Habitats & Ecosystems Flashcards
What is a habitat?
A specific place where a species lives, providing food, water, and shelter.
What is an ecosystem?
A community of living organisms and their physical environment, interacting as a system.
Types of Territestial Ecosystems?
Forests, deserts, grasslands, and tundra.
Characteristics of Tundra Ecosystems
Cold regions with low-growing vegetation, found in polar areas.
Types of Aquatic Ecosystems
Freshwater (lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands) and marine (oceans, seas, coral reefs).
Location of Coral Reefs
Found in warm, shallow ocean waters near the equator.
Living Organisms in Coral Reefs Corals
Corals, fish (e.g., clownfish, parrotfish), sea turtles, starfish.
Plants in Coral Reefs
Algae, especially zooxanthellae, which provide energy to coral through sunlight.
Physical Environment of Coral Reefs
Warm, shallow water with abundant sunlight for photosynthesis.
