Ecology Lesson 7: Major Terrestrial Ecosystems page 1 of 2
A) Introduction
✓ ________________ is the most important factor in determining the location and make up of an
ecosystem
✓ A biome is a large geographical region defined by climate (__________________ and
___________________) with a specific set of biotic and abiotic features
B) Canada’s Biomes
1) Tundra
✓ Most __________________ biome
✓ Cold ____________, ____________ growing season, cold
temperature
✓ __________________
✓ Permanently __________________ ground
✓ Surface soil thaws, forms active growing layer for
____________
✓ Low soil temperature, means slow __________________ and
__________________ cycling
✓ Species
✓ Barren ground __________________
✓ Travel in large herds, feed on low growing ____________
and ___________
✓ Migrate long distances to obtain enough food for body
____________
By Paul Gierszewski - Own work, CC
BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/i
ndex.php?curid=30927252
2) Boreal Forest
✓ __________________ Canadian biome
✓ __________________ and ____________ summer support tree
growth
✓ __________________ soil from decomposing conifer needles
✓ Slows __________________ and limits the variety of
_____________
✓ Dominant tree is __________________
✓ Needle leaves reduce ____________ loss, which helps the tree
survive the long winter
✓ Shape, size and _____________ branches support load of snow
✓ Floor has ____________ tolerant __________________ and
____________
By Judicieux - Own work, CC
BY-SA 4.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/i
ndex.php?curid=71314574
3) Temperate Deciduous Forest
✓ Deciduous trees, including ____________, ______ and ______
✓ ____________r growing season
✓ Temperatures don’t get as low as coniferous, faster
__________________ rates
✓ Forest layers: ____________, __________________,
____________, _____-_____________ __________________
✓ Plant variety supports ____________ variety
✓ Each species is adapted to a portion of the forest
✓ Much forest has been replaced by __________________,
____________ and ____________
By Rick Harris from Toronto,
Ontario, Canada - Something This
Way Comes, CC BY-SA 2.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/i
ndex.php?curid=54227900
Ecology Lesson 7: Major Terrestrial Ecosystems page 2 of 2
B) Canada’s Biomes Continued
4) Grassland
✓ ____________
✓ Moderate __________________ supports grasses but not most
____________ species
✓ Hot, dry ____________, often causes fire
✓ Suppress ____________ growth and maintain grassland
✓ Very fertile black ____________
✓ High summer temperature promotes __________________,
releases nutrients back into soil
✓ Natural plant life includes ____________, __________________
and ____________
✓ Most grassland replaced by ____________ of crops like wheat and
canola
✓ Animal species include ____________
By Kjfmartin - Own work, CC
BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/i
ndex.php?curid=11278035
5) Mountain Forest
✓ Temperatures vary with __________________
✓ ____________ summers
✓ ____________
✓ Heavy __________________
✓ Fast flowing ____________
✓ Animals include __________________, __________________,
______, ____________, ____________ and ____________ bears
✓ Plants include large __________________ trees and
____________
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikip
edia/commons/b/b8/Wells_Gray_P
rovincial_Park%2C_British_Columb
ia.jpg