that adapts to the present environment. Biomes include the biotic factors such as temperature, climate, soils, geology, and vegetation. Fires are a part of many biomes of the world.
It is said that it is not necessary that all fires need to be prevented or extinguished. As in case of some biomes wildfires are a common part of their adaptive ecology and therefore, extinguishing these fires does not prevail. The biomes that are fire prone have adapted the plants and animals in that region to be adaptive to cope these fires and rebound vibrantly afterwards. Fires in such places d o not harm the subsequent roots and the plants can grow well afterwards, similarly the animals also escape these fires by running, flying or burying themselves.
Hence, extinguishing wildfires is not necessary as the biomes frequently experiencing wildfires are naturally adapted to it.

Question 2

Characterize desert and tundra biomes.

Answer 2

Biome is defined as the biotic communities on the land which are considered on a continental or global scale.
Tundra occupies above the Arctic Circle primarily and it covers vast area of the land of the earth. The permafrost in which the soil is frozen permanently in the arctic tundra at a depth of about 10 t 20 centimeters to about 1 meter below the surface.
The tundra biome is fragile and the alpine tundra patches occur above the timberline in the mountains. The animals like lemmings, little rodents, arctic fox and snowy owl are present in the tundra.
Deserts occur when there is consistently low precipitation and when soil is too porous to hold the water. In this, the rainfall per year is less than 12.5 centimeters and temperature on summer day reaches over 35ºC. In dry air, the intensity of the light reach higher peaks and the desert plants have adapted to this through the crassulacean acid metabolism photosynthesis.
The plants of deserts have thick cuticle, leathery texture or reduced size leaves, water storage tissues in leaves and stems and photosynthetic activities in stems of cacti and other succulents. The animals present in deserts include snakes, kangaroo rats, mice, lizards and chuckwallas.

Question 3

Much of the tropical rain forest biome is located in developing countries, which have precarious economies. Bearing that in mind, what could be done to halt the destruction of this priceless and vital part of our ecosystem?

Answer 3

It is demonstrated that mainly the tropical rain forests are situated in countries that are developing and have precarious economies, the damage and depletion of these world heritage is seen in many of the areas due to this reason. Conserving tropical rainforest is one major global agenda recently put forward.
Tropical rainforest are created and hold amazing factual significance in regulating the climate and ecosystem on earth. Cutting down these forests may provide economic growth to the regions but is depleting the natural ecosystem of globe. Therefore, in order to conserve tropical rainforest the developed countries should take up the responsibility and help these countries to plant more trees, prevent deforestation and follow strategies such as paperless life, recycling and emphasis on vegan diet.
These are some strategies that would help conserve the tropical rainforest in the world.

Question 4

What is the function of fire in grassland and mountain forest biomes?

Question 5

What kinds of plants predominate in tropical rain forests?

Question 6

Why does the loss of the tropical rain forest biome have very serious implications for the future?