Chapter 21

Global Ecosystems


OVERVIEW

This chapter focuses on global patterns of vegetation.


KEY TERMS

biomes          forest biome       monsoon forest           
natural         habitats           subtropical evergreen    
vegetation      transpiration         forest                
life-form       xerophytes         midlatitude deciduous    
perennial       sclerophylls          forest                
lianas          succession         needleleaf forest        
herbs           climax             sclerophyll forest       
annuals         pioneers           savanna biome            
forest          formation classes  grassland biome          
woodland        epiphytes          desert biome             
lichens         low latitude       tundra biome             
plant ecology   rainforest                                  



STUDY QUESTIONS

  1. Differentiate between the major life forms that make up the plant cover of the earth.
  2. Describe how the process of transpiration works.
  3. How does moisture availability affect plant growth?
  4. How does temperature affect plant growth?
  5. Describe the succession of plants from the pioneer stage to the climax stage.
  6. Compare the low latitude rainforest with the needleleaf forest of Pacific North America. How are these two forest types similar?
  7. How have humans impacted the forest biome?
  8. How does vegetation change as the climate becomes increasingly dry?
  9. What are the types of vegetation associated with the Savanna biome?
  10. How does the tall grass prairie differ from the steppe grassland?
  11. How does vegetation change in the transition from semi-desert to dry desert?
  12. Describe how vegetation changes with elevation. What causes this change?

Go to this chapter's quiz


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