Year 9 Ecosystems – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from tropical rainforest and hot desert ecosystem studies.

Tropical Rainforest

A dense, biodiverse forest found in equatorial climates with high rainfall and year-round warmth.

Emergent Layer

The tallest layer of a rainforest where trees rise above the canopy, receiving full sunlight.

Canopy Layer

A continuous layer of tree crowns that forms a roof over the forest and houses many arboreal animals.

Understory

The shaded middle layer of a rainforest, consisting of smaller trees and shrubs beneath the canopy.

Ground Cover (Forest Floor)

The lowest rainforest layer, receiving little sunlight and supporting decomposers, insects, and small mammals.

Wildlife Distribution

The pattern of where animals live within rainforest layers based on food, climate, and protection.

Food Availability

The presence of resources such as fruits or decomposing matter that influences animal habitation.

Adaptations

Specialized traits that enable organisms to survive in specific environments, such as climbing or burrowing.

Awa-Guajá Tribe

A nomadic hunter-gatherer group in the Amazon facing threats from deforestation, disease, and conflict.

Deforestation

The large-scale removal of forest cover, leading to habitat loss and reduced biodiversity.

Biodiversity

The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Logging

The cutting down of trees for timber, often causing habitat destruction in rainforests.

Agriculture (Rainforest)

Clearing forest land for crops or ranching, contributing to ecosystem degradation.

Mining (Rainforest)

Extraction of minerals that pollutes waterways and disrupts rainforest ecosystems.

Hot Desert

An arid region with very low rainfall, extreme temperature fluctuations, and sparse vegetation.

Low Precipitation

Rainfall typically below 250 mm per year, characteristic of desert climates.

Extreme Temperatures

Very hot daytime and cold nighttime conditions common in deserts.

Sparse Vegetation

Limited plant life such as cacti and drought-resistant shrubs found in deserts.

Climate Graph

A chart displaying average monthly temperature and precipitation for a location.

Fennec Fox

A small desert fox with large ears adapted for heat dissipation and nocturnal life.

Large Ears (Adaptation)

Body feature that helps desert animals release excess heat and improve hearing.

Nocturnal Behaviour

Being active at night to avoid daytime heat in hot environments.

Burrowing

Digging underground shelters to escape extreme temperatures.

Water Conservation

Physiological or behavioural strategies to minimize water loss in arid areas.

Camouflage

Colouring or patterns that help animals blend into their surroundings for protection.

Latitude

A climate factor; distance from the equator that influences temperature and rainfall.

Altitude

Elevation above sea level; higher altitudes are generally cooler.

Ocean Currents

Large-scale water movements that warm or cool coastal climates.

Distance from the Sea

A factor causing inland areas to experience more extreme climates than coastal areas.

Nomadic Lifestyle

Way of life involving seasonal movement to find water and grazing land, common in deserts.

Irrigation

Supplying water to dry land through wells or canals to support agriculture.

Bedouins

Nomadic desert people of the Sahara who use camels and tents adapted to arid life.

Oasis

A fertile spot in a desert where water is available from underground sources.