Year 10 - Geography
The factors affecting biome distribution
Ecosystems, biomes and the biosphere
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit teaches pupils about ecosystems and biomes at different scales. Pupils learn about the factors influencing biome distribution and the physical systems and processes regulating them. Pupils will also learn about the impact of population growth and resource extraction on biomes.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how climate and local factors affect biome distribution.
Key Notes
- On a large-scale, climate is the main factor affecting the distribution of biomes.
- Local factors (altitude, rock and soil type and drainage) can affect local biome distribution.
- Biotic and abiotic components interact within biomes, reflecting these large-scale and small-scale factors.
Vocabulary To Learn
- climate: the average weather conditions (such as rainfall and temperature) recorded over a 30-year period
- altitude: the height above sea level
- drainage: the distribution, storage and movement of water in the environment
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Within a given biome, the plants and animals are the same everywhere.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
On a large-scale, climate is the main factor affecting the distribution of biomes. Local factors (altitude, rock and soil type and drainage) can affect local biome distribution.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'climate'
the average weather conditions (such as rainfall and temperature) recorded over a 30-year period.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: Within a given biome, the plants and animals are the same everywhere. Correction: Small-scale variation occurs within global biomes due to local factors.
More Lessons In This Unit
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