Biomes Video Notes — Terrestrial & Aquatic Biomes (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering terrestrial biomes, mountain/coastline effects, freshwater and marine systems, wetlands, estuaries, coral reefs, and climate-change implications.

Biome

A large ecological region characterized by a distinctive plant community shaped by climate, especially temperature and precipitation.

Tropical rainforest

A warm, very wet biome with dense vegetation and high biodiversity, typically on or near the equator; soils are often nutrient-poor due to rapid nutrient turnover.

Tropical seasonal forest

A tropical biome with a wet season and a distinct dry season, fewer plants and lower biomass than a rainforest.

Tropical savanna

A tropical grassland with a pronounced dry season and scattered trees, supporting large herbivore populations.

Convergent evolution

Independent evolution of similar traits in different lineages due to similar environmental pressures.

Poor soil in tropical rainforests

Tropical rainforests often have nutrient-poor soils despite high biomass because nutrients are rapidly taken up and recycled in the biomass.

Temperate deciduous forest

A forest biome in temperate zones dominated by broadleaf hardwoods, with four distinct seasons and a growing season of four to ten months.

Temperate evergreen (coniferous) forest

A forest biome dominated by cone-bearing trees (conifers), often with dry summers and adaptations to fire; includes temperate rainforests in some regions.

Chaparral

A scrubland biotope with very dry summers, fire-adapted plants, and Mediterranean climate characteristics.

Temperate grasslands

Grass-dominated biomes with cold winters and warm summers, heavily altered by agriculture and grazing.

Boreal forest (taiga)

Nothern coniferous forest characterized by cold winters, short growing seasons, and often permafrost in parts of the region.

Tundra

Arctic or alpine biome with cold, dry conditions, very short growing seasons, and limited vegetation.

Permafrost

Permanently frozen soil layer found in polar regions that restricts root growth and shapes plant communities.

Polar ice

Ice-covered polar regions with extreme cold; organisms adapted to freezing conditions; marine and terrestrial life constrained by ice.

Desert

A very dry biome that can be hot or cold, with adaptations such as water-storing plants and extreme temperature shifts.

Mountain (as a landscape feature)

Elevational gradients that create different microclimates and biomes on different slopes; rain shadows and diverse habitats can occur.

Rain shadow

Moist air releasing most of its moisture on the windward side of a mountain, resulting in a drier leeward side and desert-like conditions.

Freshwater

Low-salinity aquatic systems including streams, lakes, and wetlands; essential for life and limited in global supply.

Marine (saltwater)

High-salinity oceanic systems including seas and the open ocean; about 3.5% average salinity.

Estuary

Zone where freshwater mixes with seawater; shallow, highly productive, and often serves as a nursery for marine life.

Intertidal zone

Coastal area that is exposed to air at low tide and submerged at high tide; highly dynamic and biodiverse.

Littoral zone (lakes/ponds)

Shallow nearshore region where water meets land; high light availability and abundant plant and animal life.

Marsh

Wetlands dominated by herbaceous plants that are periodically or continuously flooded, often inland or coastal.

Swamp

Wetlands dominated by woody vegetation (trees/shrubs); can be freshwater or saline; often biodiversity-rich.

Bog

Acidic, waterlogged wetlands with peat formed from sphagnum moss; nutrient-poor conditions favor carnivorous plants.

Fen

Wetlands fed by groundwater with higher nutrients and lower acidity than bogs; often acidic but nutrient-rich.

Carnivorous plants

Photosynthetic plants that trap and digest insects to obtain nutrients in nutrient-poor, waterlogged soils (e.g., Venus flytrap, sundews, pitcher plants).

Pitcher plants

Carnivorous plants with tubular pitchers that lure and trap prey; digestion provides nutrients in acidic wetlands.

Coral reef

Warm-water, highly productive marine ecosystems built by corals that secrete calcium carbonate; extremely biodiverse but vulnerable to warming and acidification.

Apex predator

Top predator in a food web with no natural predators; sharks are a classic example in marine systems.

Keystone species

A species whose presence has a disproportionately large effect on ecosystem structure and function.

Mangrove swamp

Coastal wetlands with salt-tolerant mangrove trees; stabilize shorelines, support biodiversity, and protect against erosion.

Lakes vs ponds (size rule)

Lakes are water bodies larger than about five hectares; ponds are smaller; both accumulate sediment over time and may be open or closed basins.

Open basin vs closed basin

Open basin: water outflow to other waterways; closed basin: no outflow (endorheic); both affect water residence time and sedimentation.

Floodplain

Flat areas adjacent to rivers that periodically flood; sediment deposition creates fertile soils and nutrient-rich landscapes.

Riparian zone

Vegetated area along rivers or streams; stabilizes banks, shades water, and provides habitat and nutrient input to aquatic systems.

Intertidal vs littoral distinctions

Intertidal is the zone between high and low tides; littoral refers to the nearshore, shallow water zone where light supports high productivity.