Chapter 4.3-4.4 Vocab Flashcards
climate in a certain area that is very different from areas around it
Microclimate
organism’s ability to grow and thrive when conditions aren’t the best
Tolerance
thick covering that the leaves of tall rain forest trees
Canopy
layer in rainforest where there are shorter vines and trees
Understory
name for trees that she’d leaves during a certain season each year
Deciduous
another name for trees that have seed-bearing cones and have needles for leaves
Coniferous
material formed when leaves and other organic matter is decomposing
Humus
coniferous forest, also known as terrestrial biome
Taiga
the layer of subsoil that is permanently frozen in the tundra
Permafrost
tiny free-floating organisms that live in aquatic environments
Plankton
small photosynthetic organism along with algae that make up plankton, located near the surface of the ocean
Phytoplankton
tiny organisms that form part of plankton
Zooplankton
ecosystem where water is present near the soil, or covers the soil for at least part of the year
Wetlands
wetlands are formed where rivers and oceans meet
Estuary
parts of organic material that provide food for the organisms at the bottom of an estuary’s food web
Detritus
temperate zone estuary dominated by salt-tolerant organisms above water and sea grasses underwater
Salt marsh
coastal wetland; dominant organisms are mangroves, which are salt-tolerant woody plants
Mangrove swamp
zone in the ocean that is well-lit
Photic zone
located below the photic zone, and is a permanently dark layer of oceans
Aphotic zone
horizontal banding of organisms that live together in a certain habitat
Zonation
marine zone that goes from low tide to the end of a continental shelf
Coastal ocean
coastal ocean community that has a dominant organism-kelp; named after the dominant organism
Kelp forest
environment named after the many coral animals that make up the structure
Coral reef
organism that are either attached to or live on the floor of the ocean
Benthos
