Biomes, Zonation, and Succession Review

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to biomes, zonation, and succession to aid in exam preparation.

Biome

A large geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

Climate

The long-term average of weather conditions in a given area, which is a primary factor in biome formation.

Insolation

The amount of solar energy received per square meter per minute.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their interactions with their environment.

Abiotic factors

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

Biotic factors

Living parts of the environment that can affect ecosystems, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Succession

The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

Primary Succession

The series of community changes that occur on an entirely new habitat that has never been colonized before.

Secondary Succession

The ecological succession that occurs in an area where a community that previously existed has been removed; it occurs faster than primary succession.

Pioneer species

The first species to colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems.

Climax community

A stable and mature ecological community that undergoes little or no change in species over time.

Trophic levels

The levels of nourishment in a food chain.

Zonation

The arrangement of vegetation into bands or zones, usually in response to environmental gradients.

Aquatic Biomes

Biomes that are characterized by the presence of water, such as freshwater and marine environments.

Desert Characteristics

Areas that receive less than 250 mm of rain per year characterized by extreme temperatures, both hot and cold.

Tundra Characteristics

Cold, low precipitation areas with permafrost, found at high latitudes.

Tropical Rainforest Characteristics

High rainfall (2000-5000 mm) and temperatures (26-28 °C) with high biodiversity.

Temperate Forest Characteristics

Deciduous forests found between 40 to 60 degrees latitude with moderate temperatures and distinct seasons.

Grassland Characteristics

Areas dominated by grasses that receive moderate rainfall and are often used for agriculture.

Altitude

The height above sea level, affecting climate and vegetation types.

Latitude

The measurement of the location north or south of the equator.

Insulation Effects

The result of sunlight striking the Earth at varying angles affecting biome types.

Permafrost

A thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year, occurring mainly in tundra regions.

Leaching

The process by which nutrients are washed out from the soil, affecting the availability of nutrients for plants.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Human Activity Impact

The effects of human actions on ecosystems, such as deforestation, pollution, or resource overuse.

Climatic Factors

Weather-related factors, including temperature, precipitation, and seasonal variations, that affect ecosystems.

Edaphic Factors

Soil-related variables, such as pH and nutrient composition, that influence vegetation.

Trophic Cascades

The influence of top predators on the structure or population dynamics of an ecosystem.

Resistance (Ecosystem Stability)

The ability of an ecosystem to resist disturbances and maintain its structure and function.

Resilience (Ecosystem Stability)

The ability of an ecosystem to recover after disturbances and return to its original state.

K-strategist Species

Species that produce fewer offspring with higher parental care, typically found in stable environments.

R-strategist Species

Species that produce many offspring with little parental care, often found in unstable environments.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, including clean water, pollination, and carbon storage.

Nutrient Cycling

The process by which nutrients are recycled in the ecosystem, involving biological and chemical processes.

Food Chain

A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Energy Flow

The flow of energy through a food chain, from producers to consumers.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The rate at which all the autotrophs (plants) in an ecosystem produce useful chemical energy.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total amount of solar energy that autotrophs in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis.

Herbaceous Plants

Non-woody plants that are often found in grasslands.

Lichens

Symbiotic associations between fungi and algae, often pioneer species in primary succession.

Stability Factors

Various aspects that contribute to the resilience and resistance of an ecosystem.

Halosere Succession

Ecological succession in coastal saltwater environments.

Psammosere Succession

Ecological succession on sand dunes.

Lithosere Succession

Succession on bare rock, often following a volcanic eruption.

Hydrosere Succession

Succession occurring in freshwater ecosystems.

Kite Diagrams

A graphical representation that shows the distribution of species in relation to environmental gradients.

Competitive Exclusion Principle

Theory that states that two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist at constant population values.

Detritivores

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter, important for nutrient cycling.

Biotic Interactions

Interactions between living organisms, including competition, predation, and symbiosis.

Anthropogenic Effects

Changes brought about by human activity, impacting ecosystems and biomes.