1.  A biome is a type of community recognized by the characteristic structure of its dominant vegetation, which in turn is determined by climate.  Biomes like desert, grassland, and tundra occur in parts of the world with particular climates and also look much the same wherever they occur. 

2.  Precipitation, temperature and available sunlight are major factors to the flora of a biome.  Precipitation is important because plants require some form of water to complete photosynthesis and thus make food.  Temperature is another important factor because it can restrict plant growth on both ends of the spectrum.  Weather that is too hot or two cold will restrict flora from growing at all.  Temperature can also affect other resources like water availability.  Sunlight is important because it is crucial to photosynthesis.  Without sunlight plants are virtually unable to make food.  Places with more light will support a greater amount of flora than those with restricted light. 

3.  The biome concept embraces the idea of community, of interaction among vegetation, animal populations, and soil.  Thus, many of the organisms in a biome will come in contact, or have some extended relationship with each other.  Many fauna to flora relationships involve herbivore animals preying on certain species of flora.  The Flora in a region may evolve morphological or chemical defenses to protect itself from the fauna in that region.  Through time these species may evolve characteristics that "play off" one another.  The flora in a region often makes up a primary part of the habitat in which animals live.  Thus many of animal organisms live under, in or around the flora of a biome. 


4. . The rotation of the earth and the inertia of the air above it causes westerly winds at the equator. The Coriolis force deflects winds to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere, causing wind gyres. Equatorial air rises and, deflected, falls back to the surface in temperate latitudes, where it then flows toward the east. Wind patterns produce major ocean currents revolving counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere in each ocean basin. Currents carry cold water toward the equator on east sides of the oceans, warm water to higher latitudes on the west sides. In the United States, the New England region is affected by currents from Greenland, bringing cold waters to the shore.  Southeastern U.S. is affected by water flowing from South America and the Gulf Stream.  This water is very temperate.  The Pacific-Northwest is affected by water currents that move from Africa passed Japan and bring reasonably cold water this area.   The temperature of water bodies affects the continents greatly.   




5   We live in a deciduous forest biome. We can tell this because our region is exposed to warm and cold air masses, which cause this area to have four seasons. The temperature varies widely from season to season with cold winters and hot, wet summers. The average yearly temperature is about 10°C.  Our area gets of precipitation occurs fairly evenly throughout the year, with a greater amount of precipitation falling in the spring/summer. During the fall, trees change color and then lose their leaves. This is in preparation for the winter season. Because it gets so cold, the trees have adapted to the winter by going into a period of dormancy or sleep. They also have thick bark to protect them from the cold weather. Trees flower and grow during the spring and summer growing season.  Many different kinds of trees, shrubs, and herbs can be found in our area.  A variety of fauna-organisms are or once were found in our area as well.  A variety of birds inhabit the region year round.  Mammals from rodents to cougars inhabit the area, some hibernate while others stick out the winter months.  Reptiles and Amphibians are also common creatures in the spring/summer months.  The climate, precipitation, and progression of the seasons is in direct correlation with the deciduous forest biome. 

6.  The majority of early civilizations developed in the temperate deciduous forest/ rainforest regions.  The ancient civilization of Mesopotamia was located on a river, in a temperate region like this. The Myan civilization was a more tropical biome, located in South America.   Two other civilizations, the Aztecs and Incas grew in a similarly tropical biome as well.  These ancient civilizations required a fairly constant temperature with no severe season changes. Plant material was necessary for shelter.  A long growing season and plenty of water were two other factors, important in the production of food for these societies