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APES #2 Weather Biomes Soil Succession sping AP TEST Flashcards

More practice for APES Finals

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161343136Weatheris an area's temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, cloud cover, and other physical conditions of the lower atmosphere over hours or days.
161343137Elevationdistance above sea level
161343138Latitudedistance from the equator
161343139Average temperaturefactor determining climate
161343140Average precipitationfactor determining climate
161343141Coriolis effecta deflection of moving objects when they are viewed from a rotating reference frame. In a reference frame with clockwise rotation, the deflection is to the left of the motion of the object; in one with anti clockwise rotation, the deflection is to the right.
161343142Prevailing windsmajor surface winds that blow almost continuously and distribute air, moisture, and dust over the earth's surface
161343143Greenhouse gasesgases in the located in the troposphere and causes the greenhouse effect. Examples include carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, ozone, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide
161343144Greenhouse gasescarbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, ozone, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide
161343145Greenhouse effectwavelength infrared radiation in the troposphere. If the atmospheric concentrations of these greenhouse gases increase and other natural processes do not remove them, the average temperature of the lower atmosphere will increase gradually. (Global warming)
161343146Monsoonsperiods of heavy rains and experienced on continents lying north and south of the warm oceans
161343147Microclimatesbricks, concrete, asphalt, and other building materials absorb and hold heat, and building block wind flow. Cars and the climate control systems of buildings release large quantities of heat and pollutants. As a result, cities tend to have more haze and smog, higher temperatures, and lower wind speeds than the surrounding countryside.
161343148Tropical desertsSahara and Namib of Africa are hot and dry most of the yea. They have few plants and a hard, windblown surface with rocks and sand. They are deserts we see in movies
161343149Temperate desertsMojave in California, daytime temperatures are high in the summer and low in the winter. This is more precipitation than in tropical deserts. Consists of cacti and drought resistant shrubs
161343150Cold desertsvegetation is sparse, winters are cold, summers are warm or hot, and precipitation is low.
161343151Grasslands (prairie) and Chaparralbiome found in regions where moderate annual average precipitation (25cm 76cm) is enough to support the growth of grass and small plants but not enough to support large stands of trees.
161343152Savannatropical grasslands with scattered trees and enormous herds of hoofed animals. Trees such as acacia, warm temperatures with alternating dry and wet seasons.
161343153Temperate GrasslandsFertile Soils with cold winters and hot and dry summers have deep and fertile soils that make them widely used for growing crops and grazing cattle
161343154Short grass prairiesMidwestern United States, winds blow continuously, evaporation is rapid, often leading to fires in the summer and fall. This combination helps maintain grasslands
161343155Polar Grasslands- Arctic Tundrapolar grassland are covered with ice and snow except during a brief summer
161343156Permafrostunderground soil in which captured water stays frozen for more than 2 consecutive years. During the long and cold winters the surface soil also freezes
161343157Alpine tundraoccurs above the limit of tree growth but below the permanent snow line on high mountains. Vegetation is similar to arctic tundra
161343158Chaparral -has a moderate climate but its dense thickets of spiny shrubs are subject to periodic fires
161343159Forestbiome with enough average annual precipitation (at least 76cm) to support the growth of tree species and smaller forms of vegetation.
161343160Tropical Rain ForestThreatened Centers of Biodiversity with Poor Soils have heavy rainfall on most days and a rich diversity of species occupying a variety of specialized niches in distinct layers
161343161Broadleaf evergreen plantsvegetation that dominates this biome, keep their leaves year round
161343162Tropical dry forestsfound in tropical areas with warm temperatures year round and wet and dry seasons Tree heights are lower than in rain forests
161343163Temperate Deciduous ForestsChanging with the Seasons most of the trees in these forests survive winter by dropping their leaves, which decay and produce a nutrient rich soil
161343164Broadleaf deciduous trees- oak, hickory, maple, poplar, and beechsurvive cold winters by dropping their leaves in the fall and becoming dominant.
