Environment and Ecology

Identify the land biome on the basis of the given characteristics:

• 1. Their climates are characterised by high rainfall and temperatures that vary from cold to mild.
• 2. These forests contain primarily deciduous trees – including maple, oak, hickory and beechwood.
• 3. Raccoons, opossums, bats and squirrels are found in the trees.

Select the correct land biome from the options given below:

[amp_mcq option1=”Tropical forest” option2=”Temperate forest” option3=”Boreal forest” option4=”Mediterranean forest” correct=”option2″]

The described land biome is the Temperate forest.

Temperate forests are characterized by moderate to high rainfall and distinct seasons, leading to temperature variations from cold in winter to mild in other seasons. They are predominantly composed of deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves seasonally) like maple, oak, hickory, and beechwood. The fauna described, such as raccoons, opossums, bats, and squirrels, are commonly found in these forests.

Tropical forests have high rainfall and consistently high temperatures with evergreen trees. Boreal forests (Taiga) are found in colder regions with coniferous trees and lower rainfall. Mediterranean forests are characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, often featuring evergreen shrubs and trees adapted to drought.

Keppel Island is completely bleached mainly due to the expansion of

[amp_mcq option1=”Starfish.” option2=”Blue whale.” option3=”Octopus.” option4=”Sea horse.” correct=”option1″]

The correct answer is A) Starfish.

Coral bleaching is primarily caused by environmental stress, most notably elevated sea temperatures. However, biological factors can also contribute. Outbreaks of predatory starfish, specifically the Crown-of-Thorns starfish (*Acanthaster planci*), are known to cause significant damage to coral reefs by feeding on polyps. Severe predation can weaken the coral, making it more susceptible to bleaching, or cause direct mortality that appears as whitening (tissue loss revealing the white skeleton). Keppel Island, being part of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem which experiences COTS outbreaks, is susceptible to such damage. While climate change and rising temperatures are the main driver of widespread bleaching events, localised stress from predators like starfish can exacerbate or cause bleaching in specific areas. Given the options, Starfish (Crown-of-Thorns) is the only organism listed that is a known significant predator of coral and contributes to coral damage and bleaching.

Blue whales, octopuses, and sea horses do not feed on coral and are not associated with causing coral bleaching. While other factors like pollution or disease can cause bleaching, the question points to “expansion” of a species, and Crown-of-Thorns starfish populations can undergo periodic outbreaks or expansions, leading to increased predation pressure on reefs.