All surroundings of a living organism, including natural forces and other living things.

All of the biotic and abiotic factors in an environment

A series of changes in the species composition of a community over time.

The study of how organisms interact with one another and their environment

Group of ecosystems that have similar climate and living organisms

Home to more species than all other biomes combined; hot and wet year round; sloths, toucans, anacondas

Characterized by a cover of grasses; lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, antelope, ostriches

Coldest biome on earth; moss, lichen; musk oxen, arctic foxes, caribou

Contains a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees; black bears, bobcats, raccoons, squirrels, skunks

Largest land biome; bitterly cold winters, mild summers; wolves, moose, lynxes

Most has been turned into ranch and farmland; coyotes, wolves, antelope, prairie dogs, cattle

Lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams not containing saltwater

All saltwater areas; oceans, coral reefs, estuaries

An area with less than 50 cm of rainfall; dominant plants - cacti and succulents