Bio Ch 46 Flashcards
Climate
prevailing weather conditions in a particular region
Topography
physical features of the land
Rain shadow
leeward side (side sheltered from the wind) of a mountainous barrier, which receives much less precipitation than the windward side
Monsoon climate
wet ocean winds blow onshore for almost half the year
Biome
major terrestrial ecosystems characterized by their climate and geography; has a particular mix of plants and animals that are adapted to living under certain environmental conditions, of which climate is an overriding influence
Montane Coniferous Forest
coniferous forest of a mountain
Alpine Tundra
tundra near the peak of a mountain
Arctic Tundra
encircles the Earth just south of ice-covered polar seas in the Northern hemisphere, covers about 20% of the Earth’s land surface
Taiga
terrestrial biome that is a coniferous forest extending in a broad belt across northern Eurasia and North America
Taiga
terrestrial biome that is a coniferous forest extending in a broad belt across northern Eurasia and North America
Temperate rain forest
coniferous forest that runs along the west coast of Canada and the US
Temperate deciduous forests
found south of the taiga in eastern North America, Eastern Asia, and much of Europe
Tropical rain forests
South America, Africa, Indo-Malayan region near the equator; weather always warm, rain is plentiful
Epiphytes
plants that grow on other plants but usually have roots of their own that absorb moisture and minerals leached from the canopy
Shrublands
tend to occur along coasts that have dry summers and receive most of their rainfall in the winter
Chaparral
dense shrubland that occurs in California
Grasslands
occur when annual rainfall is greater than 25cm but generally insufficient to support trees
Temperate grasslands
Russian steppes, South American pampas, and the North American prairies
Savannas
occurs in regions where a relatively cool dry season is followed by a hot rainy season
Deserts
usually found at latitudes of about 30 degrees in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
Wetlands
areas that are wet for at least part of the year
Marshes
wetlands that are frequently or continually inundated by water
Swamps
wetlands that are dominated by either woody plants or shrubs
Bogs
wetlands that are characterized by acidic waters, peat deposits, sphagnum moss
Lakes
bodies of fresh water that can be classified by their nutrient status
Eutrophication
nutrient-poor (oligotrophic) lakes can become nutrient-rich through this process
Fall overturn
mixing process that occurs in fall in stratified lakes, whereby oxygen-rich top waters mix with nutrient-rich bottom waters
Spring overturn
mixing process that occurs in spring in stratified lakes whereby oxygen-rich top waters mix with nutrient-rich bottom waters
Phytoplankton
photosynthesizing algae that become noticeable when a green scum or red tide appears on the water
Zooplankton
tiny animals that feed on the phytoplankton
Estuary
partially enclosed body of water where fresh water and sea water meet and mix as a river enters the ocean
Intertidal zone
lies between the high and low tide marks
Coral reefs
areas of biological abundance found in shallow, warm, tropical waters
Pelagic zones
most of the ocean’s volume lies within this area
Hydrothermal vents
seawater percolates through cracks and is heated to 350 degrees Celsius
Biomagnification
pollutants becoming concentrated as they move up the food web
Upwelling
cold offshore winds cause cold nutrient-rich waters to rise and take te place of warm nutrient-poor waters
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
When the Humboldt Current is not as cool as usual, upwelling does not occur, stagnation results, the fisheries decline, and climate patterns change globally
