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Ecology Pt. 2
Term | Definition |
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Biome | A large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities |
Tundra | A region found at far northern and far southern latitudes (near the poles of the earth), has lots of shorter plants, lack of trees, and long winters with very low temperatures |
Taiga | A region of evergreen, coniferous forest below the arctic and subarctic tundra regions |
Coniferous Forest | A forest that contains cone-bearing trees that usually keep their leaves/needles all year long |
Desert | A region characterized by a very dry climate and extreme temperatures |
Grassland | A region that is dominated by grasses, that has few woody shrubs and trees, that has fertile soils, and that receives moderate amounts of seasonal rainfall |
Savanna | A grassy plane in tropical regions, with few trees |
Deciduous Tree | Trees that lose their leaves at the end of the growing season |
Permafrost | A thick layer of soil that remains frozen all year long in certain parts of the world |
Wetland | An area of land that is periodically underwater or whose soil contains a great deal of moisture |
Estuary | An area where fresh water mixes with salt water from their ocean |
Matter | Anything that has mass and takes up space |
Energy | The capacity to do work |
Energy Pyramid | A diagram that shows an ecosystem's loss of energy from one level to the next |
Evaporation | The change of state from a liquid to a gas |
Condensation | The change of state from a gas to a liquid |
Precipitation | Any form of water that falls to Earth's surface from the clouds; includes rain, snow, sleet and hail |
Transpiration | Process by which plants release water vapor into the air through stomata (holes in the leaves) |
Decomposition | The state or process of rotting; decay |
Combustion | Process of burning something (usually adds carbon to atmosphere) |
Photosynthesis | Plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make food |
Succession | The replacement of one type of community by another at a single location over a period of time |
Pioneer Species | A species that colonizes an uninhabited area and that starts a process of succession |
Biodiversity | The number and variety of organisms in a given area during a specific period of time |
Climax Species | Stable, long-lived species that mark the end of succession (ex: large forest) |
Primary Succession | Changes that happen in an area without any soil |
Secondary Succession | Changes that occur in an environment where there is already soil available and was previously a home for many animals |
Conservation | The wise use of and preservation of natural resources |
Pollution | When chemicals, particles, or other materials are released into the environment, harming the organisms there |
Deforestation | The removal of trees and other vegetation from an area |
Urbanization | The growth of urban areas caused by people moving into cities |
Stewardship | Behavior that leads to the protection, conservation, and reclamation of natural resources |
Trophic Level | The position of an organism on the food chain |