Terrestrial Biomes: Climate, Disturbance, and Structure

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering key concepts from the notes on terrestrial biomes, climographs, disturbance, and related plant–animal interactions.

climograph

A plot of the annual mean temperature and annual mean precipitation for a region, used to illustrate the climate patterns that influence biome distribution.

biome

A major life zone characterized by a distinct vegetation type in terrestrial biomes or by the physical environment in aquatic biomes; its distribution is largely controlled by climate and disturbance.

ecotone

The transitional area between adjacent biomes where the communities intermingle; can be wide or narrow and represents intergradation.

vertical layering

The layered arrangement of vegetation in forests (canopy, subcanopy, understory, ground layer, forest floor, root layer) that creates diverse habitats.

arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

A type of fungi common in temperate grasslands that forms symbiotic relationships with plant roots to aid nutrient uptake.

convergent evolution

The independent evolution of similar traits in unrelated lineages, such as cacti and euphorbs, due to similar environmental pressures.

disturbance

An event like a storm, fire, or human activity that changes a community and alters resource availability, influencing biome dynamics.

fire regime

The pattern, frequency, and intensity of fires in an ecosystem, which helps maintain certain biomes like grasslands and some forests.

tundra

A cold, low-vegetation biome in polar or high-mountain regions with a short growing season.

desert

An arid biome with very low precipitation and sparse vegetation, with organisms adapted to extreme dryness.

tropical forest

A warm, wet biome near the equator with high biodiversity and a multilayered canopy.

savanna

A tropical or subtropical grassland with scattered trees and a seasonal rainfall pattern, maintained by fire and grazing.

temperate grassland

A mid-latitude biome dominated by grasses with limited tree cover and moderate, seasonal climate.

temperate broadleaf forest

A temperate-zone biome dominated by broadleaf deciduous trees, experiencing four distinct seasons.

northern coniferous forest (taiga)

A boreal biome in northern latitudes dominated by coniferous trees such as spruce and pine, with long winters and short summers.

annual mean temperature

The average temperature calculated over all 12 months of a year.

annual mean precipitation

The total precipitation averaged over a year (rain, snow, etc.).

climate as determinant of biome distribution

Climate, particularly patterns of temperature and precipitation, is a major factor shaping where biomes occur.

intergradation (abiotic/biotic gradients)

Gradual blending of communities across an ecotone where vegetation and species composition shift over distance.