chp 6. key terms Flashcards
biome
A biome is a large area characterized by its vegetation, soil, climate, and wildlife.
climate
he weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period
latitude
the angular distance of a place north or south of the earth’s equator,
altitude
the height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level.
tropical rainforest
A rain forest is simply an area of tall, mostly evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall.
emergent layer
The top layer of a rainforest
canopy
the layers of treetops that shade the forest floor
epiphyte
a plant 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
a forest community, characterized by cool, humid weather and abundant rainfall, where tree branches are draped with mosses, tree trunks are covered with lichens, and the forest floor is covered with ferns
temperate deciduous frest
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
a type of vegetation that includes broad-leafed evergreen shrubs and that is located in areas with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters
