Biomes

biome

areas that share the same climate, plants, and animals

climate

weather, rainfall, temperature

ecosystem

a community of organisms and the abiotic factors in the area

adaptation

a trait that helps an organism survive

abiotic

non-living

biotic

living or was alive

temperate grassland

small seed eating mammals, large herbivores, rich soil, lots of grass

savanna

grassland with scattered clumps of trees; frequent fires; rainy season followed by drought

herbivore

an organism that eats plants

carnivore

an organism that eats meat

tundra

permafrost, no trees, very low precipitation

precipitation

rainfall or snow

permafrost

soil that stays frozen all year long

desert

lowest average yearly rainfall; hot during the day and cold at night

temperate deciduous forest

four seasons, trees lose their leaves in the fall, wide temperature range

deciduous

sheds leaves

coniferous forest

AKA taiga. Trees have cones, needle-like leaves, do not lose leaves

taiga

AKA coniferous forest

tropical rain forest

most biologically diverse; highest yearly annual rainfall

freshwater

characterized by the speed at which the water moves

littoral zone

area where the freshwater meets the land

open-water zone

extends from where the water meets the land across the top of the water

deep-water zone

part of the water where no light reaches

marine

saltwater

intertidal zone

area where ocean meets the land

neritic zone

area where water becomes deeper towards continental shelf

oceanic zone

past continental shelf, extends across ocean waters

benthic zone

sea floor; no sunlight