Chapter 54 Flashcards
biogeographic region
one of several, defined, continental-scale regions of Earth–each has biota distinct from the others
temperate grassland
biome (Argentina, South African veldt, great plains of N America) that is relatively dry for much of the year; generally hot summers and relatively cold winters
benthic zone
bottom of the ocean
tropical evergreen forest
biome where total rainfall exceeds 250 cm annually & dry season lasts no longer than 2 or 3 months (equatorial regions)
littoral zone
coastal zone from upper limits of tidal action down to depths where the water is thoroughly stirred by wave action
rain shadow
relatively dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range
endemic
confined to a particular region, thus often having a comparatively restricted dist’n
thorn forest
biome w/ semiarid climate having little or no rainfall during winter-potentially heavy rainfall during summer; found on equatorial sides of hot deserts
hot desert
biome receiving most of rainfall in summer, but also receives winter rains from storms that form over mid-latitude oceans; found n two belts around +/- 30 deg
vicariant event
splitting of taxon’s range by imposition of some barrier to disposal
area phylogenies
phylogenies in which the names of the taxa are replaced w/ names of places where those taxa live or lived
cold desert
biome w/ great seasonal temperature changes esp in the interiors of large continents in rain shadows of mtn ranges (dry regions at middle to hi latitudes)
biome
major division of ecological communities of Earth characterized primarily by distinctive vegetation
temperate deciduous forest
biome w/ temperatures fluctuating dramatically between summer & winter, relatively evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year (N America, eastern Asia, Europe)
biotic interchange
dispersal of species from 2 different biotas into region they hadn’t previously inhabited, as when 2 formerly separated land masses fuse
microclimate
subset of climatic conditions in small, specific area, which generally differ from environment at large; as in animal’s underground burrow
ecology
scientific study of interaction of organisms w/ both (a)biotic environments
pelagic zone
open ocean
biogeography
scientific study of the patterns of dist’n of populations, species, and ecological communities across Earth
tropical deciduous forest
biome having warm, dry winters and warm, wet summers; occurs in hot lowlands & erplaces thron forest as length of rainy season increases toward equator
environmentalism
use of ecological knowledge (and economics, ethics, & other) to inform both personal decision and public policy relating to stewardship of natural resources and ecosystems
coastal zone
marine life zone that extends from shoreline to edge of continental shelf; characterized by relatively shallow, well-oxygenated water and relatively stable temperatures and salinities
tundra
biome with very short summers & very long, cold winters; little precipitation (Arctic and high in mtns at all latitudes)
abyssal plain
deep ocean floor
abiotic
nonliving
chaparral
biome w/ cool, wet winters, & dry, warm summers (west sides of continents at moderate latitudes where cool ocean waters flow offshore)
climate
long-term avg atmospheric conditions found in a region (temp, precip, humidity, wind direction/velocity)
biotic
alive
