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| TROPHIC LEVEL Rank in feeding hierarchy. |
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BIOMASS
The total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area or volume. Organic matter used as a fuel.
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| KEY STONE SPECIES A species that has a far reaching affect on a community. |
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| The aboveground portion of a plant community or crop, formed by plant crowns. |
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| The emergent layer is the tallest layer in the rainforest. |
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| UNDERSTORY A layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest. |
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| EPIPHYTE A plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic. |
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DECIDUOUS (of a tree or shrub) Shedding its leaves annually.
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ESTIVATION
Prolonged torpor or dormancy of an animal during a hot or dry period. |
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| CONIFEROUS Of or relating to or part of trees or shrubs bearing cones and evergreen leaves. |
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| PERMAFROST A thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year, occurring chiefly in polar regions. (like ALASKA) |
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| SALINITY The amount of dissolved salts in water. |
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| PHOTIC ZONE In the ocean or a fresh body of water, the well-lit top layer of water where photosynthesis occurs. |
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| LIMNETIC ZONE Within a body of water, the layer of open water through which sunlight penetrates. |
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| ESTUARY The tidal mouth of a river, where the tide meets the stream. |
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