DEBio 44 Ecology vocab

weather

• day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere, including temperature, precipitation, and other factors

• the long-term average of atmospheric conditions in a region

• the study of the Earth's physical features and how they affect climate

• the seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation patterns

biome

• group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms

• a single ecosystem with diverse species

• a type of climate found in specific regions

• a collection of unrelated habitats

estuary

• biomes where a source of fresh water, such as a river, meets the ocean

• areas where saltwater and freshwater mix but do not support diverse life

• regions characterized by high salinity and minimal freshwater influx

• land areas that are permanently flooded with saltwater

biotic factor

• biological influence on organisms within an ecosystem

• non-living components of an ecosystem

• the role of producers in an ecosystem

• the impact of climate on living organisms

endemic

• species found only in a specific geographic area that is usually restricted in size

• species that can thrive in a variety of environments

• species that are extinct in the wild

• species that are found in multiple continents

biogeography

• study of the distribution of organisms around the world

• study of the effects of climate on ecosystems

• study of the genetic variation in species

• study of the interactions between species in an ecosystem

heterospecifics

• individuals that are members of different species

• individuals that are members of the same species

• individuals that are genetically identical

• individuals that belong to the same genus

biomass

• total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level or area

• the total energy produced by photosynthesis in an ecosystem

• the total number of species in a given area

• the amount of organic matter in soil

greenhouse gasses

• Gases that cool the Earth's atmosphere

• Atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that absorb and emit radiation, thus trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere

• Gases that are released during volcanic eruptions

• Gases that are used in refrigeration systems

solar intensity

• amount of solar energy the sun emits in a given amount of time

• the total energy received from all stars in the universe

• the energy produced by solar panels in a day

• the brightness of the sun as perceived from Earth