chpt. 6 Flashcards
(19 cards)
biome
a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g. forest or tundra.
climate
noun. the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years. a region or area characterized by a given climate: to move to a warm climate.
latitude
the angular distance of a place north or south of the earth’s equator, or of a celestial object north or south of the celestial equator, usually expressed in degrees and minutes.
altitude
the height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level
tropical rain forest
a tropical forest, usually of tall, densely growing, broad-leaved evergreen trees in an area of high annual rainfall.
emergent layer
The top layer of a rainforest is called the emergent layer. This layer receives bright sunlight and plenty of rain, and is also very windy. The tallest trees rise above every other plant to a height of 70m (230ft). Animals in this layer, such as monkeys, are agile with a good sense of balance.
canopy
an ornamental cloth covering hung or held up over something, especially a throne or bed.
epiphyte
a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rainforests.
understory
a layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest.
temperate rain forest
The lush forests in the Quinault, Queets, Hoh, and Bogachiel valleys are some of the most spectacular examples of primeval temperate rain forest in the lower 48 states. These rain forests once stretched from southern Oregon to southeast Alaska, but little remains outside of protected areas
temperate deciduous forest
Deciduous trees are very dependent on water. A forest that is dominated by trees that lose their leaves in the fall is called a deciduous forest. Wyoming deciduous tree species include aspen, cottonwood, box elder, ash, mountain ash, poplars, willows, fruit trees such as the wild plum and less commonly oak and maple.
taiga
the sometimes swampy coniferous forest of high northern latitudes, especially that between the tundra and steppes of Siberia and North America.
savanna
a grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees.
temperate
relating to or denoting a region or climate characterized by mild temperatures.
grassland
a large open area of country covered with grass, especially one used for grazing.
chaparral
vegetation consisting chiefly of tangled shrubs and thorny bushes.
desert
abandon (a person, cause, or organization) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous.
tundra
a vast, flat, treeless Arctic region of Europe, Asia, and North America in which the subsoil is permanently frozen.
permafrost
a thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year, occurring chiefly in polar regions.
