Question

Describe the chaparral biome. How does it differ from subtropical deserts?

a) The chaparral biome is characterized by cold temperatures and snow, unlike subtropical deserts.
b) The chaparral biome has dry, hot summers and mild, wet winters, differing from subtropical deserts.
c) The chaparral biome is dominated by cacti, in contrast to subtropical deserts.
d) The chaparral biome experiences constant rainfall, unlike the arid conditions of subtropical deserts.

Answer 1

The chaparral biome is characterized by dry, hot summers and mild, wet winters. It has a dominant shrub vegetation and is adapted to periodic fires. Subtropical deserts, in contrast, have low and unpredictable precipitation and a limited dry-adapted vegetation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The chaparral biome, also known as scrub forest, is primarily found in California, along the Mediterranean Sea, and along the southern coast of Australia. It experiences dry, hot summers and mild, wet winters. The annual rainfall ranges from 65 cm to 75 cm, with the majority falling in the winter. The vegetation in the chaparral biome is dominated by shrubs that are well adapted to periodic fires, with some plants having seeds that germinate only after a hot fire. The ashes left behind after a fire are rich in nutrients like nitrogen, which promote plant regrowth.

The subtropical desert biome, on the other hand, is characterized by hot daily temperatures, very low and unpredictable precipitation, and a limited dry-adapted vegetation. Unlike the chaparral biome, subtropical deserts have a scarcity of rainfall and are home to plants that are adapted to conserving water.