Republic of the Philippine

Christ The King College

Institute of Teacher Education
Calbayog City, Samar
___________________________________________________________________

Environmental Science

Name: Ostaya, Albert Francisco Course: BSE 2SS

Test Yourself
Answer briefly the following questions:

1. What is taiga and where is it found? Why might logging in taiga be more disruptive
than in southern coniferous forests?
Taiga also known as boreal forest(northern), is a biome characterized by
coniferous forests consisting mostly pines, spruces, and larches. It is crosses in
high latitude regions, primarily in Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, Russia and parts
of Siberia. Taiga typically experiences long, cold winters and short, cool
summers.

Logging in taiga be more disruptive than in southern coniferous forests

because taiga have slower regeneration rates compared to forests in more
temperate climates. The cold climate and short growing season limit the speed at
which trees can grow and replace those that are harvested. In some taiga regions,
permafrost is present, which is a layer of soil that remains permanently frozen. If
logging activities can disrupt the delicate balance of the permafrost layer, leading
to issues such as soil erosion, land subsidence and changes in water patterns.

2. Why are tropical moist forests often less suited for agriculture and human occupation
than tropical deciduous forests?
Tropical moist forests are often less suited for agriculture and human occupation
compared to tropical deciduous forests due to tropical moist forests typically have
nutrient-poor soils that are quickly depleted when cleared for agriculture. It often
experience high rainfall throughout the year, leading to waterlogged soils and
increased risk of erosion. This can make agriculture challenging and lead to soil
degradation. In contrast, tropical deciduous forests often have more fertile soils
due to the seasonal shedding of leaves, which enriches the soil with organic
matter. Tropical deciduous forests may have more distinct dry seasons but there
must be some periodic rain to support tree growth, providing opportunities for
agriculture with proper irrigation management.

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3. Describe four different kinds of wetlands and explain why they are important sites of
biodiversity and biological productivity.
Wetlands are described by their vegetation. Swamps are wetlands with trees.
Marshes are wetlands without. Bogs are areas of saturated ground, and usually
the ground is composed of deep layers of accumulated, undecayed vegetation
known as peat. Fens are similar to bogs except that they are mainly fed by
groundwater, so that they have mineral-rich water and specially adapted plant
species. Bogs are fed mainly by precipitation. Swamps and marshes have high
biological productivity. Bogs and fens, which are often nutrient-poor, have low
biological productivity. They may have unusual and interesting species, though,
such as sundews and pitcher plants, which are adapted to capture nutrients from
insects rather than from soil.

The water in marshes and swamps usually is shallow enough to allow full
penetration of sunlight and seasonal warming. These mild conditions favor great
photosynthetic activity, resulting in high productivity at all trophic levels. In short,
life is abundant and varied. Wetlands are major breeding, nesting, and migration
staging areas for waterfowl and shorebirds. Wetlands may gradually convert to
terrestrial communities as they fill with sediment, and as vegetation gradually fills
in toward the center. Often this process is accelerated by increased sediment loads
from urban development, farms, and roads. Wetland losses are one of the areas of
greatest concern among biologists.

Overall, wetlands are vital ecosystems that support high levels of biodiversity
and biological productivity. They provide habitat for numerous plant and animal
species, help regulate water flow and quality, store carbon, and provide numerous
other ecosystem services essential for human well-being. Protecting and restoring
wetlands is crucial for maintaining biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and
ensuring the health and resilience of ecosystems worldwide.

4. Forests differ according to both temperature and precipitation. Name and describe a
biome that occurs in (a) hot, (b) cold, (c) wet, and (d) dry climates (one biome for each
climate).
Hot Climate: Desert Biome
Deserts are biomes characterized by low precipitation and high temperatures.
They typically receive less than 250 millimeters of rain annually. Desert
landscapes can vary widely, from sandy dunes to rocky plains, but they share
common features such as sparse vegetation, limited water sources, and extreme
temperature fluctuations between day and night. Plants and animals in deserts
have adapted to conserve water and withstand the harsh conditions, such as
succulent plants like cacti and animals like camels and reptiles.

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 Cold Climate: Tundra Biome
Tundra biomes are found in cold regions with low average temperatures and
short growing seasons, such as the Arctic and alpine regions. They have a layer of
permanently frozen subsoil called permafrost. Vegetation in tundras is limited to
low-growing plants like mosses, lichens, grasses, and shrubs, due to the harsh
conditions and short growing season. Animal life includes species like caribou,
musk oxen, Arctic foxes, and migratory birds. Tundras play a vital role in global
climate regulation and are sensitive to climate change.

