1. World Biomes
A group of ecosystems that are related by having a similar type of of vegetation governed by similar climatic conditions
Major Terrestrial Biomes
Desserts
Grasslands and Prairies
Tropical Rainforests
Temperate rainforests
Coniferous forests
Tundra

2. Deserts
Very dry; hot days and cold nights; less than 10in of rain per year
Thorny bushes and shrubs, cacti – scattered

3. Grasslands/ Prairies
Seasonal rainfall; 10-60in of rain per year; frequent fires; soils rich and deep
Grass species – small and tall dependent on rainfall; some bushes and forests

4. Tropical Rain Forests
Non-seasonal; rainfall frequent and heavy; over 95in of rain per year
Soils thin and poor
Average temp of 28oC (84oF)
High diversity of broadleaf evergreens, dense canopy, little understory, vines and epiphytes

5. Temperate Forests
Seasonal; temps below freezing in winter, warmer summers – humid; in of rainfall per year; well developed soils
Broadleafed deciduous trees; some conifers (pine trees); shrubby undergrowth –ferns, lichens, and mosses

6. Coniferous forests
Seasonal – long cold winters, light precip in winter, heavier in summer
Soils acidic, much humus and litter
Conifers – spruce, fir, pine, hemlock; some deciduous –birch and maples; poor understory

7. Tundra
Bitter cold – except 8-10wk growing season, precipitation is low, soils thin with permafrost
Low-growing sedges, dwarf shrubs, lichens, mosses and grasses

8. Ecosystem Notes Ecology- the study of Ecosystems
Ecosystem- an area where organisms thrive
Biome- a group of ecosystems that share the same climatic area. Is determined by type of vegetation and rainfall.
Biotic Factor- all living organisms in an environment, humans, plants, animals
Abiotic Factor- non-living parts of an environment, ex- rock, soil, sun
Habitat- an environment that meets an organism’s needs and functions for survival. Several niches make up a habitat.

9. Species- a group of organisms that can create offspring.
Population- A group of organisms all of the same species living in the same area at the same time.
Community- A collection of several populations that inhabit a common area.
Population Density- How many individuals occupying a certain area
Limiting Factor- anything that would keep something from surviving and reproducing
Natural Selection- individuals ability to survive into the next generation due to adaptations or an individual evolving to survive.
Niche- job an organism does within the habitat
Carrying Capacity- amount of population an area can contain based on resource availability

10. Food chain – a chain that hierarchy of different living things each of which feeds on the one below; (basically what eats what…)
Food web – an interlocking food chain within an ecological community; (what everything eats within an ecosystem)