Biology- Chapter 3 Vocabulary

Community

Community

Groups of interacting populations

Limiting factor

Restricts the number of organisms, reproduction of organisms, and dispersion of organisms (Abiotic and Biotic)

Tolerance

Subjected to and survive some type of factor

Ecological Succession

Biotic and Abiotic factors that are changing

Primary Succession

Grows where nothing has grown before (Topsoil)

Climax Community

Best environment can be

Secondary Succession

Something has grown here before (Topsoil)

Weather

Condition of the atmosphere at a specific place and a specific time; influenced by latitude

Latitude

North and South of equator

Climate

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

Tundra

A treeless biome with a layer of permafrost

Boreal Forest

The northern coniferous forest; No permafrost Layer

Temperate Forest

Composed of broad-leaved, deciduous trees (shed their leaves in Autumn)

Woodlands

Found in areas with less annual rainfall than in temperate forests

Grasslands

A biome characterized by fertile soils that are able to support a thick layer of grasses

Desert

Any area in which the annual rate of evaporation exceeds the rate of precipitation

Tropical Savanna

Characterized by grasses and scattered trees

Tropical Seasonal Forests

Deciduous and evergreen trees, a dry, hot season

Tropical Rain Forest

Warm temperatures and large amounts of rainfall yearly

Sediment

Small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or living things

Littoral Zone

Area of a lake or pond closest to the shore

limnetic zone

The open water area well lit and dominated by plankton

Plankton

Tiny algae and animals that float in freshwater and are carried by waves and currents.

Profundal Zone

Deepest, coldest area of a large lake with little light and limited biodiversity

Wetlands

Water-saturated land area that supports aquatic plants

Estuary

Freshwater from a river or stream merges with salt water from the ocean

Intertidal Zone

A narrow band where the ocean meets land

Photic Zone

The area to a depth of about 200 m of the pelagic zone

Aphotic Zone

Area where sunlight is unable to penetrate

Benthic Zone

Area along the ocean floor that consists of of sand, silt, and dead organisms

Abyssal Zone

Deepest region of the ocean