Chapter 34: The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth’s Diverse Environments
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Chapter 34: The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth’s Diverse Environments
Guided Reading Activities
Big idea: The biosphere
Answer the following questions as you read modules 34.1–34.5:
1. A scientist that is studying the habitat of mountain gorillas is most accurately called
a(n) ____________.
2. Which of the following includes all of the others?
a.Community
b.Organism
c.Ecosystem
d.Population
3. What is the relationship between a landscape and an ecosystem?
4. What effect does DDT have on the eggshells of birds?
5. ____________ published a book called ____________ in 1962 that called attention to the
dangers of ____________.
6. At the bottom of page 681 of your textbook, the authors ask a thought-provoking question,
“Why can’t ecologists alone solve environmental problems?” The answer provided indicates
that solving these types of problems involves a blend of ethical, economic, and political considerations. A perfect example is the decision on whether or not to build the Keystone pipeline
from the Alberta tar sands to the American Gulf Coast. Identify a total of three considerations (you may choose from which side to assign the extra argument) that are critical to this
debate.
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Chapter 34: The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth’s Diverse Environments
7. True or false: No life can exist in dark environments like caves because all autotrophs are dependent on the sun. If false, make it a correct statement.
8. List three abiotic factors that influence organisms within their habitat and describe adaptations that organisms have to these factors.
9. What two factors can explain the presence of a species in a particular area?
10. List and describe an adaptation that a pronghorn antelope has to an abiotic factor and an adaptation it has to a biotic factor.
11. The seasons of the year result from the ____________ of the Earth on its ____________.
12. Which of the following are winds that flow from east to west as a result of the faster spinning
equator?
a.Westerlies
b.Doldrums
c. Trade winds
d. None of the above
13. What two factors primarily define terrestrial biomes? What factor primarily defines aquatic
biomes?
Big idea: Aquatic biomes
Answer the following questions as you read modules 34.6–34.7:
1. What defines the boundary between the photic and aphotic zones?
2. The transition from an aquatic biome to a terrestrial biome is known as a(n) ____________.
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Chapter 34: The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth’s Diverse Environments
3. People often confuse estuaries with intertidal zones. Briefly explain the difference between
them.
4. The two broad types of freshwater biomes include ____________ and ____________.
5. Compare the characteristics of a river at its source (headwaters) with the characteristics far
downstream.
Big idea: Terrestrial biomes
Answer the following questions as you read modules 34.8–34.18:
1. Biomes that are similar but geographically separated may share species with similar adaptations due to ____________.
2. Which types of biomes are found in the continental United States?
3. Which of the following is a characteristic of a tropical rainforest?
a. Found along the equator.
b. Forest structure consists of distinct layers.
c. Contains nutrient-poor soil.
d. All of the above are characteristics of tropical rainforests.
4. True or false: The grasses of savannas survive frequent fires because the shoots necessary for
their growth are found underground. If false, make it a correct statement.
5. A terrestrial biome characterized by grasses, few trees, periodic fires, and a brief rainy season
is a(n) ____________.
6. True or false: Deserts are characterized by little rainfall and extremely hot temperatures. If
false, make it a correct statement.
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Chapter 34: The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth’s Diverse Environments
7. Why do deserts tend to be found at 30o north and south of the equator?
8. List two benefits from fire in chaparral biomes.
9. Complete the following table, which compares certain terrestrial biomes.
Temperate
grassland
Temperate
forest
Coniferous
forest
Tundra
Description
Locations
10. A common misconception is that no life exists at the poles. Briefly explain why this is not
the case.
11. What are two ways in which humans are affecting the global water cycle?
12. Three processes that affect the water cycle include ____________, ____________, and
____________.
Connecting the Big Ideas
Use your knowledge of the information contained within this chapter’s “Big Ideas” to answer this
question.
What are the factors that are most important in determining the kinds of organisms found in aquatic
environments?
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