Ecology: Terrestrial Biomes and the Tundra

Vocabulary flashcards covering the major terrestrial biomes, with an in-depth focus on the climate, animal adaptations, flora, and fauna of the tundra biome.

Terrestrial Biomes

Large ecological land regions defined by specific climatic conditions and distinct communities of plants and animals; major types include tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, grassland, desert, and tropical rainforest.

Tundra

A biome characterized by low precipitation, extreme cold, permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost), a long winter, and a very short summer.

Permafrost / Frozen Subsoil

A layer of soil beneath the surface that remains frozen due to persistently freezing temperatures and low rates of evaporation in the tundra.

Tundra Animal Adaptations

Physical traits such as thick skin/fur and high amounts of body fat that insulate and protect animals from severe cold temperatures.

Tundra Fauna

Cold-adapted animal species that inhabit the tundra, including foxes, wolves, large herbivores, eagles, and migratory birds that arrive to forage and lay eggs during the short growing season.

Tundra Flora

Low-growing vegetation capable of surviving short growing seasons and frozen soil, consisting mainly of mosses, lichens/fungi, dwarf shrubs, and small plants.