The living world ecosystem geography

Deciduous forest

Few extreme climates, found in the eastern half of North America and east Europe. 4 distinct seasons.

Grasslands

Grass, flowers and herbs. Interior of Europe, Asia and North America.

Tundra

One fifth of land on earth. Below freezing at night all year round. Land with “no trees”.

Desert

Very hot and dry. 30 degrees N and S of the Equator eg. Sahara and Thar.

Savannah

Dry and hot area with mainly grasslands. Mainly found between rainforest and deserts in Africa and Australia.

Chaparral

Evergreen trees and shrubs. Around Mediterranean sea. Vegetation can survive droughts in summer months.

Boreal forests

Cold environment. precipitation falls as snow. Evergreen coniferous trees. Canada, Europe, Asia and the United States.

Producer

Organism or plant that absorbs nutrients from the sun.

primary consumer

animal that consumes plant matter

secondary consumer

eats animals/primary consumers

Apex predadtor

Carnivore found at the top of the food chain (nothing eats it)

Food chain

connections between different organisms that rely on each other for food.

Nutrient cycling

when organisms extract nutrients from soil or water before passing them through the food chain.