9: Biomes - ENVR 200

These flashcards cover the key vocabulary and concepts related to biomes discussed in the ENVR 200 lecture.

Terrestrial Biome

A grouping of ecosystems sharing a similar set of plant characteristics under a similar environmental regime.

Marine Biome

All ocean-based processes that define marine ecosystems.

NPP

Net Primary Productivity; the rate at which all the autotrophs in a given ecosystem produce net useful energy.

Abiotic Factors

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

Microclimate

Climate of a small specific area that differs from the surrounding area.

Competition

The ability to acquire resources compared to neighboring plants.

Stress

Any factor that negatively impacts plant growth.

Disturbance

Events resulting in the loss of biomass, such as extreme weather events.

Tropical Rainforest

A biome characterized by high rainfall and high biodiversity.

Temperate Deciduous Forest

A biome with four distinct seasons and species of trees that shed leaves in the winter.

Savanna

A biome characterized by grasslands with scattered trees and seasonal rainfall.

Desert

A biome characterized by low precipitation and high temperatures.

Boreal Forest

Also known as taiga; a biome characterized by coniferous forests and long cold winters.

Tundra

A biome characterized by permafrost and short growing seasons.

Photic Zone

The layer of the ocean that receives sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.

Euphotic Zone

The upper layer of the photic zone where photosynthesis occurs most rapidly.

Disphotic Zone

The layer of water below the photic zone that receives some light but not enough for photosynthesis.

Aphotic Zone

The layer of the ocean below which there is insufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.

Pelagic Zone

The open ocean where life swims freely, divided into photic and aphotic regions.

Benthic Zone

The ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water; the ocean floor.

Abyssal Zone

The deepest parts of the ocean characterized by high pressure and no light.

Hadal Zone

The deepest oceanic trench areas, located 6 to 11 kilometers deep.

Neritic Zone

The coastal ocean that is rich in nutrients and extends from the intertidal zone to the shelf break.

Intertidal Zone

The area of the shore that is exposed to air at low tide and underwater at high tide.

Upwelling

The process of deeper, colder, and nutrient-rich water rising to the surface.

Oceanic Zone

The open ocean beyond the continental shelf, characterized by larger animals.

Terrestrial vs Marine Biomes

Comparative study between the land-based ecosystems and ocean-based ecosystems.

Global Productivity

The total amount of biological productivity across all biomes.