Science 8 - Unit 2 - Test Review

biome

a region of Earth where the climate determines the types of plants that live there

tundra

has low average temperatures and very little precipitation

taiga

also called the boreal forest, this has low average temperatures like those in the tundra but more precipitation

coniferous trees

Trees that have evergreen, needle-like leaves (pine cones)

desert

a very dry biome that receives less than 8 cm (3 inches) of rain yearly

grassland

a biome that has grasses and few trees

deciduous trees

broadleaf trees that drop their leaves as winter approaches

wetland

an area of land that is saturated, or soaked, with water for at least part of the year

estuary

a partially enclosed body of water formed where a river flows into an ocean

matter

any substance that has mass and takes up space

energy

the ability to do work

law of conservation of energy

energy is neither created nor destroyed

law of conservation of mass

mass is neither created nor destroyed

energy pyramid

a tool that can be used to trace the flow of energy through an ecosystem

water cycle

the movement of water between the oceans, atmosphere, land and living things

nitrogen Cycle

the movement of Nitrogen between the environment and living things

carbon Cycle

the movement of Carbon through organisms and between organisms and the physical environment

eutrophication

the process in which organic matter and nutrients slowly build up in a body of water

succession

the slow development or replacement of an ecological community by another ecological community over time

pioneer Species

the first organisms to live in an uninhabited area

biodiversity

the number and variety of species that are present in an area

urbanization

human population and growth in and around cities

stewardship

the responsible management of a resource

conservation

the protection and wise use of natural resources

adaptations

features that allow an organism to survive and reproduce

intertidal zone

this ocean zone includes beaches and rocky shores and it between high and low tides

neritic zone

this ocean zone includes coral reefs and kelp forests and light can reach the bottom, also know as the coastal zone

continental shelf

the shallow part of an ocean before the continental slope, this part includes the intertidal and neritic zones

continental slope

the dropping part of an ocean after the continental shelf, this part includes the bathyal zone

open ocean

this part of the ocean has most sea life in it, it's depth is from the surface to the bottom of the continental shelf

bathyal zone

this ocean zone extends from the continental shelf to the bottom of the continental slope and is considered part of the open ocean

abyssal zone

this ocean zone doesn't have any sunlight, causing creatures to often glow

bioluminescence

the emission of light from creatures that live deep in the ocean

open system

this type of system is when matter can enter and leave an ecosystem

evaporation

this occurs when the sun's heat causes water to change from a liquid to vapor

transpiration

this occurs when plants release water vapor from their leaves

respiration

this occurs when organisms release water as waste

condensation

this occurs when water vapor cools and returns to liquid form

precipitation

this occurs when water falls from the atmosphere to land and oceans

runoff

this occurs when precipitation falls onto land and runs off into streams and rivers

groundwater

this type of water is precipitation that has seeped into the ground and is stored underground

nitrogen fixation

this occurs when bacteria turn nitrogen into forms that plants can use

combustion

this is the process of burning materials that were once living, resulting in the release of important materials back into the environment

decomposition

the breakdown of dead organisms and waste

primary succesion

this occurs when a community starts to grow in an area without soil

secondary succesion

this occurs when a community regrows when the community was destroyed but the soil remained intact

climax species

a well adapted and stable species that can easily survive in an ecosystem and dominates a mature ecosystem

pollution

this occurs when any material or condition harms the environment

resource depletion

this occurs when a large amount of a resource has been used up

point-source pollution

this type of pollution occurs when pollution comes from a singular source

nonpoint-source pollution

this type of pollution occurs when pollution comes from many sources

overfishing

this occurs when a fish species is captured faster than it can reproduce, causing the population to decrease

exotic species

a species that makes a home in a new location

invasive exotic species

a species that makes a home in a new location and out-competes with local species