Bio: Chapter 4

condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place

average, year-after-year condition of temperature and precipitation in a particular region

natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor and other gases

cold climate zone where the sun's rays strike Earth at a very low angle

moderate climate zone between polar zones and the tropics

warm climate zone that receives direct or nearly direct sunlight year round

biological influence on organisms within an ecosystem

physical, or nonliving, factor that shapes an ecosystem

the area where an organism lives, including the biotic and abiotic factors that affect it

full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions

any necessity of life, such as water, nutrients, light, food, or space

ecological rule that states that no two species can occupy the same exact niche in the same habitat at the same time

interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism

relationship in which two species live closely together

symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship

symbiotic relationship in which one member of the association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed

symbiotic relationship in which one organism lives in or on another organism (the host) and consequently harms it

gradual change in living communities that follows a distrubance

succession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists

first species to populate an area during primary succession

succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil

group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities

organism's capacity to grow or thrive when subjected to an unfavorable environmental factor

climate within a small area that differs significantly from the climate of the surrounding area

dense covering formed by the leafy tops of tall rain forest trees

layer in a rain forest formed by shorter trees and vines

term used to refer to a tree that sheds its leaves during a particular season each year

term used to refer to trees that produce seed bearing cones and have thin leaves shaped like needles

material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter

biome in which the winters are cold but summers are mild enough to allow the ground to thaw

layer of permanently frozen subsoil in the tundra

tiny, free-floating organisms that occurs in aquatic environments

population of algae and other small, photosynthetic organisms found near the surface of the ocean and forming part of plankton

tiny animals that form part of the plankton

ecosystem in which water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface of the soil for at least part of the year

wetlands formed where rivers meet the ocean

particles of organic material that provide food for organisms at the base of an estuary's food web

temperate-zone estuary dominated by salt-tolerant grasses above the low-tide line and by sea grasses under water

coastal wetland dominated by mangroves, salt-tolerant woody plants

well-lit upper layer of the oceans

permanently dark layer of the oceans below the photic zone

prominent horizontal banding of organisms that live in a particular habitat

marine zone that extends from the low tide mark to the end of the continental shelf

coastal ocean community named for its dominant organism; kelp

diverse and productive environment named for the coral animals that make up its primary structure

organisms that live attached to or near the ocean floor