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Difficulty: Very hardBiomes and Aquatic/Terrestrial Habitats

In West Africa, Nigeria's terrestrial biomes transition along a distinct latitudinal gradient governed primarily by the movement of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Which of the following sequence correctly arranges the given ecological zones in order of INCREASING mean annual rainfall?

  1. 1Sahel Savanna
  2. 2Sudan Savanna
  3. 3Southern Guinea Savanna
  4. 4Tropical Rainforest
  5. 5Mangrove Swamp Forest

Answer

The correct sequence from lowest mean annual rainfall to highest mean annual rainfall is Sahel Savanna, Sudan Savanna, Southern Guinea Savanna, Tropical Rainforest, and Mangrove Swamp Forest.
The correct arrangement follows the South-North precipitation gradient in West Africa. Sahel Savanna is the driest zone (300−500 mm300-500\text{ mm} annual rainfall), followed by Sudan Savanna (500−1000 mm500-1000\text{ mm}), Southern Guinea Savanna (1200−1500 mm1200-1500\text{ mm}), Tropical Rainforest (1500−2500 mm1500-2500\text{ mm}), and culminating in the coastal Mangrove Swamp Forest which receives the maximum annual rainfall (>2500 mm>2500\text{ mm}).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the climatic and latitudinal gradient across Nigeria from north to south.
Rainfall increases progressively southward toward the Atlantic coast due to the influence of moisture-bearing maritime tropical winds.
Northern regions experience abbreviated wet seasons, whereas southern coastal regions experience prolonged and intense precipitation.
2
Match each biome with its characteristic mean annual precipitation range.
Sahel Savanna (300−500 mm300-500\text{ mm}) < Sudan Savanna (500−1000 mm500-1000\text{ mm}) < Southern Guinea Savanna (1200−1500 mm1200-1500\text{ mm}) < Tropical Rainforest (1500−2500 mm1500-2500\text{ mm}) < Mangrove Swamp Forest (>2500 mm>2500\text{ mm}).
Quantifying the precipitation ranges establishes a clear numerical hierarchy from driest to wettest.
3
Order the items sequentially from the lowest precipitation value to the highest precipitation value.
Sahel Savanna → Sudan Savanna → Southern Guinea Savanna → Tropical Rainforest → Mangrove Swamp Forest.
This matches the requested direction of increasing mean annual rainfall.

Key Concept

Latitudinal rainfall gradients and climatic zonation of Nigerian biomes
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Topics

Biomes and Aquatic/Terrestrial Habitats

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