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Chapter 20: Problem 2

What is a biogeographic realm? How is the world subdivided according to botanical (plant) types? What are some plant life-form designations?

Short Answer

Expert verified
A biogeographic realm is the broadest division of the Earth's land surface, divided based on patterns of terrestrial organisms. The world is subdivided according to botanical types into regions like tropical rainforest, savannah, desert, Mediterranean, temperate deciduous forest and taiga. Plant life-form designations consist of types like trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, based on their size, structure, and lifecycle.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Biogeographic Realm

A biogeographic realm or ecozone is the broadest biogeographic division of the Earth's land surface, based on distributional patterns of terrestrial organisms. It represents large areas of the Earth's surface separated from others by geographical features, such as oceans, large deserts, and high mountain ranges.
02

Explanation of World Subdivision Based on Botanical Types

The world is divided into various botanical zones. These distinctive areas of botany are classified based on climatic conditions, and types of fauna and flora found in those regions. For example, regions with similar plant and animal species are group together. The six major botanical zones of the world are tropical rainforest, savannah, desert, Mediterranean, temperate deciduous forest and taiga (boreal forest).
03

Plant Life-Form Designations

Plant life-form designations consist of types such as trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, etc., which are usually categorized based on their size, structure and lifecycle. For example, perennial plants live for more than two years, while annuals complete their lifecycle within one year. Biomes usually have a predominant plant form that characterizes each biome. For example, grassland is dominated by grasses, while in forest biome trees are the dominant form.

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