Lecture on Biomes and Aquatic Environments

These flashcards cover the major concepts discussed in the lecture about biomes, particularly terrestrial environments, and aquatic ecosystems.

Baja California

A region in California characterized by differences in fire regimes between populated Southern California and less populated Southern Baja California.

Fire Regime

The historical pattern of fire occurrences in a given area, influenced by human activity.

Temperate Grasslands

Biomes found in temperate zones, characterized by significant annual rainfall, nutrient-rich soils, and dominated by herbaceous vegetation.

Deciduous Trees

Trees that shed their leaves annually, primarily found in temperate forests.

Conifers

Trees that bear cones and evergreen needle-like leaves; common in northern latitude forests.

Boreal Forests

Dominated by coniferous trees, found in the Northern Hemisphere, characterized by thin and acidic soils.

Tundra

A cold desert biome located primarily north of the Arctic Circle, characterized by low precipitation and a very short summer.

Alpine Zone

The area above the tree line in mountain ranges, characterized by tundra-like vegetation.

Riparian Zone

The transition area between aquatic environments and upland terrestrial ecosystems.

Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

Evapotranspiration

The sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere.

Thermal Stratification

The layer in water environments where temperature changes rapidly with depth, leading to warm surface layers over cooler deeper layers.

Euphotic Zone

The upper layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates, allowing photosynthesis by phytoplankton.

Chemosynthesis

The process by which certain organisms derive energy from chemical reactions, rather than from sunlight.

Oceanic Circulation

The large-scale movement of ocean water driven by wind patterns and the Earth's rotation.

Littoral Zone

The shallow shoreline area of a body of water, rich in plant and animal life.

Intertidal Zone

The area between high and low tides, characterized by fluctuating conditions and biological productivity.

Coral Reefs

Underwater structures made from calcium carbonate created by coral polyps; high in biodiversity.

Kelp Beds

Underwater forests formed by large brown algae, providing habitat for various marine species.

Semidiurnal Tides

Tides that have two high and two low tides each day.

Diurnal Tides

Tides that consist of one high tide and one low tide each day.