Chapter 4 Science Voc.

Front 1

succession

Back 1

natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area; can be primary or secondary

Front 2

pioneer species

Back 2

first organisms to grow in new or disturbed areas

Front 3

climax community

Back 3

stable, end stage of ecological succession in which balance is in the absence of disturbance

Front 4

biome

Back 4

large geographic areas with similar climates and ecosystems

Front 5

tundra

Back 5

cold, dry, treeless biome with less that 25 cm of precipitation each year, a short growing season, permafrost, and witners that can be six to nine months long. Tundra is seperated into two types: arctic tundra and alpine tundra

Front 6

taiga

Back 6

world's largest biome, located south of the tundra between 50 N and 60 N latitude; has long, cold winters, precipitation between 35 cm and 100 cm each year, cone-bearing evergreen trees, and dense forests

Front 7

temperate rain forest

Back 7

biome with 200 cm to 400 cm of precipitation each year, average temperatures between 9 C and 12 C, and forests dominated by trees with needlelike leaves

Front 8

temperate deciduous forest

Back 8

biome usually having four distinct seasons, annual precipitation between 75 cm and 150 cm, and climax communities of deciduous trees

Front 9

tropical rain forest

Back 9

most biologically diverse biome; has an average temperature of 25 C and receives between 200 cm and 600 cm of precipitation each year

Front 10

desert

Back 10

desert diome on Earth with less than 25 cm of rain each year; has dunes and thin soil with little organic matter, where plants and animals are adapted to survive extreme conditions

Front 11

grassland

Back 11

temperate and tropical regions with 25 cm to 75 cm of precipitation each year that are dominated by climax communities of grasses; ideal for growing crops and raising cattle and sheep

Front 12

wetland

Back 12

a land region that is wet most or all of the year

Front 13

coral reef

Back 13

diverse ecosystem formed from the calcium carbonate shells secreted by corals

Front 14

intertidal zone

Back 14

part of the shoreline that is under water at high tide and exposed to the air at low tide

Front 15

estuary

Back 15

extremely fertile area where a river meets an ocean; contains a mixture of freshwater and saltwater and serves as a nursery for many species of fish