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2020 APES Biomes Flashcards

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14675318474Tundra biomeVery low temperatures, very little rainfall, mostly as snow. Very small trees, a few herbs, mosses and lichens. Animals: hare, fox, lemming, caribou, & polar bear.0
14675334281Boreal Forest (Taiga)A forest biome made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons. Animals: Moose, beaver, bear, & wolf1
14675344464Temperate rainforestA coastal biome typified by moderate temperatures and high precipitation. Coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive heavy rainfall.2
14675353462Temperate seasonal forestA biome with warm summers and cold winters with over 1 m (39 inches) of precipitation annually. Dominated by deciduous trees: oak, maple, beech, hickory, & some coniferous trees. Animals: toad, squirrel, & chipmunk.3
14675375361Woodland/shrubland (chaparral)A biome characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Drought-resistant shrubs: yucca, sagebrush, & scrub oak. Indicator animals: small nocturnal animals. Vegetation composed of broad-leaved evergreen shrubs, bushes, and small trees usually less than 2.5 m (about 8 feet) tall; together they often form dense thickets.4
14675398208Temperate grassland/cold desertA biome characterized by cold, harsh winters, and hot, dry summers. Plants: Dominated by grasses & nonwoody flowering plants with few shrubs. Animals: Bison, zebra, rhinoceros, & kangaroo. Also known as prairie in N. America.5
14675404323Tropical rainforestForests near the equator in which rainfall is abundant - more than 200 cm (80 in) per year - and temperatures are warm or hot year-round. High vegetation containing 2/3 of the world's species: cocoa, coffee, cassava, bamboo, & strangler figs. Animals: Great ape, monkey, sloth, and toucan.6
14675419294Tropical seasonal forest/savannaA biome marked by warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons. Grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees7
14675419670Subtropical desertA biome prevailing at approximately 30° N and 30° S, with hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation. Plant species such as grass, shrubs, and succulents can be found there. Many animals, such as camels, tortoises, birds, foxes, rodents, and lizards8
14679220818Streams (creeks -small/narrow, rivers - wider)Flowing freshwater that may originate from underground springs or as runoff from rain or melting snow. Few plants and algae to act as producers. Animals: Insects, crustacean, trout, salmon (high flow/high oxygen area with rapids), and catfish (slow flow/less oxygen)9
14679278800Lakes and pondsStanding water that some of which is too deep to support emergent vegetation.10
14679347419Freshwater wetlandsAn aquatic biome that is submerged or saturated by water for at least part of each year, but shallow enough to support emergent vegetation. (Swamps, marshes, and bogs)11
14686117085Salt MarshesA marsh containing nonwoody emergent vegetation, found along the coast in temperate climates. Very productive biome found in estuaries where the fresh water of rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean. Nutrients from the river allow for abundancy of life form.12
14686182188Mangrove SwampsSwamps found on the coastlines in warm tropical climates. They are dominated by mangrove trees and contain other trees and shrubs that can live partly submerged in the salty environment of coastal swamps.13
14686350578Intertidal zoneThe narrow band of coastline between the levels of high tide and low tide. The wave crashing onto the shore can make it challenging for organisms to hold on. Animals: barnacles, sponges, algae, mussels, crabs, and sea stars.14
14686412982Coral ReefsThe most diverse marine biome on Earth, found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline. Corals are tiny animals that secrete a layer of limestone (calcium carbonate) to form an external skeleton. Corals provide algae with carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and algae provides sugar for energy.15
14686440551Open oceanDeep ocean water, located away from the shoreline where sunlight can no longer reach the ocean bottom. Contain algae suspended in water but generally does not exceed 200m.16
14688374437Littoral zoneA shallow zone in a freshwater habitat where light reaches the bottom (photic) and nurtures plants. Most photosynthesis occurs in this zone.17
14688404975Limnetic zoneA zone of open water in lakes and ponds where rooted plants can no longer survive. Floating algae called phytoplankton are the only photosynthetic organisms.18
14688613930Profundal zoneA region of water where sunlight does not reach (aphotic), below the limnetic zone in very deep lakes. Limited biodiversity due to insufficient dissolved oxygen concentrations.19
14688636027Benthic zoneThe muddy bottom of a lake or pond beneath the limnetic and profundal zones.20
14688649468OligotrophicLakes that have low productivity due to low amounts of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in the water.21
14688659144MesotrophicDescribes a lake with a moderate level of productivity22
14688661462EutrophicA process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.23
14688664058Photic zonePortion of the marine biome that is shallow enough for sunlight to penetrate.24
14688664827Aphotic zoneThe layer of ocean water that lacks sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis25
14688669526ChemosynthesisProcess by which some organisms, such as certain bacteria, use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates (sugar for energy).26

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