2. Definition: A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities

3. 7 MAJOR BIOMES 1)Tundra 2) Taiga 3) Desert 4) Grassland 5) Temperate Deciduous Forest 6) Tropical Rain Forest 7) Aquatic

4. short cool summers, short periods of winter sunlight, no trees and little plant growth

5. Permafrost – layer of permanently frozen subsoil

6. Temperature: -30 o C to 5 o C Precipitation: < 25 cm

7. Vegetation: mosses, lichens, sedges and short grass Animals: arctic fox, musk ox, snowy owl, polar bear

9. also known as the Northern Coniferous or Boreal forest  Long severe winters and short mild summers

10. Temperature: -25 o C to 20 o C Precipitation: 25 - 100 cm

11. Vegetation: coniferous trees, ferns, mosses, fungi Animals: snowshoe hare, black bear, woodpecker

13. Arid region with sparse to almost nonexistent plant life

14. Temperature: 10 o C to 30 o C Precipitation: < 25 cm

15. Vegetation: brush, cacti, small plants Animals: road runner, jack rabbit, lizards and scorpions

17. Large communities covered with grasses and similar small plants

18.  Experience a dry season with insufficient water for life  Largest biome, 100+ species per acre

19. Temperature: -10 o C to 25 o C Precipitation: 25 to 100 cm

20. Vegetation: various grasses, mosses, lichen Animals: bison, antelope, coyotes, zebra, giraffe, prairie dog

22. Dominated by broad- leaved hardwood trees that lose their foliage annually

23.  Humus – material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter

24. Temperature: -10 o C to 25 o C Precipitation: 75 to 125 cm

25. Vegetation: maple tree, pine, oak tree, flowering plants, ferns Animals: deer, rabbits, squirrels, beavers, raccoons, turkeys

27. Region of uniformly warm, wet weather dominated by lush plant growth

28.  Canopy – dense covering formed by the leafy tops of tall rain trees

29. Temperature: 25 o C to 30 o C Precipitation: > 200 cm

30. Vegetation: broad leaf trees, ferns, tangled vines, orchids Animals: monkeys, colorful birds, jaguars, insects, anacondas

32. Marine and Freshwater

33. determined by depth, flow, temperature, and chemistry of the overlying water

34.  Plankton – tiny, free- floating organisms found in fresh and salt water  Phytoplankton – single celled algae (plant-like)  Zooplankton – animal-like plankton

35.  Photic zone  Photic zone = well-lit upper layer, 200m deep  Aphotic zone  Aphotic zone = deeper water, never receives sunlight

36. intertidal zone – extreme changes in surroundings (sunlight, air, temperature) coastal ocean – low-tide mark to continental shelf (photic zone with kelp and plankton) open ocean – 90% of the ocean, 500- 11,000m deep (octopus and whales)

38.  Abiotic factors Slight temperature range Moderate light and nutrients

39.  Biotic factors plankton Fish, coral, kelp, sharks, dolphins, and whales

41.  Estuary - wetlands formed where rivers meet the sea (mixture of fresh and salt water)  Detritus – tiny pieces of organic material that provides food for organisms

42. Flowing-water – rivers, streams, creeks and brooks Standing water – lakes and ponds Wetlands – water covers the soil or is present at or near the surface of the soil for part of the year

43.  Abiotic factors Very little sunlight below surface Moderate to cold water temps good nutrient availability

44.  Biotic factors Algae, mosses, lichens Insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals