Chapter 54

Question 1

biogeographic region

Answer 1

one of several, defined, continental-scale regions of Earth–each has biota distinct from the others

Question 2

temperate grassland

Answer 2

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

Question 3

benthic zone

Answer 3

bottom of the ocean

Question 4

tropical evergreen forest

Answer 4

biome where total rainfall exceeds 250 cm annually & dry season lasts no longer than 2 or 3 months (equatorial regions)

Question 5

littoral zone

Answer 5

coastal zone from upper limits of tidal action down to depths where the water is thoroughly stirred by wave action

Question 6

rain shadow

Answer 6

relatively dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range

Question 7

endemic

Answer 7

confined to a particular region, thus often having a comparatively restricted dist’n

Question 8

thorn forest

Answer 8

biome w/ semiarid climate having little or no rainfall during winter-potentially heavy rainfall during summer; found on equatorial sides of hot deserts

Question 9

hot desert

Answer 9

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

Question 10

vicariant event

Answer 10

splitting of taxon’s range by imposition of some barrier to disposal

Question 11

area phylogenies

Answer 11

phylogenies in which the names of the taxa are replaced w/ names of places where those taxa live or lived

Question 12

cold desert

Answer 12

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)

Question 13

biome

Answer 13

major division of ecological communities of Earth characterized primarily by distinctive vegetation

Question 14

temperate deciduous forest

Answer 14

biome w/ temperatures fluctuating dramatically between summer & winter, relatively evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year (N America, eastern Asia, Europe)

Question 15

biotic interchange

Answer 15

dispersal of species from 2 different biotas into region they hadn’t previously inhabited, as when 2 formerly separated land masses fuse

Question 16

microclimate

Answer 16

subset of climatic conditions in small, specific area, which generally differ from environment at large; as in animal’s underground burrow

Question 17

ecology

Answer 17

scientific study of interaction of organisms w/ both (a)biotic environments

Question 18

pelagic zone

Answer 18

open ocean

Question 19

biogeography

Answer 19

scientific study of the patterns of dist’n of populations, species, and ecological communities across Earth

Question 20

tropical deciduous forest

Answer 20

biome having warm, dry winters and warm, wet summers; occurs in hot lowlands & erplaces thron forest as length of rainy season increases toward equator

Question 21

environmentalism

Answer 21

use of ecological knowledge (and economics, ethics, & other) to inform both personal decision and public policy relating to stewardship of natural resources and ecosystems

Question 22

coastal zone

Answer 22

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

Question 23

tundra

Answer 23

biome with very short summers & very long, cold winters; little precipitation (Arctic and high in mtns at all latitudes)

Question 24

abyssal plain

Answer 24

deep ocean floor

Question 25

abiotic

Answer 25

nonliving

Question 26

chaparral

Answer 26

biome w/ cool, wet winters, & dry, warm summers (west sides of continents at moderate latitudes where cool ocean waters flow offshore)

Question 27

climate

Answer 27

long-term avg atmospheric conditions found in a region (temp, precip, humidity, wind direction/velocity)

Question 28

biotic

Answer 28

alive