Biomes, zonation and succession

Biome

A large-scale ecological zone characterized by distinct plant and animal communities adapted to specific climate conditions.

Climate

The primary determinant that dictates the type of biome in a given area, influenced by temperature and precipitation patterns.

Insolation

The amount of solar radiation received by an area, which affects the climate and distribution of biomes.

Hadley Cell

A circulation pattern near the equator where warm air rises, creating a low-pressure zone and influencing climate.

Ferrel Cell

The atmospheric circulation cell that operates between 30° and 60° latitude in the opposite direction to the Hadley cell.

Polar Cell

A circulation pattern where cold air descends at the poles and moves towards the equator at the surface.

Zonation

The change in community composition along an environmental gradient.

Primary Succession

The process of ecosystem development in areas where no soil or previous ecosystem existed.

Secondary Succession

Ecosystem development in areas where an ecosystem previously existed but was disrupted.

Pioneer Communities

The first organisms to colonize an area during the early stages of succession.

K-Selected Species

Species characterized by slower reproduction, longer lifespan, and adaptation to stable environments.

r-Selected Species

Species characterized by rapid reproduction, short lifespan, and adaptation to unstable environments.

Alternative Stable States

The concept that ecosystems can exist in multiple stable configurations under the same environmental conditions.

Functional Redundancy

The presence of multiple species in an ecosystem that can perform similar ecological roles, providing stability.

Resilience

An ecosystem's capacity to survive change and recover from disturbances.