Term
|
Definition
-groups of similar plant and animal communities
-Climate is a major determinate of biome distribution
-plant form and function are adapted to match the environment
-variation in soils and topography influence the local distribution of communities |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| general appearance of vegetation in a particular location |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| vertical distribution of species in a community eg overstory vs understory plants |
|
|
Term
| Horizontal (spatial) distribution |
|
Definition
| horizontal distribution of species in a communtiy eg random, regular and clustered |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| physical structure or forms of individual plants |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
annual herbs eg blue bonnet
perennial herbs eg many grasses |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
drought decidious eg blue bonnet
evergreen eg yaupon |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
deciduous eg oak- lose leaves once a year
broadleaf evergreen eg magnolia
needleleaf evergreen eg pines |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
stem succulents eg cacti
leaf succulents eg ice plants |
|
|
Term
| Community organization- Holistic Concept |
|
Definition
-Communities are highly organized groups of interacting species
-Interdependent associations of species that form discrete groupings of species
-super-organism approach to vegetation |
|
|
Term
| Community organization- Individual Concept |
|
Definition
-Communities vary continuously in space along environmental gradients
-species respond independent to environmental conditions
-continuum approach to vegetation |
|
|
Term
Boreal coniferous forest (Taiga)
Abiotic |
|
Definition
-Cold winter and short, mild summer.
-Low precipitation 400-3000 mm and low_____
-P/E ratio >2
-acid and infertile soil |
|
|
Term
Boreal coniferous forest (taiga)
Biotic |
|
Definition
-Low productive but active most of the year
-COntinuous litterfall; slow litter decomposition
-low species diversity
-little vertical stratification |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-maximum elevation of tree distribution in mountain ranges (edge of alpine tundra)
-Decreases with increasing latitude
-Mean july temp of 10-13 C |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Krummholz: "twisted wood" growth forms
-Tree islands: "cushion like" growth forms
-Flag trees: leaves only on leeward side of trunk |
|
|
Term
| Temperate forest: Eastern deciduous-Abiotic |
|
Definition
-Warm summer; cool to cold winter
-Moderate precipitation (750-1500 mm) evenly distributed
-P/E ratio >1
-Fertile Soils |
|
|
Term
| Temperate forest: Eastern deciduous-Biotic |
|
Definition
-Deciduous trees; active only 4-6 months
-litterfall seasonal and massive; rapid litter decompostition
-High turnover of nutrients
-well developed vertical canopy stratification |
|
|
Term
| Temperate rain forest-Abiotic |
|
Definition
-Warm summer; cool to cold winter; maritime climate
-high precipitation (2500-4500 mm) evenly distributed
-P/E ratio >1
-Infertile soils |
|
|
Term
| Temperate rain forest- Biotic |
|
Definition
-Needle leaf evergreen trees
-Active throughout year
-minimal vertical stratification
-largest trees on planet
-most southern of temperate rain forest |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| total number of species in an area |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| large size or number relative to other species present |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| number of individuals of a species per unit areas |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| percentage of total samples in which a species occurs |
|
|
Term
Tundra-Abiotic
Arctic tundra (high latitude)
Alpine tundra (high elevation) |
|
Definition
-long cold winter-cool short summer
-short growing season
-low precipitation (100-600mm)
-P/E ratio 1.0-2.0
-permafrost; nutrient poor soil |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Short vegetation <20cm
-low annual primary productivity
-low diversity |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Annual precipitation 300-1000mm
-P/E ratio .2-.8
-Rolling to flat terrain
-High fertility soils |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Perennial grassland vegetation
-adapted to fire and grazing
-forms "bread basket" of North America |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Low annual precipitation <250 mm
-P/E ratio <.2
-High summer temps
-poorly developed soils |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Adapted to extreme drought
-multiple growth forms present |
|
|
Term
| 4 desert associations in North America |
|
Definition
Great Basin: Sage brush
Mojave: joshua tree, driest in N America, death valley
-Sonoran: saquero cactus
-Chihahuan: creosote brush-cold
-sagebrush steppe |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| compact life cycle that survives drought as seed. eg desert blooms |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| drought deciduous and phreatophytes-rooted in water table |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| efficient use of water; high absorption and low transpiration |
|
|
Term
| Tropical rainforest- Abiotic |
|
Definition
-Limited climatic variation
-high annual precipitation(2000-4000 mm)evenly distribute
-Infertile acidic soils
-nutrients stored in live plants |
|
|
Term
| Tropical rainforest- Biotic |
|
Definition
-High species diversity
-most productive biome
-Very large trees (40-60m)
-great vertical stratification |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-plants that grow on other plants
-no roots in soil
-not parasites |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
