1. Define what is meant by a biome and explain how biomes are classified according to their
dominant vegetative type. Identify the typical varieties of the biomes found in North America.
2. Describe the impacts and interrelationships of latitude, climate, wind and ocean currents,
photoperiod, distribution of radiation, heat, altitude, topography, precipitation,
temperature, soil structure, and edaphic factors in determining location of biomes.
3. Identify the varieties of each biome found in North America and the locations, conditions and
characteristics peculiar to each. Identify specific climax types of each community. Include:
grassland (prairie, coastal, mountain meadows, mountain parks); forest (temperate
deciduous, temperate rain, coniferous, chaparral); desert (rain shadow, subtropical);
tundra (arctic, alpine), taiga.
4. Define succession and describe the stages of succession which lead to a climax community.
Compare primary and secondary succession with respect to starting point, types of organisms
involved and timeframe. Describe examples of each which can be seen and their relationship to
man's activities. Explain how introduced species relate to the process.
5. Identify the plants and animals which occur at each stage of succession as it proceeds to a
climax spruce-fir forest. Compare with an oak-hickory, beech-maple, or pine forest. Describe
the importance of each stage and organism in preparing the ecosystem or community for the next
stage. Include: pioneers, soil builders, cryptogamic organisms, small herbivores, large
herbivores, small carnivores, large carnivores, grass and weeds, predators, prey, annual
shrubs, perennial shrubs, early trees, late trees.
6. Describe the changes in productivity and diversity that occur with succession. Compare these
for high diversity forests such as the temperate rain forest with low diversity forests such as pine
forests.
7. Describe the importance of fire in establishing and maintaining certain communities (e.g.
fire-adapted or fire-maintained). Include: prairie, slash-and-burn agriculture, Southeastern
pine, sequoia, chaparral, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine.
8. Define ecotone and explain the importance of ecotones to adjacent communities.
9. Define microclimate and explain why microclimates exist and their importance to nearby
communities.
10. Describe the importance of old growth forests in terms of community ecology, habitat values,
watershed protection, commercial production, and other factors. Describe ways to accommodate
both human values and natural values in forest management plans. Terms: type conversion, sustained yield, sustainable forestry, clearcutting, even-aged
management, uneven-aged management, shelterwood management, seed tree management.
11. Explain the importance of specific organisms such as mycorrhizae, voles, gophers and the
like in maintaining productive forest communities. Term: biological legacy.
12. Describe the principles of island biogeography which relate to management practices.
Describe how diversity is related to size, remoteness, and habitat diversity and explain how this
knowledge can be utilized in new management plans and in retrofitting old plans.
13. Explain the nature and importance of isolation (island effect) and edge effects in forestry
practices and impacts of man. Explain how these impacts can be reduced.
14.Identify the location of the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Mojave, and Great Basin deserts in
North America and the characteristic plants and animals found in each.
15. Describe specialized behavioral, morphological, and physiological adaptations of common
desert plants and animals which permit their survival in the desert. Terms: drought tolerance, drought avoidance, drought evasion.
16. Describe the characteristics and locations of arctic and alpine tundra, taiga, and subalpine
communities. Identify the typical plants and animals found along with their adaptations to harsh
conditions. Terms: cushion plant, krummholz, flagging, timberline, permafrost, boreal.
17. Describe the structure and characteristics of prairie soils as compared to other soils (e.g.
desert, temperate forest, tropical forest) which make them fertile and suitable for agriculture.
Terms: calcified soil, podsol, pH, humus, humification, mineralization, laterite, slash and
burn.
18. Describe the causes, effects, interrelationships, and solutions of the following soil-related
problems: erosion, salinization, waterlogging, soil-depletion, desertification, deforestation.
19. Describe how each of the following practices may help to alleviate the above problems:
crop rotation, cover crops, fallowing, windbreaks, terracing, no-till, salt-tolerant crops,
organic or alternative farming.