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Ecology Vocab #6
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Biome | Geographic areas that have similar climates & ecosystems |
Tundra | Characterized by permafrost & very cold temps; lichens and mosses are dominant species |
Taiga | Characterized by cold winters & a lot of precipitation; coniferous trees are dominant species; found north of the equator |
Temperate forest | Mid-latitude region characterized by "average" temps & precipitation; hardwood (oak, maple, chestnut) trees are dominant species |
Tropical rain forest | Found near equator; characterized by warm temps & lots of precipitation, infertile soil, has the most biodiversity of any biome |
Grassland | Characterized by rainy and dry seasons; grasses are dominant species; provides a majority of food sources for humans; different names (depending on location) |
Desert | Characterized by sparse precipitation; can have extreme temps; succulents (cacti) are dominant species |
Estuary | Area where a river (fresh water) and ocean (salt water) meets; extremely fertile |
Intertidal zone | Portion of shoreline that is covered w/ water at high tide and exposed to the air at low tide |
Photic zone | Area of ocean where sunlight penetrates; allows for photosynthesis to occur |
Aphotic zone | Area of ocean where sunlight does not penetrate; no photosynthesis can occur; organisms are specialized |