AP EMP

Boreal Forest/Taiga

Cold, northern biome dominated by coniferous evergreen trees, with low precipitation and long winters.

Chaparral

Hot, dry-summer biome with mild, wet winters and drought- and fire-adapted shrubs.

Subtropical Desert

Very hot, dry biome with extremely low precipitation and plants adapted to conserve water.

Temperate Grasslands

Biome dominated by grasses, with moderate precipitation, hot summers, cold winters, and frequent fires.

Temperate Rainforest

Cool, wet forest with very high precipitation, large trees, and abundant mosses.

Temperate Seasonal Forest

Forest with four distinct seasons and trees that typically lose their leaves in autumn.

Tropical Rainforest

Warm, wet biome with high rainfall year-round, dense vegetation, and extremely high biodiversity.

Tropical Seasonal Forest (Savanna)

Warm grassland with scattered trees and distinct wet and dry seasons.

Tundra/Permafrost

Extremely cold, treeless biome with low precipitation and permanently frozen subsoil called permafrost.

Woodland/Shrubland

Biome with widely spaced trees and shrubs, generally warm and dry with periodic fires.

Benthic Zone

The bottom layer of a body of water, including the sediment and organisms living there.

Coral Bleaching

When corals expel their algae due to stress, causing them to turn white and potentially die.

Coral Reef

A diverse marine ecosystem built by calcium carbonate structures produced by corals.

Eutrophic

A body of water with high nutrient levels, often causing excessive algae growth and low oxygen.

Freshwater Wetlands

Water-saturated ecosystems with little or no salt, such as marshes and swamps.

Intertidal Zone

The area of shore between high and low tides, regularly exposed to air and covered by water.

Littoral Zone

The shallow area near the shore of a lake or pond where sunlight reaches the bottom and plants can grow.

Mangrove Swamps

Coastal wetlands dominated by salt-tolerant mangrove trees that protect shorelines and provide habitat.

Photic Zone

The upper layer of water where enough sunlight penetrates for photosynthesis.

Salt Marsh

A coastal wetland dominated by salt-tolerant grasses and other plants, regularly flooded by tides.