OpenStax Biology 2e Chapter 44 Ecology and the Biosphere

abiotic

nonliving components of the environment

above-ground biomass

total mass of aboveground living plants per area

abyssal zone

deepest part of the ocean at depths of 4000 m or greater

algal bloom

rapid increase of algae in an aquatic system

aphotic zone

part of the ocean where no light penetrates

benthic realm (also benthic zone)

part of the ocean that extends along the ocean bottom from the shoreline to the deepest parts of the ocean floor

biogeography

study of the geographic distribution of living things and the abiotic factors that affect their distribution

biome

ecological community of plants, animals, and other organisms that is adapted to a characteristic set of environmental conditions

biotic

living components of the environment

canopy

branches and foliage of trees that form a layer of overhead coverage in a forest

channel

width of a river or stream from one bank to the other bank

clathrates

frozen chunks of ice and methane found at the bottom of the ocean

climate

long-term, predictable atmospheric conditions present in a specific area

conspecifics

individuals that are members of the same species

coral reef

ocean ridges formed by marine invertebrates living in warm, shallow waters within the photic zone

ecology

study of interaction between living things and their environment

ecosystem services

human benefits and services provided by natural ecosystems

emergent vegetation

wetland plants that are rooted in the soil but have portions of leaves, stems, and flowers extending above the water's surface

endemic

species found only in a specific geographic area that is usually restricted in size

estuary

biomes where a source of fresh water, such as a river, meets the ocean

fall and spring turnover

seasonal process that recycles nutrients and oxygen from the bottom of a freshwater ecosystem to the top

global climate change

altered global weather patterns, including a worldwide increase in temperature, due largely to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide

heterospecifics

individuals that are members of different species

intertidal zone

part of the ocean that is closest to land; parts extend above the water at low tide

neritic zone

part of the ocean that extends from low tide to the edge of the continental shelf

net primary productivity

measurement of the energy accumulation within an ecosystem, calculated as the total amount of carbon fixed per year minus the amount that is oxidized during cellular respiration

ocean upwelling

rising of deep ocean waters that occurs when prevailing winds blow along surface waters near a coastline

oceanic zone

part of the ocean that begins offshore where the water measures 200 m deep or deeper

pelagic realm (also pelagic zone)

open ocean waters that are not close to the bottom or near the shore

photic zone

portion of the ocean that light can penetrate

planktivore

animal species that eats plankton

Sargassum

type of free-floating marine seaweed

solar intensity

amount of solar power energy the sun emits in a given amount of time

source water

point of origin of a river or stream

weather

conditions of the atmosphere during a short period of time

Tropical Rain forest

Hot temperatures all year round; High rainfall year round

Subtropical Deserts and Savannahs

Hot temperature year round; Rainfall comes in wet and dry seasons. Plants have succulent tissues, spines to prevent herbivory, and grow to minimize sun exposure

Terrestrial Biomes are defined by

Temperature, rainfall, and plant forms

Hot Deserts

Extremely hot in the summer and mildly cools in the winter; Extremely little rainfall.

Temperate Grassland

Temperature spikes seasonally in the summer; Rainfall follows the temp rise. Most biomass is within the soil.

If left ungrazed,forest invasion occurs here

Temperate Grasslands

Mediterranean/ Temperate woodlands

Seasonally hot but never freezes; Rainfall in the fall and winter.

Mediterranean Plants

Grow close to the ground and only grow in the fall and winter; have tough leathery leaves and can have chemical defenses against herbivores

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperature peaks in the summer, freezes in the winter; Rainfall is heaviest in spring.

Taiga/Boreal Forests

Cold year round, summer temps are 15c; little rainfall

Tundra

Extremely cold year round; little rainfall

Tundra plants

Plants are mostly lichens and sedges, go dormant in the winter

Temperate Coniferous Forest

Temperature is warm with cool winters; rainfall is heaviest in the spring and fall