Biomes, Zones, and Climate: Key Concepts for Ecology

Biome

A large region defined by climate and life

Climate

Average weather over many years

Weather

Day-to-day atmospheric conditions

Climatograph

Graph showing temperature and precipitation

Net primary production

Energy plants store as biomass after respiration

Salinity

Amount of salt in water

Photic zone

Upper layer with sunlight

Aphotic zone

Layer without sunlight

Benthic zone

Bottom layer of an aquatic ecosystem

Littoral zone

Shallow freshwater area near shore

Limnetic zone

Open surface water in a lake

Wetland

Land covered by water at least part of the year

Flood plain

Flat land that floods near a river

Estuary

Where freshwater and saltwater mix

Upwelling

Rising of nutrient-rich deep water

Tropical rain forest

Hot, wet biome with highest biodiversity

Desert

Dry biome with very low precipitation

Tundra

Cold biome with permafrost

Savanna

Warm grassland with seasonal rain

Temperate forest

Biome with four seasons and deciduous trees

Intertidal zone

Ocean area between high and low tide

Neritic zone

Shallow ocean water near shore

Open ocean

Deep ocean far from shore

Phytoplankton

Base of aquatic food webs