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Definition
| Scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment. |
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| All organisms in the same area. |
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Definition
| All organisms in an area, plus their physical environment. |
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Definition
| All regions of the planet where the organisms live. |
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Definition
| Encompasses both abiotic factors, and biotic factors. |
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Definition
| Average atmospheric conditions over a long-term. Differs because of amount of solar energy. |
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Definition
| Short-term state of climate conditions. |
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Definition
| Higher latitudes receive lest solar energy; annual air temperature decreases about 0.4 Celsius for every degree of latitude; air temperature decreases with elevation. |
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| Trade Winds and Westerlies |
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Definition
| Air masses moving latitudinally are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere; prevailing wind patterns. |
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Definition
| Dry areas caused by prevailing winds. |
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| Global air circulation patterns drive ocean circulation patterns. |
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Definition
| Terrestrial environment defined by the growth forms of its plants. |
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Definition
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Definition
| Cold, not much vegetation. |
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Definition
| Also called taiga; long cold winters,; short summers; usually evergreens, and mammals. |
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Term
| Temperate Deciduous Forest |
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Definition
| Precipitation is even, but temperatures fluctuate; lots of deciduous trees. |
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Definition
| Dry much of the year; hot summers; cold winters; rich in grasses. |
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Definition
| Continental interiors; rain shadows; dominated by few species; low-lying shrubs; plant growth concentrated in spring. |
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Definition
| More species and structurally diverse than cold deserts; succulents are common; plant growth after rainfall; pollination and fruit dispersal by animals. |
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Definition
| Western sides of conitients with cool ocean currents offshore; winters are cool and wet; summers warm and dry; adapted to fire. |
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Term
| Thorn Forest and Tropical Savanna |
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Definition
| On equatorial sides of hot deserts; rainfall may be heavy in summer; small trees may drop leaves in dry winter. Savannas: grasslands with scattered trees; supports large grazing and browsing mammals and large predators. |
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Term
| Tropical Deciduous Forest |
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Definition
| Most trees lose leaves during the dry season; many flower while they are leafless; most have been cleared for agriculture. |
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Term
| Tropical Evergreen Forest |
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Definition
| Equatorial regions with high rainfall; highest species richness of all biomes; highest overall productivity. |
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Term
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Definition
| Study of patterns of distributions of populations, species, and communities. |
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Definition
| Places based on taxonomic composition; species composition change dramatically over short distances. |
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Definition
| Species found only in a certain region. |
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