the ability of any organism to survive when subjected to abiotic factors

the change in an ecosystem that happens when one community replaces another as a result of changing abiotic and biotic factors

the establishment of a community in an area of exposed rock that does not have any topsoil

stable mature group of interacting populations that occupy the same area at the same time that does not change in terms of the composition of the species

the orderly and predictable change that takes place after a community of organisms has been removed byt the soil has remained intact

the condition of the atmosphere at a specific place and time

the average weather conditions in an area including temperature and precipitation

treeless biome with a layer of permanently frozen soil below the surface

a broad band of dense evergreen forest extending across North America, Europe and Asia.

covers much of southeastern Canada, the eastern US, most of Europe, parts of Australia and Asia; composed of mostly broad-leaved, deciduous trees

biome occurs surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, the west coasts of North and South America, South Africa and Australia

a biome that is characterized by fertile soils that are able to support a thick cover of grasses; found in middle latitudes of North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Australia

any area in which the annual rate of evaporation exceeds the rate of precipitation

biome characterized by grasses and scattered trees in climates that receive less precipitation than some other tropical areas

biome found in areas of Africa, Asia, Australia and South and Central America; resembles tropical dry forest (trees drop leaves during dry season); seasonal rainfall > 200 cm/year

biome characterized by large amounts of rainfall (200-1000 cm/yr) and warm temperatures( $$24\degree C-27\degree C$$  )

a group of interacting populations thta occupy the same area at the same time

material that is deposited by wind, water or glaciers

area closest to shore in lakes and ponds

open water area in a lake or pond that is well lit and dominated by plankton

free-floating autotrophs and heterotrophs found in freshwater

deepest area of a lake

areas of land saturated with water and support aquatic plants

ecosystem formed where freshwater from a river or stream merges with salt water from the ocean

a narrow band where the ocean meets land

area in the pelagic zone from the surface to about 200m

area of the open ocean where light does not penetrate

the area along the ocean floor containing sand, silt and dead organisms

the deepest region of the ocean