Species and Climate Vocab

Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth, which can be considered at different levels, including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Biome

A large, naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest, desert, or tundra. Primarily characterized by vegetation type and climate.

Boreal Forest

A biome characterized by coniferous forests, typically found in high latitudes with cold temperatures.

Climate

The long-term average weather patterns in a region, including temperature, precipitation, and seasonality.

Climatograph

A graph that displays both monthly average temperature and precipitation for a specific location over a year, used to characterize climate and predict potential biomes.

Continental Drift

The gradual movement of the continents across the Earth's surface over geological time.

Deciduous Forest (Temperate)

A forest biome characterized by trees that shed their leaves seasonally, typically found in mid-latitude regions with distinct seasons.

Desert

A biome characterized by very low precipitation, leading to arid conditions and sparse vegetation.

Functional Role

The specific part or job that a species plays within an ecosystem, such as a primary producer, consumer, or decomposer.

Hadley Cell

A large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern in the tropics where warm, moist air rises near the equator, moves towards the poles, sinks at around 30 degrees latitude, and returns to the equator.

Mediterranean Climate

A climate characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, typically found on the west coasts of continents in the mid-latitudes.

Phenotype

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.

Phenotypic Plasticity

The ability of a single genotype to produce different phenotypes in response to environmental conditions.

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls to the Earth's surface, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail.

Primary Producers

Organisms that produce their own food, primarily through photosynthesis, forming the base of food webs (e.g., plants).

Rain Shadow

An area on the leeward side of a mountain range that receives significantly less precipitation than the windward side due to the mountain blocking moisture-laden winds.

Seasonality

The variation in climate conditions, particularly temperature and precipitation, over the course of a year.

Species Diversity

The number of different species in a particular area and the relative abundance of each of those species.

Species Richness

The total number of different species in a particular area.

Species-Area Curve

A graphical representation of the relationship between the size of an area and the number of species found within that area, typically showing that larger areas contain more species.

Temperate Grassland

A biome characterized by grasses as the dominant vegetation, typically found in mid-latitude regions with moderate rainfall.

Tropical Rainforest

A forest biome characterized by high temperatures and high rainfall year-round, found near the equator.

Tundra

A biome characterized by low temperatures, short growing seasons, and permafrost, typically found in high latitudes or high altitudes.

Weather

The short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific location, including temperature, precipitation, wind, and humidity.

Windward Side

The side of a mountain or other landform that is exposed to the prevailing wind.