Ecological Principles - Levels and Biomes

Vocabulary flashcards covering ecological organization levels, spheres of the earth, biomes, and aquatic salinity categories based on the lesson material.

Ecological Levels

The organizational hierarchy of ecological study, which includes biosphere, ecosystems, communities, populations, and organisms.

Biosphere

The sum of the surfaces, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth which is occupied by living organisms.

Atmosphere

Gases surrounding the earth, from the surface to space.

Hydrosphere

All bodies of water on the earth.

Lithosphere

Solid, outer part of the earth.

Biomes

Large, naturally occurring ecological levels occupying a major habitat, such as aquatic, forest, grassland, and wetland biomes.

Aquatic Biomes

Ecological levels found within a body of water.

Freshwater Biome

An aquatic biome defined by a very low concentration of salt (less than $0.5\,\text{ppt}$ salinity) that includes ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers.

Marine Biome

An aquatic biome defined by a high concentration of salt (typically $30\text{ to }50\,\text{ppt}$) that includes oceans and seas.

Brackish Biome

An aquatic biome defined by a mixture of freshwater and saltwater (typically $0.5\text{ to }30\,\text{ppt}$ salinity) that includes estuaries.

Parts per thousand (ppt)

A unit expressing a ratio of a solute in a solution.