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Instructor's Guide Films for the Humanities & Sciences® i A Wealth of Information. A World of Ideas. Instructor’s Guide Biomes of the Earth: Core Concepts Video Clip Library Introduction This comprehensive video clip library of 50 two-to-three-minute segments—breathtakingly filmed in locales around the world—will open viewers’ eyes as they learn key biological, environmental, and geological concepts associated with the ecological communities forming the biosphere. Whether using a single biome clip to support a discussion or an entire five-clip biome module to give students a quick introduction, Biomes of the Earth is an indispensable educational tool. Video segments include… • Taiga (page 2) • Tundra (page 6) • Deserts (page 11) • Grasslands (page 15) • Farms and Cities (page 20) • Temperate Forests (page 25) • Tropical Forests (page 30) • Wetlands (page 35) • Lakes and Rivers (page 40) • Oceans (page 45) Films for the Humanities & Sciences® Copyright © 2010 Films for the Humanities & Sciences® • www.films.com • 1-800-257-5126 1 Biomes of the Earth: TAIGA Core Concepts Video Clip Library INSTRUCTOR’S GUIDE Taiga: Quiz Q1: The taiga biome is the _____ terrestrial biome on the planet. (a) largest (b) smallest (c) wettest (d) driest Q2: Parts of _____ are included in the taiga biome. (a) South America (b) Scotland and North America (c) Australia and New Zealand (d) northern Alaska Q3: The taiga _____. (Choose all that apply.) (a) is the northernmost biome, located above the tundra (b) is located along the top of the continents of the northern hemisphere (c) is extremely cold for most of the year, and moderately cold in the summer months (d) has long, harsh winters, and short, moist summers Q4: The two types of taiga are _____. (a) eastern and western (b) grassland and woodland (c) dark and light (d) arctic and boreal Q5: The climate of the taiga is _____. (a) warm and rainy (b) about the same as the climate of the temperate zone (c) extremely cold for most of the year, and moderately cold in the summer months (d) extremely cold in winter, and hot in summer Films for the Humanities & Sciences® Copyright © 2010 Films for the Humanities & Sciences® • www.films.com • 1-800-257-5126 2 Biomes of the Earth: TAIGA Core Concepts Video Clip Library INSTRUCTOR’S GUIDE Q6: The taiga’s climate is due in part to _____. (a) the sun’s rays hitting it directly for most of the year (b) the polar jet stream, and frigid water currents (c) the sun’s heat being absorbed back into the land for most of the year (d) dry air masses that collect above the landscape Q7: Conifers (pines, spruces, and firs) are common to the taiga, while _____ play an important role by passing nutrients on to the trees and producing antibiotics that hamper harmful soil bacteria. (a) fungi (b) mosses and lichens (c) shrubs (d) berry plants Q8: True or False? Summer temperatures in the taiga can be so variable that animals that would normally lay eggs on the ground instead give birth to live young, because the eggs could freeze. Q9: True or False? Because summer temperatures in the taiga can be so variable, insect populations (mosquitoes, gnats, and black flies) are kept low. Q10: Which of these are most characteristic of the taiga? (Choose all that apply.) (a) amphibians (b) reptiles (c) salmon (d) bald eagles (e) bears and wolves (f) burrowing animals (g) lynx and bobcats Q11: Many of the species that originally inhabited the taiga can no longer be found because _____. (a) climate change has altered their habitats (b) hunting in the taiga is not regulated (c) European colonists began the practice of hunting animals that native peoples had not (d) the taiga has a long history of human hunting, starting with the humans who crossed the land bridge from Asia to North America Q12: Damming, lumber harvesting, and _____ account for a great deal of pollution and destruction in the taiga. (a) weather patterns (b) agriculture (c) mining (d) new shopping centers and housing developments Films for the Humanities & Sciences® Copyright © 2010 Films for the Humanities & Sciences® • www.films.com • 1-800-257-5126 3 Biomes of the Earth: TAIGA Core Concepts Video Clip Library INSTRUCTOR’S GUIDE Taiga: Answers Q1: The taiga biome is the _____ terrestrial biome on the planet. A: (a) largest Q2: Parts of _____ are included in the taiga biome. A: (b) Scotland and North America Q3: The taiga _____. (Choose all that apply.) A: (b) is located along the top of the continents of the northern hemisphere (d) has long, harsh winters, and short, moist summers Q4: The two types of taiga are _____. A: (c) dark and light Q5: The climate of the taiga is _____. A: (d) extremely cold in winter, and hot in summer Q6: The