Biomes

General type of communities with similar climate conditions, growth patterns, and vegetation types.

Biomes

Biological communities that vary with temperature, precipitation, and latitude.

Terrestrial Biomes

Change in vegetation type from warm and dry to cold and wet as elevation increases.

Vertical Zonation

Forests with abundant rainfall and warm to hot temperatures year

Tropical Moist Forests

Found high in mountains where fog and mist keep vegetation wet all the time.

Cloud Forests

Occur where rainfall exceeds 200 cm per year; warm and humid year-round.

Tropical Rainforests

Drought-tolerant forests that turn brown in dry seasons and green during rainy months.

Tropical Seasonal Forests

Trees that lose leaves and stop growing during dry periods.

Deciduous Trees

Also known as prairies or steppes; receive 25–75 cm of rain yearly.

Grasslands

Tropical grasslands with scattered trees, receiving 50–150 cm of rain yearly.

Savannas

Regions with less than 30 cm of rain yearly; sparse vegetation adapted to drought and extreme temperatures.

Desert

Mid-latitude grasslands with abundant grasses, forbs, and rich organic soils.

Temperate Grasslands

Evergreen shrubs with small leathery leaves forming dense thickets; adapted to fire and drought.

Temperate Shrublands (Chaparral)

Broadleaf forests with trees that lose leaves in winter; found in moist, moderate climates.

Temperate Deciduous Forests

Forests dominated by cone

Coniferous Forests

Cool, rainy coastal forest often covered in fog; part of coniferous forest types.

Temperate Rainforest

Northern forests between 50°–60° N; dominated by pines, spruce, and firs; cold and slow-growing.

Boreal Forest (Taiga)

Treeless landscape at high latitudes or mountaintops with short growing seasons and permafrost.

Tundra

Cold biome with low productivity and short growing season; supports insects and brief plant growth.

Arctic Tundra

Found near mountain tops; similar to arctic tundra with UV-resistant plants.

Alpine Tundra

Aquatic systems varying with depth, temperature, and salinity.

Marine Ecosystem

Sunlit upper layer of the ocean supporting photosynthesis (approx. 20 m deep).

Photic Zone

Microscopic algae conducting photosynthesis in aquatic systems.

Phytoplankton

Small, weakly swimming animals feeding on phytoplankton.

Zooplankton

Communities that live on or near the ocean floor.

Benthic Zone

The open water column of the ocean.

Pelagic Zone

Upper ocean layer where photosynthesis occurs.

Epipelagic Zone

Middle ocean layer with limited light penetration.

Mesopelagic Zone

Deep ocean layer with no sunlight.

Bathypelagic Zone

Ocean depth up to 4,000 meters.

Abyssal Zone

Deepest ocean layer below 6,000 meters.

Hadal Zone

Nearshore ocean zone.

Littoral Zone

Area exposed during low tide and submerged during high tide.

Intertidal Zone

Marine ecosystems known for high biodiversity and productivity.

Coral Reefs

Salt-tolerant trees growing in shallow tropical coastlines; stabilize shores and serve as nurseries.

Mangroves

Areas where rivers meet the sea, mixing fresh and saltwater.

Estuaries

Shallow coastal wetlands flooded by seawater; important for biodiversity.

Salt Marshes

Depressions in rocky shorelines retaining seawater at low tide.

Tide Pools

Narrow sandy islands parallel to coastlines formed by sediment deposition.

Barrier Islands

Inland aquatic systems varying with depth and light penetration; rich in biodiversity.

Freshwater Ecosystems

Bottom zone of lakes with organisms like snails and worms.

Benthos

Warm upper layer of a lake, mixed by wind and sunlight.

Epilimnion

Cold, deep lake layer beneath the epilimnion.

Hypolimnion

Sharp temperature boundary between warm and cold lake layers.

Thermocline

Layer below thermocline with much colder water.

Mesolimnion

Ecosystems saturated or submerged part of the year; support specialized vegetation.

Wetlands

Wetlands dominated by trees; also called wooded wetlands.

Swamps

Wetlands without trees.

Marshes

Peat-rich wetlands formed by accumulated, undecayed vegetation.

Bogs

Groundwater-fed wetlands with mineral-rich water and diverse plants.

Fens

Human activities altering or damaging over half of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems.

Human Disturbance