Terrestrial Biomes and Soil Nutrients Lecture Notes

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering terrestrial biome classifications, latitude locations, soil nutrient dynamics, and climate-based adaptations based on lecture notes.

Biome

The plants and animals found in a region based on yearly temperature and precipitation (climate).

Climate

The average annual temperature and precipitation that define a biome.

Higher Latitudes ($60^{\circ}$)

The regions where the Tundra, Boreal, and Polar ice cap biomes are located.

Middle Latitudes ($30^{\circ} - 60^{\circ}$)

The regions where the Temperate seasonal Forest, Temperate grassland/cold desert, and some woodland/shrubland biomes are located.

Equator Regions

The regions where the subtropical desert, tropical seasonal forest savanna, and tropical rainforest are located.

Tropical Rainforest Soil

Nutrient-poor soil due to rapid decomposition of organic matter from high temperatures and rainfall, combined with nutrient leaching from acidic soil.

Nutrient Leaching

The process occurring in tropical rainforests where high rainfall washes nutrients away from the soil.

Boreal Forest Soil

Nutrient-poor soil characterized by low temperatures and low decomposition rates of dead organic matter; also referred to as cold regions where dead plants break down slowly.

Temperate Forest Soil

Nutrient-rich soil resulting from high amounts of dead organic matter (leaves) and warm temperatures/moisture that facilitate decomposition.

Tundra Soil

Frozen soils that prevent decomposers from breaking down dead organic matter, resulting in low soil nutrients and low water availability.

Grassland Adaptation

Shrubs and wildflowers that store lots of energy in roots to recover quickly from fire.

Water-Preserving Traits

Features used by desert organisms like camels and cacti, such as thick stems and wide roots, to survive in dry environments.

Shifting Biomes

The movement of biome locations on Earth as climate changes; for example, warming climate causes boreal forests to shift further north as permafrost melts.

Coral

An organism that is made up of two organisms.