Cengage Environmental Science U2C6L2

tropical rain forest

Biome near the equator with warm temperatures, wet weather, and lush plant growth

Temperate desert

Daytime temps are high in summer and low in winter, Vegetation is sparse

edge effect

Tendency for a transition zone between two different ecosystems to have greater species diversity and a higher density of organisms than are found in either of the individual ecosystems.

permafrost

Underground soil where captured water can stay frozen for more than two consecutive years.

cold grassland

also called "arctic tundra"; treeless plains, bitterly cold, swept by frigid winds and covered by ice and snow most of the year. thick spongy mat of low growing plants (grass, moss, lichens) under snow

tropical grassland

also called "savannas"; warm year round with wet and dry seasons; mixed grasses and short shrubs and clumps of small trees

temperate forest

forest in a temperate region, characterized by numerous types of trees; typically has 4 distinct seasons

tropical desert

hot and dry most of the year, few plants, hard/windblown surface covered with rocks and sand

temperate grassland

hot and dry summers, cold winters; fertile soils used for farmland

boreal forest

made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons

cold desert

vegetation is sparse, winters are cold. summers are warm or hot, and precipitation is low.