Ch. 6 Key Terms Flashcards
biome
a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plants and animal communities.
climate
weather conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, and winds, that occur in an area over a long period of time.
latitude
the distance north or south of the equator and is measured in degrees, with the equator equal to 0°
altitude
is the height of an object above sea level.
tropical rain forest
a forest or jungle near the equator that is characterized by large amounts of rain and little variation in temperature and that contains the greatest known diversity of organisms on Earth
emergent layer
the top foliage in a forest where the trees extend above surrounding trees
conopy
the layers of treetops that shade the forest floor
epiphyte
plants that uses another plant for support but not for nourishment
understory
a foliage layer that is beneath and shaded by the main canopy of a forest
temperate rain forest
Temperate rain forests have large amounts of precipitation, high humidity, and moderate temperatures, tree branches are draped with mosses and tree trunks are covered in lichens.The forest floor is blanketed with lush ferns
temperate deciduous forest
a forest that is characterized by trees that shed their leaves in the fall
taiga
a region of evergreen, coniferous forest below the arctic and subarctic tundra regions
savanna
a plain full of grasses and scattered trees and shrubs; found in tropical and subtropical habitats and mainly in regions with a dry climate, such as east Africa
temperate grassland
a community that is dominated by grasses, has few trees, and is characterized by cold winters and rainfall that is intermediate between that of a forest and a desert
chaparral
type of vegetation that includes broadleafed evergreen shrubs and that is located in areas with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters