APES Biomes (Topics 1.2/1.3)

Flashcards about Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes

Permafrost

A permanent layer of ice beneath the surface that can prevent the growth of plant roots.

Tundra

Very cold and dry biome with low-growing vegetation.

Boreal Forest

Composed primarily of cone-shaped evergreens, also called Taiga.

Temperate Rainforest

Coastal biome with mild summers and winters, high precipitation, and tall vegetation.

Temperate Seasonal Forest

Biome with warm summers, cold winters, and lots of precipitation.

Wood/Shrubland

Biome with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

Temperate Grassland

Biome with cold winters and hot, dry summers.

Tropical Rainforest

Warm and very wet biome located close to the equator.

Savanna

Warm biome with distinct wet and dry seasons.

Subtropical Desert

Extremely hot and dry biome with little vegetation, located close to the equator.

Temperature/Precipitation

The main two qualities of a terrestrial biome

Salinity

The amount of salt in water, which determines which species can live or drink there.

Depth

Influences sunlight level for photosynthesis of aquatic plants.

Flow

Determines who can survive by the oxygen (O2) levels in the water.

Temperature

Warmer —— holds less dissolved O2, determining who can live in that aquatic area.

Littoral Zone

Shallow zone in a lake with emergent plants.

Limnetic Zone

Zone in a lake where light can reach, causing photosynthesis in phytoplankton.

Profundal Zone

Deep zone in a lake where it is too deep for sunlight, so there is no photosynthesis.

Benthic Zone

Murky bottom of a lake, rich in nutrients.

Wetland

Area with soil submerged or saturated in water for at least part of the year, but shallow enough for emergent plants.

Salt Marsh

Found along coasts in temperate climates with nonwoody emergent vegetation, important for spawning fish and shellfish.

Estuary

Area along the coast where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from oceans.

Mangrove Swamp

Found in tropical/subtropical coasts with trees that have roots in water and are salt-tolerant.

Coral Reef

Found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline, consisting of coral animals with a layer of limestone.

Intertidal Zone

The band of coast between high and low tide, where organisms must be able to survive crashing waves and have tough outer skin/shell.