Textbook: Chapter 24 - Terrestrial Ecosystem Flashcards
Annual grassland
Grassland in California dominated by exotic annual grasses that reseed every year, replacing native perennial grasses
Biogeography
The study of past and present geographical distribution of plants and animals, and their ecological relationships
Convergent evolution
Development of similar characteristics in different species living in different areas under similar environment conditions
Desert grassland
Grassland of hot, dry cliamtes, with rainfall varying between 200 and 500 mm, dominated by bunchgrasses and widely interspersed with other desert vegetation
Formations
Zones representing broad chategories of vegetation: categories defined by the basis of a similar physical appearance (physiognomy), deserts, grasslands and coniferous, temperate and tropical forests
Mixed-grass prarie
Grassland in mid north america, characterized by great varation in precipitation and a mixtuer of largely cool-season short grass and tallgrass species
Pampas
Temperate South American grassland, dominated by bunchgrasses; much of the mister pampas are under cultivation
Shortgrass prarie
Westernmost grasslands of the Great Plains, characterized by infrequent rainfall, low humidity, and high winds; dominated by shallow-rooted, sod-forming grasses
Steppe
Name given to Eurasian grasslands that extend from western Europe to western Siberia and China
Tallgrass Prarie
A narrow belt of tall grasses dominated by big bluestem that once ran north and south adjacent to the deciduous forest of eastern North America; presence maintained by fire; largely destroyed by cultivation
Veld
Extensive grasslands in the east of the interior of South Africa, largely confined to high terrain