question

weather

answer

day-to-day condition of the atmosphere, including temperature, precipitation, and other factors

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climate

answer

average year-to-year conditions of temperature and precipitation in an area over a long period of time

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microclimate

answer

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

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greenhouse effect

answer

process in which certain gases trap sunlight energy in Earth's atmosphere as heat

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tolerance

answer

ability of an organism to survive and reproduce under circumstances that differ from their optimal conditions

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habitat

answer

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

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niche

answer

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

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resource

answer

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

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competitive exclusion principle

answer

principle that states that no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time

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predation

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interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism

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herbivory

answer

interaction in which one animal feeds on producers

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keystone species

answer

single species that is not usually abundant in a community yet exerts strong control on the structure of a community

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symbiosis

answer

relationship in which two species live close together

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mutualism

answer

symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship

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parasitism

answer

symbiotic relationship in which one organism lives on or in another organism and harms it

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commensalism

answer

symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed

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ecological succession

answer

series of gradual changes that occur in a community following a disturbance

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primary succession

answer

succession that occurs in an area in which no trace of a previous community is present

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pioneer species

answer

first species to populate an area during succession

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secondary succession

answer

type of succession that occurs in an area that was only partially destroyed by disturbances

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canopy

answer

dense covering formed by the leafy tops of tall forest trees

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understory

answer

layer in a forest found underneath the canopy formed by shorter trees and vines

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deciduous

answer

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

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coniferous

answer

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

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humus

answer

material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter

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taiga

answer

biome with long cold winters and a few months of warm weather; dominated by coniferous evergreens; also called boreal forest

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permafrost

answer

layer of permanently frozen subsoil found in the tundra

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photic zone

answer

sunlight region near the surface of the water

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aphotic zone

answer

dark layer of the oceans below the photic zone where light does not penetrate

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benthos

answer

organisms that live attached to or near the bottom of lakes, streams, and oceans

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plankton

answer

microscopic organisms that live in aquatic environments, includes both phytoplankton and zooplankton

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wetland

answer

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

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estuary

answer

kind of wetland formed where a river meets the ocean

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tropical rain forest biome

answer

biome characterized by large amounts of rainfall, thick canopies and understories, little nutrients in the soil, and high biodiversity

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tropical dry forest biome

answer

biome characterized by alternating rainy and dry seasons with rich soil that is subject to erosion

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tropical grassland/savanna/shrubland biome

answer

warm seasonal rainfall on a landscape of grasses and shrubs with isolated trees. soils are compact and fires are frequent

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desert biome

answer

very little rainfall with soils rich in minerals but poor in nutrients. temperature, elevation, and latitude can vary greatly

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temperate grassland biome

answer

plains and prairies cover fertile soils. warm to hot summers with cold winters and moderate rainfall

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temperate woodland and shrubland biome

answer

open woodlands with large areas of grasses and wildflowers and dense low plants. hot, dry summers with cool, moist winters

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temperate forest biome

answer

made of a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees. fertile soils with rich humus layers. 4 seasons with warm summers and cold winters

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northwest coniferous forest biome

answer

mild temperatures and abundant precipitation in the fall, winter, and spring with cool dry summers. also known as teh temperate rainforest

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boreal forest biome

answer

dense forests of evergreens with very cold winters and short mild summers. also known as the taiga

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tundra biome

answer

very short cold summers and very long and extremely cold winters with strong winds and little precipitation. contains permafrost

question

mountain ranges

answer

not classified with other biomes because the elevation on the mountain changes the weather as well as plants, animals, and soil

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polar ice caps

answer

cold year round with very few plants. most animals live in the waters underneath ice

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rivers and streams

answer

areas of flowing water often originating from underground sources in mountains or hills

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lakes and ponds

answer

slow moving and confined water gives plants a chance to attach

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freshwater wetlands

answer

water either covers soil or is present at or near the surface. filters chemicals and serves as a breeding ground for many animals

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intertidal zone

answer

area that is submerged at high tide but exposed at low tide

question

coastal ocean

answer

shallow oceans that extend from the low tide mark to the outer edge of the continental shelf

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open ocean

answer

deep oceans that extend between continental shelves. contains both photic and aphotic zones

Miller and Levine Biology Chapter 4 Vocabulary – Flashcards

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