Biomes & Aquatic Ecosystems

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards reviewing terrestrial biomes, mountain microclimates, and freshwater and marine aquatic ecosystems.

Biome

A large ecological area characterized by its climate, soil, and biota.

Tropical Rainforest

A biome characterized by warm to hot temperatures, high precipitation, poor soils, trees, vines, diverse wildlife, and the highest biodiversity.

Tropical Dry Forest

A warm to hot biome with moderate precipitation divided into wet and dry seasons, good soils, and biota including shrubs, grasses, and drought-tolerant animals.

Savanna

A warm to hot biome with low to moderate precipitation (wet and dry seasons), poor soils, grasses, shrubs, and grazing mammals.

Desert

A biome with warm to hot temperatures, low precipitation, poor soils, succulent plants, and nocturnal animals.

Temperate Forest

Ohio's biome, characterized by cold to hot temperatures with four seasons, moderate precipitation, good soils, trees, and forest wildlife.

Temperate Grassland (Prairie)

A biome with cold to hot temperatures (four seasons), low to moderate precipitation, the best soils on earth, grasses, shrubs, and grazing mammals.

Chaparral

A cool to warm biome characterized by low to moderate precipitation with wet and dry seasons, poor soils, and drought-tolerant shrubs and animals.

Boreal Forest

A biome with cold to warm temperatures across four seasons, low to moderate precipitation, poor soils, conifer trees, and cold-tolerant animals.

Tundra

A very cold to cold biome with winter and summer seasons, low to moderate precipitation, permafrost, low shrubs, grasses, musk oxen, and polar bears.

Permafrost

Underground soil that remains frozen year-round, characteristic of the tundra.

Mountains (Precipitation & Biomes)

Topographic landforms that can support many biomes; they are wet on the prevailing wind side where ascending air cools and condenses, and dry on the back side where descending air warms.

Littoral Zone

The shallow water area of freshwater lakes and ponds where rooted plants are able to grow.

Limnetic Zone

The open freshwater zone of ponds and lakes where there are no rooted plants.

Photic Zone

The upper aquatic depth zone that receives enough sunlight to support photosynthesis.

Aphotic Zone

The deeper aquatic zone where no sunlight penetrates.

Wetlands

Environments and areas that are flooded with water for at least part of the year.

Marsh

A type of wetland characterized predominantly by herbaceous plants.

Swamp

A type of wetland dominated by woody vegetation, including shrubs and trees.

Bog

An acidic wetland fed primarily by rainwater and characterized by peat moss.

Fen

An alkaline wetland fed by groundwater and characterized by peat moss.

Streams & Rivers

Flowing freshwater ecosystems that have no strict definition separating them other than general size.

Intertidal Zone

The oceanic saltwater zone situated along the shore between low tide and high tide.

Neritic Zone

The marine ocean zone that extends over the continental shelf.

Oceanic Zone

The open marine zone that lies beyond the continental shelf.