Ecology Biosphere

Photic

light

Benthic zone

The substrate at the bottom of the body of water

Estuary

a region where fresh water and salt water mix

Tundra

Extremely cold winters, short, cool summers, and low precipitation throughout the year

Desert

Hot summers, cold winters, vey low precipitation

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Distinct seasons with warm summers, cold winters, and even precipitation throughout the year.

Tropical Savanna

Warm temperatures year-round with distinct wet and dry seasons

Temperate grassland

Hot summers and cold winters, with moderate rainfall that is often concentrated during spring and summer.

Climate

Long-term weather conditions

Weather

Short-term atmospheric conditions on temperature, sunlight, moisture, and wind

Direct Relationship

Positive correlation

Canopy

Allows little light to penetrate to the ground

Epiphytes

Plants that grow on other plants or objects for physical support and get nutrients from rainwater, air, and debris, which makes them non-parasitic.

eco-

house, household

-phyte

plant

micro-

small

trans-

across

macro-

large

aqu- (or aqua-)

water

bio-

life

eu-

true, good

-logy

study of

de-

from, out of, remove

herb-

grass

hydro-

water

sub-

under, below

omni-

all

carn-

flesh

prim-

first

zoo- (or zoa)

animal

-vor

eat

oligo-

few

troph

food, nourishment

inter-

between

intra-

within

photo-

light

-cide

killer

auto-

self

therm-

heat

hetero-

other

para-

alongside

ultra-

beyond

Rain Shadows

Dry regions on the leeward side of mountain ranges that result when an air mass releases its moisture on the windward side of the range and then is carried by winds to the leeward side.

Two major factiors that determine the istribution of terrestrial biomes

Temperature and rainfall

Largest terrestrual biome on Earth

Coniferous forests

Largest of Earth’s Biomes

Marine Biome

Two characteristics of a tropical rain forest

Presence of epiphytes and an extensive canopy that allows little light to penetrate to the ground

The 4 components of climate that affect organisms

temperate, precipitation, humidity, and wind

There is a presence of algae in the photic zone of a freshwater biome because

light encourages the growth of photosynthetic organisms

Tropical coral reefs generally exist in

relatively shallow areas of the ocean

A freshwater organism permanently attached to the substrate would be ____________________ in an estuary.

unlikely to survive and reproduce

Wetlands have

slow or no water movement and no turnover

Estuaries are _______________________________ by many species of fish

very productive and are used as breeding grounds

Temperature ________________ in some lakes

drives water movement

As plants grow, they ___________

gain biomass

Water pollution _________________________ of an organism’s environment.

influences the abiotic components

_______________ and ____________ are the aspects of a region’s climate that have the most impact on plants and animals.

Temperature and moisture