APES Quizz

VOCAB

Terrestrial biome: A large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region, defined by its climate and dominant vegetation.

Aquatic biome: Water-based ecosystems characterized by the salinity, depth, and water flow.

Tundra: A cold, treeless biome with low-growing vegetation and permafrost.

Permafrost: Permanently frozen ground that limits plant growth in tundra biomes.

Boreal forest: A biome characterized by coniferous evergreen forests and cold temperatures.

Temperate rainforest: Coastal biome with moderate temperatures and high precipitation, dominated by evergreen trees.

Temperate seasonal forest: A biome with distinct seasons and deciduous trees that lose their leaves in winter.

Woodland/shrubland: A biome with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters, dominated by shrubs and grasses.

Temperate grassland/cold desert: A biome characterized by cold winters, hot summers, and sparse precipitation, with grasses dominating.

Tropical rainforest: A warm, wet biome with high biodiversity and poor soil nutrients.

Tropical seasonal forest/savanna: A biome with warm temperatures and seasonal rainfall, characterized by grasses and scattered trees.

Subtropical desert: A biome with hot temperatures and extremely low precipitation.

Littoral zone: The shallow area near the shore of a lake or pond, where sunlight allows plant growth.

Limnetic zone: The open water area of a lake where sunlight penetrates, supporting phytoplankton.

Phytoplankton: Microscopic algae that are primary producers in aquatic ecosystems.

Profundal zone: The deep, dark zone of a lake where sunlight does not reach, limiting plant growth.

Benthic zone: The bottom layer of a water body, which can be home to decomposers and bottom-dwelling organisms.

Oligotrophic: Lakes with low nutrient levels and low productivity.

Mesotrophic: Lakes with moderate nutrient levels and productivity.

Eutrophic: Lakes with high nutrient levels and high productivity.

Freshwater wetlands: Ecosystems where the soil is saturated with freshwater, supporting water-tolerant plants.

Salt marsh: Coastal wetlands flooded and drained by tides, rich in biodiversity.

Mangrove swamp: Coastal wetlands dominated by mangrove trees that tolerate saline water.

Intertidal zone: The area of the shore between high and low tide, home to species adapted to changing conditions.

Coral reef: Marine ecosystems built by coral polyps, known for high biodiversity.

Coral bleaching: The loss of symbiotic algae from corals, often due to stress like increased temperature.

Open ocean: The vast area of the ocean beyond the continental shelf, divided into the photic and aphotic zones.

Photic zone: The upper layer of the ocean where sunlight can penetrate and photosynthesis can occur.

Aphotic zone: The deeper part of the ocean where no sunlight penetrates, limiting life to organisms relying on chemosynthesis or organic material.

Chemosynthesis: The process by which some organisms convert chemical energy from hydrothermal vents into food.

Community ecology: The study of how species interact within a community and the effects these interactions have on species distribution and abundance.

Symbiotic relationship: A close, long-term interaction between two species, which can be mutualistic, parasitic, or commensal.

Competition: The struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources.

Competitive exclusion principle: The principle stating that two species competing for the same limiting resource cannot coexist in the same niche indefinitely.

Resource partitioning: The division of resources in an ecosystem so that species with similar needs use them at different times, in different ways, or in different places.

Predation: An interaction in which one organism kills and eats another organism.

Parasitoid: An organism that lays eggs inside a host, and the developing larvae eventually kill the host.

Parasitism: A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another.

Pathogen: A disease-causing organism.

Herbivory: The act of animals eating plants.

Mutualism: A type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.

Commensalism: A relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Keystone species: A species that has a large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.

Ecosystem engineer: A species that creates, modifies, or maintains physical habitat for other species (e.g., beavers).