Chapter 54 -Biomes

Climate

the prevailing weather pattern in a given region

Community ecology

the study of how populations interact and form functional communities

Ecosystem Ecology

the study of the flow of energy and cycling of chemical elements among organisms and between organisms and the environment

Rain Shadow

an area that has little precipitation because some barrier causes the winds to lose their moisture before reaching it (usually on the leeward side of a mountain)

Abiotic Factors

temperature, pH, rainfall, wind

Temperate Rain Forest

-abundant rainfall (exceeding 200cm yearly) -temperatures rarely drop below freezing or exceed 27C in summer -thin strip along the northwest coast of North America and Chile -large evergreen trees, numerous birds and amphibians -thick litter layer

Temperate Grassland (Prairie)

-annual rainfall higher than in deserts, but too low to support forests -temperatures are relatively cold in winter, high in summer -mostly grasses -large mammals and burrowing animals

Intertidal Zone

-area where land meets sea -alternately submerged and exposed -sandy shore, mudflats, or rocky shore -limited plant life -very diverse animal life

Lotic Habitats

-flowing water prevents nutrient accumulations and phytoplankton blooms -well aerated, even temperature -fish and rooted organisms

Tropical Grassland (Savanna)

-hot, tropical areas with a low/seasonal rainfall (50-130cm) -temperatures average 24-29C -occur extensively in africa, south america, and north australia -wide expanses of grasses with occasional thorny trees -fire is prevalent -greatest assemblage of large mammals in the world

Wetlands

-margins of lentic and lotic habitats -most productive and species-rich areas in the world -rich in animal species

Cold Desert

-precipitation <25cm -high summer, low winter temperatures -dry regions at middle to high latitudes -poor numbers of plant species -large numbers of ants, birds, and rodents that burrow to escape cold

Temperate Coniferous Forest (Taiga)

-precipitation between 30-70cm, usually in the form of snow -very cold, often freezing for long periods of time -north of temperate-zone forests and grasslands -most trees are evergreens and conifers -heavily furred mammals are common

Tropical Rainforest

-precipitation exceeding 230cm per year -temperature is hot year round -found in equatorial regions -wide variety of plant and animal life, but few large mammals

Tundra

-precipitation less than 25cm and locked in snow and permafrost -no trees, only slow-growing lichens, mosses, grasses, sedges, and shrubs -large herbivores. more fauna in summer than winter

Hot Desert

-rainfall <30cm -temperatures are extremely variable -latitudes of 30 degrees north and south -only three forms of plant life - annuals, succulents, desert shrubs -small, seed-eating animals

Temperate Deciduous Forest

-rainfall between 75-200cm -temperatures fall below freezing during winter -large tracts in eastern U.S. and Asia, western Europe -plant diversity is lower, abundant ground cover -mammals hibernate and birds migrate during cold months

Lentic Habitats

-still, often deep water -rooted vegetation and floating algae -fishes, frogs, turtles, crayfish

Tropical Deciduous Forest

-substantial rainfall (130-280cm) with a distinct dry season -temperatures are hot year round -exists in equatorial regions with seasonal rainfall -deciduous trees -relatively high animal diversity

Open Ocean (Pelagic Zone)

-water depth of 4,000m -low nutrient concentration -typically cold water, warming near the surface -70% of earth's surface -many phytoplankton in photic zone

Coral Reef

-water warmer than 20C but cooler than 30C -limited to photic zone -exist in warm tropical waters with clear water and solid substrates for attachment -dinoflagellate algae -immense variety of microorganisms, invertebrates, and fishes

Biological Control

Importing an invasive species' natural enemies to bring an invasion under control.

Biotic Interactions

Interactions among organisms

Eutrophic

Older lakes, with a great deal of plant life and murky water

Photic Zone

The narrow zone of the ocean close to the surface, where most aquatic plants and algae grow.

Biome

a major community type on earth

Species Interactions

a subset of population ecology that studies the relationships between species (eg. Predation, competition, parisitism)

Subsidence Zones

areas of high pressure located at 30 degrees south and north latitude. The location of the world's tropical deserts

Abiotic Interactions

interactions between organisms and their nonliving environments

introduced (exotic) species

species moved from a native location to another location, usually crowding out native species

Greenhouse gases

water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons

Oligotrophic

young lakes, with little plant life and clear water