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Ecosystems
Keywords and definitions
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Abiotic | the physical, non-living parts of the ecosystem |
Biotic | the living parts of the ecosystem |
Ecosystem | natural areas in which plants, animals and other organisms are linked to each other and to the non-living elements of the environment |
Biomes | large scale ecosystems that have plants and animals that are unique to them |
The four main factors in an ecosystem that are interdependent upon each other are | animals, plants, soils, climate |
8 major biomes | Hot deserts, tropical rainforest, temperate forest, tropical grassland, coral reef, polar, temperate grassland, tundra |
Temperate | Mild, not too hot nor too cold |
What is permafrost and where is it found? | Permafrost is when the temperature of the ground rarely rises above freezing, resulting in a thick subsurface layer of soil that remains below freezing point throughout the year. It is found in polar regions, the tundra. |
precipitation | rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to or condenses on the ground. |
Explain the term flora, giving examples | Flora is the trees, moss, shrubs and flowers of a biome, for example oak trees in a temperate grassland |
Explain the term fauna, giving examples | Fauna is the animals of a specific biome, for example camels in a hot desert. |
climate | the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period. |
weather | the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time as regards heat, cloudiness, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc. |
interdependent | animals and plants within an ecosystem depend upon each other in order to survive. |
interrelate | when something in the ecosystem links to something else in the ecosystem, be it flora, fauna, climate, abiotic, biotic |
xerophytic | adapted to an environment with little or no water |
prophytic | adapted to be fire-resistant |
adaptation | a mutation, or genetic change, that helps an organism, such as a plant or animal, survive in its environment. |
sustainability | biological systems being able to remain diverse and productive indefinitely |