Term
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Definition
| A phenomenon in which two species descended from unrelated ancestors look similar because they have evolved under similar selective forces. |
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Term
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Definition
| Geographic regions that contain communities composed of organisms with similar adaptations. |
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Term
| Nine Major Terrestrial Biomes |
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Definition
- Tundra
- Boreal Forest
- Temperate Grassland/Cold Desert
- Woodland/Shrubland
- Temperate Seasonal Forest
- Temperate Rainforest
- Tropical Rainforest
- Tropical Seasonal Forest/Savanna
- Subtropical Desert
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Term
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Definition
| Graphs that plot the average monthly temperature and precipitation of a specific location on Earth. |
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Definition
| The months in a location that are warm enough to allow plant growth. |
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Term
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Definition
- The coldest biome characterized by a treeless expanse above permanently frozen soil, or permafrost.
- Temperatures lower than 5 degrees C, Less than 600 mm of precipitation
- Found in the Arctic regions of Russia, Canada, Scandinavia, Alaska, and along the edge of Antartica
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Term
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Definition
- Densely populated by evergreen needle-leaved trees, with a short growing season and severe winters
- Temperature below 5 degrees C, Precipitation between 40 and 1000 mm
- Found in a broad belt 50 degrees N in North America and 60 degrees N in Europe and Asia
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Term
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Definition
- Mild temperatures and abundant precipitation and is dominated by evergreen forests
- Found near the pacific coast in northwestern North America, Southern Chile, New Zealand, and Tasmania.
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Term
| Temperate Seasonal Forest |
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Definition
- Moderate temperature and precipitation conditions and is dominated by deciduous trees (Maple, Beech, Oak)
- Eastern United States, Southeastern Canada, Europe, and Eastern Asia
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Term
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Definition
- Hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters with drought tolerant grasses and shrubs
- Found around the Mediterranean Sea "Mediterranean Climate"
- Called Chaparral in southern California, matorral in southern South America, fynbos in southern Africa, and maquis in the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea
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Term
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Definition
| Small durable leaves of typical Mediterranean-climate plants, "hard-leaved" vegetation |
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Term
| Temperate Grassland/Cold Desert |
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Definition
- Hot, dry summers, cold, harsh winters, dominated by grasses, nonwoody flowering plants, and drought-adapted shrubs.
- Called prairies in North America, pampas in South America, and steppes in eastern Europe and central Asia.
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Term
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Definition
- Warm and rainy, characterized by multiple layers of lush vegetation
- Located within 20 degrees N and 20 degrees S of the equator
- Found in much of Central America, the Amazon basin, the Congo in southern West Africa, eastern side of Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and the northeast coast of Australia.
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Term
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Definition
| Shorter trees and shrubs below the canopy |
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Term
| Tropical Seasonal Forests/Savanna |
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Definition
- Warm temperatures and pronounced wet and dry seasons.
- Sometimes called Tropical Deciduous Forest
- Located mostly beyond 10 degrees N and 10 degrees S of the equator
- Very long dry season results in Savanna
- Found in Central America, Atlantic coast of South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, southern Asia, and Northwestern Australia
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Term
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Definition
- Hot temperatures, scarce rainfall, long growing seasons, and sparse vegetation.
- 20 to 30 degrees north and south of the equator
- Mojave Desert in North America, the Sahara Desert in Africa, the Arabian Desert in Middle East, and the Great Victoria Desert in Australia
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