taiga’s climate is due in part to _____. A: (b) the polar jet stream, and frigid water currents Q7: Conifers (pines, spruces, and firs) are common to the taiga, while _____ play an important role by passing nutrients on to the trees and producing antibiotics that hamper harmful soil bacteria. A: (a) fungi Q8: True or False? Summer temperatures in the taiga can be so variable that animals that would normally lay eggs on the ground instead give birth to live young, because the eggs could freeze. A: True. Films for the Humanities & Sciences® Copyright © 2010 Films for the Humanities & Sciences® • www.films.com • 1-800-257-5126 4 Biomes of the Earth: TAIGA Core Concepts Video Clip Library INSTRUCTOR’S GUIDE Q9: True or False? Because summer temperatures in the taiga can be so variable, insect populations (mosquitoes, gnats, and black flies) are kept low. A: False. Q10: Which of these are most characteristic of the taiga? (Choose all that apply.) A: (c) salmon; (d) bald eagles; (e) bears and wolves; (g) lynx and bobcats Q11: Many of the species that originally inhabited the taiga can no longer be found because _____. A: (d) the taiga has a long history of human hunting, starting with the humans who crossed the land bridge from Asia to North America Q12: Damming, lumber harvesting, and _____ account for a great deal of pollution and destruction in the taiga. A: (c) mining Films for the Humanities & Sciences® Copyright © 2010 Films for the Humanities & Sciences® • www.films.com • 1-800-257-5126 5 Biomes of the Earth: TUNDRA Core Concepts Video Clip Library INSTRUCTOR’S GUIDE Tundra: Quiz Q1: The two types of tundra are _____. (a) high arctic and low arctic (b) polar (or arctic) and alpine (c) grassy and frozen (or arctic) (d) arctic and meadow Q2: The tundra is found _____. (a) mainly in northernmost regions, stretching from Canada to the North Pole and to Siberia (b) mainly in northernmost regions, but also at the South Pole (c) in a ring of regions surrounding both poles, but also on very cold mountaintops worldwide (d) in many places worldwide, but predominantly in Alaska and the Northwest Territories Q3: In general, both types of tundra _____. (Choose all that apply.) (a) have low average temperatures below 25° F (b) are dominated by lichens, shrubs, and coniferous trees (c) can become extremely hot during their short summers (d) are found on every continent except Antarctica Q4: The Earth has been through at least five ice ages, interspersed by long periods of warm tempera- tures. These cycles take millions of years; the global warming we are experiencing today _____. (a) is occurring at approximately the same rate as previous warming periods (b) may be a sign that another ice age is beginning (c) is actually occurring at a slower rate of speed than previous warming periods (d) is taking place hundreds of times faster than previous warming periods Q5: The climate of the tundra consists of _____. (a) long, cold winters, and short, hot summers (b) long, cold winters and short, cool summers (c) summers and winters of equal length (temperatures vary according to tundra type) (d) winters and summers of extreme temperatures, separated by relatively mild spring and fall seasons Films for the Humanities & Sciences® Copyright © 2010 Films for the Humanities & Sciences® • www.films.com • 1-800-257-5126 6 Biomes of the Earth: TUNDRA Core Concepts Video Clip Library INSTRUCTOR’S GUIDE Q6: Just beyond the edge of the arctic tundra, a timberline usually forms, and the region then becomes classified as the taiga biome. Because the line of demarcation between them connects points all having the same average temperature, it is called a(n) _____. (a) isotherm (b) thermocline (c) isobar (d) inversion Q7: Which of these characteristics help wildlife survive in the tundra? (Choose all that apply.) (a) The ptarmigan has feathered feet that prevent heat loss. (b) Falcons and owls have large fat reserves to survive winter, and long migrations. (c) Polar bear fur consists of specialized hairs that collect UV light and direct it back to their skin, where it is converted into heat. (d) Lemmings and marmots have thick fur to insulate them during the cold winter months. Q8: Which of these characteristics help plants survive in the tundra? (Choose all that apply.) (a) Some species of dwarf shrubs go dormant over the winter months. (b) Some grow thick, waxy leaves that store moisture. (c) Some have small hairs growing on their leaves and stems to trap warm air. (d) Some grow multi-branched structures that help to block the impact of wind and snow. Q9: True or False? Small shrubs often blanket the tundra landscape, making it nearly impossible for any insect species to thrive.
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