LECTURE NOTES - Week 2

Köppen-Geiger System

A system for classifying global climates based on three major categories: climate, precipitation, and temperature.

Tropical Rainforest

A biome characterized by high primary productivity, incredible diversity, year-round biological activity, and rapid decomposition.

Terrestrial Biome

A large-scale terrestrial biological community shaped by regional climate, soil, and disturbance patterns, classified by the growth form of dominant plants.

Tropical Seasonal Biome

A biome with strong seasonality in precipitation, characterized by shifts in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and changes in forest structure.

Desert

A biome characterized by low precipitation where water loss exceeds precipitation, often featuring poor soil and extreme temperatures.

Fundamental Niche

The full range of conditions and resources that allows a species to survive and reproduce in the absence of competitors and predators.

Realized Niche

The full range of conditions and resources that allows a species to survive and reproduce in the presence of competitors and predators.

Acclimation

The adjustment of physiology, morphology or behavior of an individual to lessen the effect of an environmental change.

Adaptation

A physiological, morphological, or behavioral trait with a genetic basis that enhances survival and reproduction in a specific environment.

Tundra

A cold biome characterized by long winters, low vegetation, permafrost, and poor drainage.