The Living World

• What are alpine regions characterized by?

  Cold, mountainous regions with snowy conditions and warmer summers
• What does biodiversity refer to?

  A large variety of animal and plant life living in the same ecosystem
• How is climate defined?

  As the long term weather conditions of an area
• What defines a cold environment?

  Regions of the Earth that experience sustained below freezing temperatures
• What does environmental fragility mean?

  It refers to an ecosystem being so sensitive to change that small changes can have large destructive impacts
• What is interdependence in ecosystems?

  It is the concept of multiple things depending on each other for survival
• What is permafrost?

  Ground that is permanently frozen for at least two consecutive years
• What are abiotic components in an ecosystem?

  Non-living environmental factors that influence the ecosystem
• What are polar regions?

  Areas surrounding the poles (90°N and 90°S)
• What is a biome?

  A large, distinct region of the Earth with similar climate, soil, plants, and animals
• What is soil composed of?

  The upper layer of the Earth which is composed of organic matter and other materials
• What are biotic components?

  Living organisms that interact with the environment and other organisms
• What characterizes a coniferous forest biome?

  It is located at high latitudes and characterized by conifer trees and a cold climate
• What characterizes tundra regions?

  Areas at high latitudes, characterized by permafrost, low temperatures, and short growing seasons
• What are consumers in an ecosystem?

  Organisms that receive energy from consuming living organisms
• What does wilderness refer to?

  An area that is untouched by humans and remains unaffected by human activity
• What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

  They break down organic material and release nutrients back into the ecosystem
• Where is the desert biome typically located?

  Around 30° north and south of the equator
• What defines an ecosystem?

  A natural system where a community of plants and animals interact with each other and their physical environment
• What is eutrophication?

  The growth of algae in water due to excess nutrients, leading to oxygen depletion
• What is a food chain?

  A linear relationship showing biotic interactions from a producer to a final consumer
• What is a food web?

  A representation of interactions between multiple producers and consumers within an ecosystem
• Where is the Mediterranean biome located?

  40-45° north of the equator and in isolated spots south of the equator
• What characterizes nutrient cycling?

  The transfer of nutrients through an ecosystem from decay to production
• What are producers in an ecosystem?

  Organisms that convert energy from the environment into sugars
• What characterizes the savanna biome?

  High temperatures, very dry summers, and very wet winters
• Where is the temperate deciduous forest biome located?

  Around 40-50° north and south of the equator
• What characterizes the temperate grassland biome?

  Low precipitation and grasses as the major vegetation
• What defines the tropical rainforest biome?

  Very high precipitation and sustained warm temperatures
• What characterizes the tundra biome?

  Very cold conditions and permanently frozen soils
• What is biodiversity?

  A large variety of animal and plant life living in the same ecosystem.
• What are buttress roots?

  Large, thick tree roots that grow above the ground in tropical rainforests.
• How does camouflage function as an animal adaptation?

  It allows animals to look like their surroundings to hide from predators.
• What is the canopy in a tropical rainforest?

  The layer where the tops of trees touch, forming a dense area of vegetation.
• What is a carbon sink?

  Something that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits, causing a net loss of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• What is cattle ranching?

  The rearing of cows on large areas of land, usually to produce meat for profit.
• What is clear felling?

  A form of logging where all trees in an area are cut down.
• What is commercial farming?

  Agriculture intended to create surplus produce to sell for a profit.
• What are debt-for-nature swaps?

  Agreements where one country reduces the debt of another in exchange for environmental conservation efforts.
• What are decomposers?

  Organisms that break down organic material and release nutrients back into the ecosystem.