Wet Climate: Tropical Rainforest Biome

Tropical rainforests are biomes found near the equator in regions with high
temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year. They are known for their
incredible biodiversity, with a wide variety of plant and animal species. The
vegetation is dense and consists of tall trees, epiphytes, lianas, and diverse
understory plants. Animals in tropical rainforests include primates, big cats,
colorful birds, reptiles, and amphibians. These biomes provide important
ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, regulating the water cycle, and
supporting local communities through resources like food, medicine, and
materials.

Dry Climate: Grassland Biome

Grasslands are biomes characterized by moderate temperatures and low to
moderate precipitation, leading to the dominance of grasses and herbaceous
plants. They can be found in both temperate and tropical regions and are often
subject to periodic droughts and wildfires. Grasslands support a diverse array of
wildlife, including large herbivores like bison, antelope, and zebras, as well as
predators like wolves and big cats. They are also important for agriculture,
providing grazing land for livestock and fertile soils for crops. However,
grasslands are increasingly threatened by human activities such as agriculture,
urbanization, and habitat fragmentation.

5. How do physical conditions change with depth in marine environments?

Vertical stratification is a key feature of aquatic ecosystems, mainly because
light decreases rapidly with depth, and communities below the photic zone (light
zone, often reaching about 20 m deep) must rely on energy sources other than
photosynthesis to persist. Temperature also decreases with depth. Deep ocean
species often grow slowly in part because metabolism is reduced in cold
conditions. In contrast, warm, bright, near-surface communities such as coral reefs
and estuaries are among the world’s most biologically productive environments.
Temperature also affects the amount of oxygen and other elements that can be
absorbed in water. Cold water holds abundant oxygen, so productivity is often
high in cold oceans, as in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Antarctic. In

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 addition, pressure increases with depth due to the weight of the overlying water
column. Temperature tends to decrease with depth in the ocean, although there
can be variations depending on factors such as latitude, proximity to landmasses,
and ocean currents. In the surface layer, temperatures can vary widely with season
and location, while deeper layers experience more stable, colder temperatures

6. Describe four different coastal ecosystems.

1. Coral reefs are among the best-known marine ecosystems because of their
extraordinary biological productivity and their diverse and beautiful organisms. Reefs
are aggregations of minute colonial animals (coral polyps) that live symbiotically with
photosynthetic algae. Calcium-rich coral skeletons build up to make reefs, atolls, and
islands. Reefs protect shorelines and shelter countless species of fish, worms,
crustaceans, and other life-forms. Reef-building corals live where water is shallow
and clear enough for sunlight to reach the photosynthetic algae. They need warm (but
not too warm) water, and can’t survive where high nutrient concentrations or runoff
from the land create dense layers of algae, fungi, or sediment. Coral reefs also are
among the most endangered biomes in the world.

2. Sea-grass beds, or eel-grass beds, often occupy shallow, warm, sandy areas near
coral reefs. Like reefs, these communities support a rich diversity of grazers, from
snails and worms to turtles and manatees. Also like reefs, these environments are
easily smothered by sediment originating from onshore agriculture and development

3. Mangroves are trees that grow in salt water. They occur along calm, shallow, tropical
coastlines around the world. Mangrove forests or swamps help stabilize shorelines,
and they are also critical nurseries for fish, shrimp, and other commercial species.
Like coral reefs, mangroves line tropical and subtropical coastlines, where they are
vulnerable to development, sedimentation, and overuse. Unlike reefs, mangroves
provide commercial timber, and they can be clear-cut to make room for aquaculture
(fish farming) and other activities. Ironically, mangroves provide the protected
spawning beds for most of the fish and shrimp farmed in these ponds

4. Salt marshes, shallow wetlands flooded regularly or occasionally with seawater,

occur on shallow coastlines, including estuaries . Usually calm, warm, and nutrient-
rich, estuaries and salt marshes are biologically diverse and productive. Rivers
provide nutrients and sediments, and a muddy bottom supports emergent plants
(whose leaves emerge above the water surface), as well as the young forms of
crustaceans, such as crabs and shrimp, and mollusks, such as clams and oysters

Environmental Science Assignment

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Environmental Science Assignment
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