AP Biology : Biomes
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Biomes
Which of the following is not true regarding temperate forest biomes?
They have a distinct winter season
There is little ground vegetation
Soil is nutrient-rich
There are temperate forests in eastern North America
There is little ground vegetation
Temperature forest biomes can be found in eastern North America and western and central Europe. Temperate forests have a distinguishable winter season. The canopy present in these forests allows light penetration and ground vegetal growth, which makes the soil nutrient-rich.
Example Question #2 : Biomes
Which of the following best explains how marine biomes are distinct from freshwater biomes?
Marine biomes have high salt concentration while freshwater biomes have low salt concentration
Freshwater biomes contain algae that supplies most of the Earth’s oxygen, while marine biomes do not
Freshwater biomes have high salt concentration while marine biomes have low salt concentration
Freshwater biomes are greater oxygen sinks than marine biomes
Marine biomes have high salt concentration while freshwater biomes have low salt concentration
Marine biomes are aquatic ecosystems that possess a high concentration of salts. Examples of marine biomes include oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries. Marine biomes contain large quantities of algae that supply most of the Earth’s oxygen content.
Example Question #3 : Biomes
Which of the following types of aquatic ecosystems are exemplary of freshwater biomes?
All of these
Wetlands
Ponds and lakes
Streams and rivers
All of these
Freshwater biomes are a type of aquatic ecosystem characterized by a low salt concentration and are home to animals specifically adapted to survive in these conditions. Types of freshwater biomes include ponds and lakes, wetlands, and many streams and rivers.
Example Question #4 : Biomes
Which of the following best characterize desert biomes?
Low rainfall
Low rainfall and animal adaptations to a water-poor environment
Animals are adapted to a water-poor environment
Neither low rainfall nor animal adaptations to a water-poor environment
Low rainfall and animal adaptations to a water-poor environment
Low rainfalls as well as the organisms that are specifically adapted to inhabit these conditions characterize desert biomes. Desert biomes can be further characterized based on seasons.
Example Question #5 : Biomes
Which of the following is not a true characteristic of tundra?
Short growing seasons
Low biodiversity
Lack of dead organic material
Cold climate
Lack of dead organic material
The tundra is a type of biome that has an extremely cold climate. Other characteristics of the tundra include a short growth season, low biodiversity, and nutrients found only in the form of dead organic tissue. The tundra is also characterized by the presence of a permafrost layer—a layer of frozen soil.
Example Question #6 : Biomes
Which of the following types of seasons best characterize chaparral biomes?
Extremely cold winters with low precipitation
Hot dry summers
Hot dry summers and very cold winters with low precipitation
Hot dry summers and mild wet winters
Hot dry summers and mild wet winters
Chaparral biomes are primarily observed to exist in California. The seasons in chaparral areas include hot dry summers and mild wet winters.
Example Question #7 : Biomes
Which of the following characteristics are exemplary of savanna biomes?
Rainy season and dry season
Can be found in Africa and Australia
All of these
Seasonal fires
All of these
The savanna is a type of biome found in Africa, Australia, South America, and India. The savanna is described as type of grassland ecosystem that has scattered trees and low shrubbery. Savannas have rainy seasons and dry seasons characterized by fires.
Example Question #8 : Biomes
Which of the following best describes the primary difference between the savanna and temperate grassland biomes?
Seasonal fires are important to temperate grassland biodiversity but they are not in the savanna
The savanna can be further categorized into prairies and steppes while the temperate grassland cannot
The savanna is dominated by grasses while the temperate grassland has scattered trees
Seasonal fires are important to savanna biodiversity but they are not in temperate grasslands
Seasonal fires are important to savanna biodiversity but they are not in temperate grasslands
The key difference between the savanna and temperate grassland biomes is that seasonal fires are very important to savanna biodiversity but not for the temperate grassland’s ecology.
Example Question #9 : Biomes
Which of the following represent the key factors that distinguish biomes from one another?
Patterns of ecological succession
All of these
Habitat type
Climate
All of these
Biomes are characterized by a number of factors including climate, patterns of ecological succession, and habitat type. It is important to note that biomes are not distinguished by genetic or taxonomic patterns of organisms.
Example Question #10 : Biomes
Which of the following is a characteristic that is not used to characterize biomes?
Taxonomy and genetic similarities of organisms
Patterns of ecological succession
Climate
Habitat type
Taxonomy and genetic similarities of organisms
Biomes are characterized by a number of factors including climate, patterns of ecological succession, and habitat type. It is important to note that biomes are not distinguished by genetic or taxonomic patterns of organisms.
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