161343165Evergreen Coniferous ForestsCold Winters, Wet Summers, and Conifers - these forests consist mostly of cone bearing evergreen trees that keep their needles year spruce, fir, cedar, hemlock, and pine round to help the trees survive long and cold winters Coniferous Evergreen trees
161343166MountainHigh elevation forested islands of biodiversity and often have snow covered peaks that reflect solar radiation and gradually release water to lower
161343167Islands of biodiversitysurrounded by a sea of lower elevation landscapes transformed by human activities
161343168ZooplanktonAnimal plankton; small floating herbivores that feed on phytoplankton
161343169UltraplaktonHuge populations of extremely small photosynthetic bacteria that may be responsible for 70% of the primary productivity near the ocean surface.
161343170NektonStrongly swimming organisms found in aquatic systems.
161343171Benthosdwelling organisms
161343172DecomposersOrganism that digests parts of dead organisms and cast off fragments and wastes of living organisms by breaking down the complex organic molecules in those materials into simpler inorganic compounds.
161343173Coastal ZoneWarm, nutrient rich, shallow part of the ocean that extends from the high tide mark on land to the edge of a shelf
161343174EstuaryPartially enclosed coastal area at the mouth of a river where its freshwater, carrying fertile silt and runoff from the land, mixes with salty seawater.
161343175Coastal WetlandsLand along a coastline, extending inland from an estuary that is convered with saltwater all or part of the year.
161343176Intertidal ZoneThe area of shoreline between low and high tides.
161343177Open SeaPart of an ocean that lies beyond the continental shelf.
161343178Euphotic zonebrightly lit upper zone where floating and drifting phytoplankton carry out photosynthesis. Nutrient levels are low and levels of dissolved oxygen are high. Fast swimming predators inhabit this zone.
161343179Euphotic zoneFast swimming predators inhabit this zone
161343180Bathayal zonedimly lit middle zone that does not contain photosynthesizing producers because of lack of sunlight. Zooplankton and smaller fish populate this zone.
161343181Abyssal zonelowest zone. Dark and very cold with little dissolved oxygen.
161343182LakesLarge natural body of standing freshwater formed when water from precipitation, land runoff, or groundwater flow fills a depression in the earth created by glaciation, earth movement, volcanic activity, or a giant meteorite.
161343183Littoral ZoneThe top layer of a lake. It is near the shore and consists of the shallow sunlit waters to the depth at which rooted plants such as cattails stop growing. It's the most productive zone because of the ample amount of sunlight. There is great biodiversity.
161343184Limnetic Zonethe open, sunlit water surface layer away from the shore that extends to the depth by penetrated sunlight. Main photosynthetic body of the lake, produces the food and oxygen that support most of the lake's consumers. Primary organisms microscopic phytoplankton and zooplankton.
161343185Profundal Zonedeep, open water where it is too dark for photosynthesis. Oxygen levels are low. Fish adapted to the lake's cooler and darker water are found here.
161343186Benthic ZoneBottom of the lake. Mostly decomposers and detritus feeders inhabit it. Nourished by dead matter and sediments washing into the lake.
161343187Oligotrophic Lakewith a low supply of plant nutrients.
161343188Eutrophic Lakewith a large or excessive supply of plant nutrients, mostly nitrates and phosphates.
161343189Cultural EutrophicationOvernourishment of aquatic ecosystems with plant nutrients because of human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and discharges from industrial plants and sewage treatment plants.
161343190Mesotrophic Lakeswith a moderate supply of plant nutrients
161343191Surface WaterPrecipitation that does not infiltrate the ground or return to the atmosphere by evaporation or transpiration.
161343192RunoffFreshwater from precipitation and melting ice that flows on the earth's surface into nearby streams, lakes, wetlands, and reservoirs.
161343193Floodplain zonestreams join into wider and deeper rivers that flow across broad, flat valleys.
