Ch. 6 Flashcards
biome
a large region characterized by a specific type of climate
climate
weather conditions such a temp. precipitation, humidity and winds that occur in an area over a long period of time
latitude
distance north or south of the equator and is measured in degrees, with the equator equal to 0
altitiude
the height of an object above sea level
tropical rain forest
always humid and warm and get about 200 to 450cm of rain a year
emergent layer
first top layer of forest floor, consists of tallest trees
canopy
considered primary layer of the rain forest
epiphyte
plants, such as orchids, use the entire surface of a tree as a place to live
understory
below the canopy, very little light reaches the this layer, tree, shrubs and other plants are adapted to low light here
temperate rain forest
occurs in north america, australia, and new zealand, large amounts of precipitation, high humidity and moderate temp.
temperat deciduous forest
tree frop their board, flat leaves each fall, parts of north america, europe, and asia
taiga
northern coniferous forest that stretches in a broad band across the northern hemisphere just below the artic circle
savanna
tropical biome dominated by grasses, shrubs, and small trees
temperate grassland
covers large areas of the interior of continents, where there is moderate rainfall but trees and shrubs cannot be established because there is not enough rain or fires to frequent
chaparral
temperate shrub-land biome that is found in all parts of the world with a mediterranean climate
