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Chapter 6 Vocabulary (Biomes and Aquatic Ecosystems)

Terms in this set (24)

biome
a grouping of ecosystems with similar abiotic and biotic conditions
climate
the average conditions, including temperature and precipitation, over long periods in a given area
weather
the day-to-day conditions in Earth's atmosphere
climatograph
a diagram that shows an area's average temperature and precipitation
net primary production
the organic matter, or biomass, that remains after cellular respiration
canopy
the dense covering of trees, 50 to 80 meters above the ground, in a rain forest
emergent layer
the few tall trees that extend above the canopy in a rain forest
understory
the shorter trees and plants found in a tropical rain forest
epiphyte
a plant that grows on other plants instead of in soil
deciduous
a tree that loses its leaves and stops photosynthesis during part of the year
estivation
the deep sleeplike state that an animal enters when conditions are dry
coniferous
a tree bearing cones that typically does not lose its leaves
hibernation
the deep sleeplike state that an animal enters for most of the winter
permafrost
permanently frozen soil
salinity
a measurement of the amount of salts dissolved in water
photic zone
the uppermost layer of an aquatic ecosystem, where there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis to occur
aphotic zone
the layer below the photic zone in an aquatic ecosystem, where no sunlight penetrates so photosynthesis cannot occur
benthic zone
the bottom layer of an aquatic ecosystem
littoral zone
the shallow near-shore portion of the photic zone
limnetic zone
the portion of the photic zone that is farther from shore than the littoral zone; no rooted plants are found in this zone
wetland
an area of land that is flooded with water at least sometime during the year
flood plain
an area alongside a river that periodically floods
estuary
a body of water, partly enclosed by land, that occurs where fresh water meets the water of an ocean or inland sea
upwelling
the flow of cold, nutrient-rich water toward the surface of the ocean
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