What Are Biomes & Where Are They Located?
Objective: To understand what a biome is, how it differs from an ecosystem and how biomes functions and their global spatial distribution.
Starter: Watch this three minute animation with your headphones on.
The world is made up of many different biomes. Biomes are large regions of the world with similar plants, animals, and other living organisms that are adapted to the climate and other conditions.
There are many different classifications of biomes (Tundra, Taiga, Temperate, Chaparral Grasslands), but we will be focusing on two major terrestrial (land) ones:
1) Tropical Rainforest
2) Tropical Desert
A biome is made of many similar ecosystems. Ecosystems are the interactions between the living things and the nonliving things in one location. In an ecosystem, the plants, animals, and other organisms rely on each other and on the physical environment – the soil, water, and nutrients, for example. An ecosystem is often much smaller than a biome, although the size varies. At any given time, ecosystems may get out of balance and will adapt/change (think about the impacts of global warming on the Tundra)
Within each biome, the living organisms have adaptations to help them survive in these sometimes extreme environments. For example, a rabbit in the tundra may have larger feet to hop on the snow and white fur to hide from its potential predators. The unique climate and living conditions of each biome create wide variety on our planet.
You can complete the following tasks on the worksheet on the blue tab below.
Task 1 - Write out your own definition of a biome and find a suitable image that represents it.
Task 2 - What is the difference between a biome and an ecosystem?
http://www.bio.miami.edu/ecosummer/lectures/biomes.jpg
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http://anamelissa-scienceclass.blogspot.fr/2010/11/summary6-world-biomes.html
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Task 3 - Using a copy of both of the images above (click on each to make them larger), complete the following two activities:
i. Describe the global distribution of both Desert and Tropical Forest biomes and name three countries in three different continents that host each (that's six in total).
ii. Explain the relationship between temperature & moisture and vegetation generally. How does this apply to both focus biomes?
Homework
Click here to be taken directly to geographyalltheway. Complete 'Why are biomes located where they are' worksheet , proof read, spell check then print out.
i. Describe the global distribution of both Desert and Tropical Forest biomes and name three countries in three different continents that host each (that's six in total).
ii. Explain the relationship between temperature & moisture and vegetation generally. How does this apply to both focus biomes?
Homework
Click here to be taken directly to geographyalltheway. Complete 'Why are biomes located where they are' worksheet , proof read, spell check then print out.
The Tropical Rainforest
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Objective: To find out how location & climate of tropical rainforests are interlinked and to study the biodiversity within.
Starter: Watch the video about the Lyre bird in Australia to the right. How has this bird adapted to its climate and surroundings? You should use the worksheet to the right to complete the tasks below. Task 1 - Introducing Manaus. Using the Google Map embedded to the right, write down a detailed location (site & situation) of the city of Manaus. Task 2 - Study the climate graph of Manaus below. You can click to enlarge it. Complete the following questions based on the graph: Which is the hottest month? What is the mean temperature of the hottest month? Which is the coolest month? What is the mean temperature of the coolest month? What is the annual temperature range? Which is the wettest month? How much rainfall does the wettest month receive? Which is the driest month? How much rainfall does the driest month receive? How many seasons are there in Manaus? Task 3 - Complete the tasks on the worksheet below. |
World Insolation Map
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Atmospheric Cells & Belem Climate
Tropical Biodiversity
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Objective: To build up the idea of biodiversity in the tropical rainforest biome.
Resources: To complete this unit of work, you will need the following:
Task 1 - Complete the worksheet above and the 3 and 4 mark review questions at the bottom of the geographyalltheway webpage Task 2 - Vegetation and plant adaptation in the tropical rainforest. Complete the worksheet by clicking on the blue tab to the right hand side. |
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Deforestation In The Rainforest
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Starter - watch the video to the right. It was created by a Geography student but gives you a five minute overview of the issues surrounding rainforest deforestation.
Check out the map below. Released in November 2013, the map shows forest change from 2000-12. Green areas are forested; red suffered forest loss; blue showed forest gain; pink experienced both loss and gain. Complete the following activities on the worksheet below. The resources required to answer the question are listed beneath the map. |
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Thanks to the University of Maryland
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What's the story in Brazil?