161343194Inland WetlandsLand away from the coast, such as a swamp, marsh, or bog, that is covered all or part of the time with freshwater.
161343195Watershedthe land area that delivers runoff, sediment, and dissolved substances to a stream
161350584EcologyThe study of how organisms with one another and with their nonliving environment. The study of connections in nature.
161350585OrganismAny form of life
161350586Speciesorganisms that resemble one another in appearance, behavior, chemistry, and genetic makeup.
161350587PopulationA group of interacting individuals of the same species occupying a specific area.
161350588Genetic DiversityDifference in genetic makeup.
161350589HabitatThe place where a population lives (can be as large as the ocean or as small as the intestines of a termite).
161350590Distribution (range)The area over which we can find a species (Some tropical plants have a very small range while animals like grizzlies tend to have large ranges).
161350591Biological communityConsists of all the populations of different species that live and interact in a specific area.
161350592EcosystemA community where populations of different species interact with one another and with their nonliving environment of matter and energy.
161350593BiosphereThe global ecosystem where all life is interconnected.
161350594AtmosphereA thin membrane of air around the planet.
161350595Tropospherethe part of the atmosphere. It extends about 17km above sea level. This layer contains most of earth's air, mostly oxygen (21%) and nitrogen (78%).
161350596Stratospherethe part of the atmosphere. It extends from about 17km to 48km above sea level. Keeps out harmful UV radiation.
161350597HydrosphereAll of earth's water. It's found as a liquid (water), a solid (ice), and a gas (steam).
161350598LithosphereThe earth's crust and upper mantle
161350599BiomesLarge regions with distinct climates and specific species adapted to them.
161350600Aquatic life zonesdifferent ecosystems found in different types of water (ocean verse a lake).
161350601AbioticNonliving components such as water, air, nutrients, and solar energy.
161350602BioticConsists of living components such as producers, consumers, and decomposers.
161350603Limiting factorA certain factor like nitrogen and phosphorous that has a great effect on an environment.
161350604Producers (autotrophs) -Make their own food from compounds and energy obtained from their environment. Most producers capture sunlight to produce carbohydrates.
161350605PhotosynthesisThe act of capturing sunlight to produce energy.
161350606Consumers (heterotrophs)Obtain energy from consuming other organisms or their remains.
161350607Primary Consumers (herbivores)- Eat producers (deer).
161350608Secondary consumers (carnivores)Feed on primary consumers (fox).
161350609Omnivoreseat both plants and animals (bear).
161350610Decomposersare specialized organism that recycles nutrients in ecosystems. Breakdown dead material (Bacteria).
161350611DetritivoresFeed on the dead bodies or waste of other organisms (maggots)
161350612Aerobic respirationWhen an organism uses the chemical energy stored in glucose and other organic compounds to fuel their life processes. Need oxygen to convert organic nutrients back into carbon dioxide and water
161350613Anaerobic respiration (fermentation)When an organism uses the chemical energy stored in glucose and other organic compounds to fuel their life processes in the absence of oxygen. The byproducts of this are methane, ethyl alcohol, acetic acid, hydrogen sulfide.
161350614Food chainA sequence of organisms, each of which is a source of food for the next.
161350615Trophic levelFeeding level
161350616Biomassthe weight of all organisms in a trophic level.
161350617Gross Primary ProductivityThe rate at which an ecosystem's producers convert solar energy into chemical energy as biomass.
161350618Net primary productivityThe rate at which producers use photosynthesis to store energy minus the rate at which they use some of this stored energy.
161350619O horizonThe surface litter layer.
161350620A horizonThe topsoil layer. A porous mixture of partially decomposed bodies of dead plants and animals (humus).
161350621B horizonSubsoil.
161350622C horizonParent material.
161350623LeachingWhen water moving downwards through soil (infiltration) takes minerals down with it.
161350624Soil textureDifferent soils are measured by the amount of sand, clay and silt in it

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