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New
New
Year 10
AQA

The factors affecting biome distribution

I can understand how climate and local factors affect biome distribution.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

The factors affecting biome distribution

I can understand how climate and local factors affect biome distribution.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. On a large-scale, climate is the main factor affecting the distribution of biomes.
  2. Local factors (altitude, rock and soil type and drainage) can affect local biome distribution.
  3. Biotic and abiotic components interact within biomes, reflecting these large-scale and small-scale factors.

Keywords

  • Climate - the average weather conditions (such as rainfall and temperature) recorded over a 30-year period

  • Altitude - the height above sea level

  • Drainage - the distribution, storage and movement of water in the environment

Common misconception

Within a given biome, the plants and animals are the same everywhere.

Small-scale variation occurs within global biomes due to local factors.


To help you plan your year 10 geography lesson on: The factors affecting biome distribution, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Reinforce an understanding of weather and climate.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Global biomes are large-scale ecosystems defined by their main type.
Correct Answer: vegetation, plant, flora
Q2.
On which of these continents are tropical rainforests not found?
Africa
Correct answer: Antarctica
Asia
Correct answer: Europe
South America
Q3.
Which of these terms is used by geographers to refer to the spread of something?
location
diversity
Correct answer: distribution
migration
latitude
Q4.
The pattern of biomes is broadly latitudinal, with tropical rainforests near the and tundra nearer the poles.
Correct Answer: Equator, equator, the Equator
Q5.
Determine the biome from the following description of a biome's climate characteristics: high daytime but low night-time temperatures, plus extremely low rainfall across the year.
Mediterranean
tropical grassland (savanna)
Correct answer: desert
temperate grassland
tropical rainforest
Q6.
Which global biome would be most likely to have the climate characteristics shown in this climate graph?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: desert, desert biome

6 Questions

Q1.
Climate is the average weather conditions over a period of a minimum of years.
Correct Answer: 30, thirty
Q2.
Why is it hotter at the Equator than at the poles?
the Equator is closer to the Earth's core than the poles
Correct answer: at the Equator, solar energy hits the Earth directly
the Equator has more oceans, which trap heat more effectively
Correct answer: at the poles, solar energy is dispersed by the curvature of the Earth
the Equator is higher in elevation than the poles, leading to higher temperature
Q3.
Which key climatic factors influence the distribution of biomes?
Correct answer: the availability of water
Correct answer: the average temperature
the Earth's magnetic field
Correct answer: the number of sunshine hours
ocean salinity
Q4.
Match these global climate zones to the biomes most likely to be found in them.
Correct Answer:tropical wet,tropical rainforest
tick

tropical rainforest

Correct Answer:tropical wet and dry,tropical grassland (savanna)
tick

tropical grassland (savanna)

Correct Answer:arid,desert
tick

desert

Correct Answer:humid continental,temperate deciduous forest
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temperate deciduous forest

Correct Answer:subarctic,coniferous forest
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coniferous forest

Q5.
Put these biomes in the order they are most likely to be found in the Northern Hemisphere, going from the Arctic Circle to the Equator.
1 - tundra
2 - coniferous forest
3 - temperate deciduous forest
4 - Mediterranean
5 - desert
6 - tropical grassland
7 - tropical rainforest
Q6.
What local factors affect biome distribution?
Correct answer: altitude
Correct answer: drainage
Earth's orbit
latitude
Correct answer: rock type