Environmental Science Inquiry & Application

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Biodiversity

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number and variety of species

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biomes

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broad types of biological communities with characteristic types of environments that occur in different conditions of temperature and precipitation

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Vertical zonation

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vegetation zones defined by altitude.

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Tropical rainforests

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occur where rainfall is abundant

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grasslands

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Where there is too little rainfall to support forests, you find open

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savannas

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grasslands with sparse tree cover

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Deserts

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occur where precipitation is uncommon and slight, usually with less than

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forests

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grouped by tree type

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broad-leaved deciduous

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losing leaves seasonally

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evergreen coniferous

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cone-bearing

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temperate rainforest

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a cool, rainy forest often enshrouded in fog.

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boreal forest

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Because conifers can survive winter cold, they dominate

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Phytoplankton

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tiny, free-floating photosynthetic algae that often support a marine food web.

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Benthic communities

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occur on the bottom of the ocean

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Pelagic zones

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are the water column of the ocean

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Coral reefs

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are among the best-known marine systems, because of their extraordinary biological productivity and diverse and beautiful organisms.

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Mangroves

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are a diverse group of salt-tolerant trees that grow along warm, calm marine coasts around the world.

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Estuaries

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are bays where rivers empty into the sea, mixing fresh water with salt water.

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Salt marshes

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shallow wetlands flooded regularly or occasionally with seawater, occur on shallow coastlines, including estuaries.

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Swamps

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wetlands with trees.

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Marshes

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wetlands without trees.

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Bogs

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areas of water- saturated ground usually composed of deep layers of peat (undecayed vegetation).

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Biodiversity

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the variety of living things, 3 types

genetic diversity is a measure of the variety of versions of the same genes within individual species

species diversity describes the number of different kinds of organisms in a community or ecosystem

ecological diversity means richness and complexity of a biological community

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Extinction

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the elimination of a species, is a normal process of the natural world. However, human impacts have accelerated that rate recently.

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Endangered Species Act (ESA)

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This law established the idea that protecting biodiversity was in the public interest because even species we don't use directly can have economic and cultural value.

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Endangered species

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species considered in imminent danger of extinction

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Threatened species

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species likely to become endangered, at least locally within the foreseeable future

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Vulnerable species

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are naturally rare or have been locally depleted by human activities to a level that puts them at risk

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Keystone species

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species with major effects on ecological functions and whose elimination would affect other members of the biological community

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Indicator species

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species tied to specific biotic communities or sucessional stages or environmental conditions

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Umbrella species

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require large blocks of relatively undisturbed habitat to maintain viable populations

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Flagship species

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are especially interesting or attractive organisms to which people react emotionally

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recovery plan

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This plan details how populations will be stabilized or rebuilt to sustainable levels.