People and the Biosphere: Biome Climates and Characteristics
This section of the Geography Edexcel B Paper 3 notes provides a comprehensive overview of various biomes and their unique characteristics. It covers tropical forests, temperate forests, boreal forests, grasslands, tundra, and deserts, detailing their climate conditions, soil properties, and biodiversity.
Definition: A biome is a large-scale ecosystem characterized by its climate, vegetation, and animal life.
Tropical forests are described as having constant rainfall, no distinct seasons, and temperatures ranging from 20-28Β°C. They boast nutrient-rich soil, evergreen plants, and high biodiversity.
Temperate forests experience four seasons, high rainfall, and varying hours of sunlight. They have lower biodiversity compared to tropical rainforests but feature thick, nutrient-rich soil with broad-leaf trees and undergrowth.
Highlight: Boreal forests, also known as taiga, have short summers and long winters with temperatures dropping to -20Β°C in winter and rising to 10Β°C in summer.
Grasslands are divided into tropical and temperate types. Tropical grasslands have low rainfall and distinct wet and dry seasons, while temperate grasslands experience hot summers and cold winters.
Tundra biomes, found at high latitudes, have extreme light conditions with continuous daylight in summer and darkness in winter. They have low temperatures, low precipitation, and few plant and animal species.
Deserts are characterized by low rainfall and extreme temperature variations between day and night in hot deserts. They have sparse plant growth and thin, nutrient-poor soil.
The section also touches on the Boserup and Malthus theories regarding food supply and population growth, providing a foundation for understanding human interactions with these ecosystems.
Vocabulary: Abiotic factors refer to non-living components of an ecosystem, while biotic factors are the living components.
The interdependence of abiotic and biotic factors is explained, highlighting how water availability affects plant growth, and how plants, in turn, influence the water cycle.