There were mixed messages coming from Brazil in 2013. One one hand you have news reports like the video on the right hand side. i. Watch this video and make notes on the methods using in Brazil to slow down the rate of un-managed deforestation. ii. Then, read this BBC News article from November 2013 and make notes on the issues that Brazil now finds itself trying to combat. Click on this link (page 2) and make a list of 10 common products that you use regularly that have origins in the rain forest. **Did you know that there was a documentary about this recently on UK television. Check out the trailer to the series by clicking here and look at how much was left in the family's house when everything that came from the rainforest was removed!! Sustainable Rainforest Use Watch the 'Hidden Consequences' YouTube video to the right. i. Take a screen shot from the video and annotate around the hidden consequences of everyday rainforest use by us. Target is 100 words. ii. Is this an effective way of getting the message across? Watch the second video 'Follow the Frog' Take a screen shot of a still of the video and annotate around it the key message. Target is 50 words. Optional Extra - You are now going to complete a case study on the 'Follow The Frog' campaign by the Rainforest Alliance. Click on the blue tab below for a case study outline. Use the final video to the right to note some of the key details of the Rainforest Alliance and what and where they work. *Spanish subtitled video here* |
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Tropical Deserts
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Objective: To find out how location & climate of tropical deserts are interlinked and to study the biodiversity within.
Starter: Watch the video about Bear Grylls & the Camel to the right. How has this animal adapted to its climate and surroundings? Sheet here Why do deserts form and why? Task 1 - Open the worksheet by clicking on the blue tab to the right, between both YouTube videos. Complete the activities set out using the videos to the right to help you. a. Use the David Attenborough video to annotate your globe on page 1 b. Use this image to help you annotate global locations of major deserts onto your worksheet. c. Use the image on page three to help you to explain why the Atacama desert is so dry. d. Use the climate graph to describe the climate of the Sahara desert e. Use the 'cactus & camel adaptations' video to the right to help you to annotate your cactus to show how it has adapted to living in such a dry environment. Task 2 - Introducing Timbuktu. Using the Google Map embedded to the right, write down a detailed location (site & situation) of the town of Timbuktu. Check out the photo beneath too! Task 3 - You have already had practice of completing a climate graph for Toulouse & Belem. 12 Blue Bars = monthly precipitation in MM Red line = average temperature in °C Click here to access the climate data for Timbuktu. Construct your climate graph working out the average temperature from the table. Task 4 - Question Time: Which is the hottest month? What is the mean temperature of the hottest month? Which is the coolest month? What is the mean temperature of the coolest month? What is the annual temperature range? Which is the wettest month? How much rainfall does the wettest month receive? Which is the driest month? How much rainfall does the driest month receive? |
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Tsunami Of Sand - Desertification
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Tsunami of Sand!
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Objective: To understand how deserts spread, the causes and the implications on vulnerable populations.
Click on the tab below to access the worksheet on desertification.
What is desertification and how is it caused?
You will need the first video below and this link to coolgeography.
Click on the tab below to access the worksheet on desertification.
What is desertification and how is it caused?
You will need the first video below and this link to coolgeography.
Combating Desertification
You will need the second and third video below and the link to coolgeography above.
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Optional Task - Higher Level Extension Video - Watch the video below and take notes on how Allan Savory recommends that we fight desertification and reverse climate change.
Drought Case Study - The Sahel
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Objective: To build up a case study of a major drought in the Sahel.
Droughts occur when a long period of abnormally dry weather leads to a severe water shortage. Droughts are also often caused by the activity of humans as well. Human activities that can help trigger droughts include: i. Widespread cutting down of trees for fuel. ii. Overgrazing of animals iii. Construction of a dam on a large river iv. Climate Change (driven by MEDC's) Task 1 - Watch the National Geographic video then complete the following questions:
a. Describe the physical processes leading to the occurrence of a drought. b. Human activities can make the effects of drought worse. Explain how this happens (link to help) Task 2 - Studying the drought map above carefully, complete the following iGCSE style exam question: Describe the distribution of severe to exceptional drought events. Task 3 - Watch the Anatomy of Sahel drought video to complete your map and physical causes of drought section of your case study sheet. Task 4 - Watch the Explaining the Sahel Drought Problem video report to the right and take notes on the environmental, social and economic effects of the drought on the countries affected. Link to IGCSE Population - How does a high fertility rate (7 children) contribute to the problems caused by drought in this part of Africa? Task 5 - How can the risk of drought be minimised in the Sahel? Fill in the relevant section on your case study sheet. |
National Geographic Video - Below
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G10 Extension Task - How can Chennai’s water crisis be solved?
Listen to the excellent BBC The Inquiry Podcast from July 2019. Click on the logo below to access. Take notes on the causes, effects and responses to the Crisis in Chennai, India. |
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