BiomeViewer: Name: ____________________________________________________

Biodiversity and Human Impacts Date: _________________________ Per: _____________

OVERVIEW

This worksheet is designed to familiarize you with the many features found in BiomeViewer, and to learn about the
different biomes of the Earth.

TIPS FOR USING THE APP

• Click and hold the globe to spin it and explore different parts of the world.
• Click and release a spot on the globe to drop a pin there to see a summary of the characteristics of the biome for
that location.
• You can also search for locations by name, latitude/longitude, or zip code.
• In the biome summary panel, click on “More” to see a longer description, photos, a larger climate graph, and
wildlife data.
• Click on “Compare” to view details on two biomes side by side.
• On the biomes legend, use the arrows at the top to see different layers including anthromes, temperature,
precipitation, and terrain.
• Click the gear icon to toggle gridlines and political boundaries on and off.
• Click on the globe icon to switch between a spherical view and a flat projection of Earth.

BIODIVERSITY AND LATITUDE

1. Drop the pin on any point in one of the biomes listed in Table 1 below and record the following:

Biome name: ________________________________________________________________

Approximate Latitude:______________________

Range of temperatures: Minimum __________________ Maximum __________________

Range of rainfall: Minimum __________________ Maximum __________________

Total number of species (richness): _________________

2. Share the data you collected with your classmates and complete Table 1 as others share their data. Pick just one
representative location for each biome.
3. Based on the completed table, do an “I see, I think, I wonder” activity by completing Table 2.

4. Change the view to a flat map and turn on the gridlines. Click on the Sahara Desert near the Tropic of Cancer. Click
“compare” and select the tropical rain forest biome in Southeast Asia at about the same latitude. Then, answer the
following questions:

a. How do rainfall and temperature patterns differ between the biomes?

b. List the species richness for each biome.

Sahara Desert: ______________ SE Asia Tropical Forest: _____________

c. Think about the difference or similarity in species richness between these two biomes. What could account for
this difference or similarity?
HUMAN IMPACTS ON BIODIVERSITY

5. Change to the Anthrome layer and type Monroe, UT in the search box at the top right.

a. List the Anthromes at this location for each of these years:

1700: ________________________________________

1800: ________________________________________

1900: ________________________________________

2000: ________________________________________

b. Click on “More” then click on WILDLIFE. Answer the following questions:

How many mammal species at this location? ________________

How many amphibian species at this location? ________________

How many reptile species at this location: ________________

c. Click on the three dots next to the Threat Level Filter. What is the only endangered species listed?

d. Click on DESCRIPTION. Answer the following questions:

What is the name of the biome where Monroe, UT is located? __________________________________

What is the approximate rainfall for Monroe, UT? _______________________________

e. Click on CLIMATE. Answer the following questions:

The warmest temperature is approximately ________________ during the month of ________________.

The wettest month is _______________________ and receives about ___________ mm of precipitation.

f. Briefly summarize how humans have impacted the environment at this location over time.

6. Click the “X” in the top right corner to go back to the main screen. Change to the Temperature layer, then change the
view so that you can see the entire United States. Now click the play button at the bottom of the screen and watch for the
United States for the entire year.

a.Where in the United States does it get the warmest?

b. Click on the Precipitation Layer and watch for the entire year. Where in the United States is it wettest during the
month of July?

c. Go back to the Temperature layer, then type Telfer, Australia in the search bar. If you were to visit this area,
what month would be the warmest?