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biome
a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g. forest or tundra.
canopy
is the aboveground portion of a plant community or crop, formed by the collection of individual plant crowns.
estivation
the arrangement of petals and sepals in a flower bud before it opens.
salinity
the quality or degree of being saline
limnetic zone
is the well-lit, open surface waters in a lake away from the shore.
climate
a region with particular prevailing weather conditions
emergent layer
is the name given to the tops of trees that poke up above the rainforest canopy.
coniferous
bears cones
photic zone
is the uppermost layer of water in a lake or ocean that is exposed to intense sunlight.
wetland
land consisting of marshes or swamps; saturated land
weather
the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.
understory
a layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest.
hibernation
sleeping through the winter
aphotic zone
s the portion of a lake or ocean where there is little or no sunlight.
flood plain
an area of low-lying ground adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding.
climatograph
epiphyte
a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rainforests
permafrost
a thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year, occurring chiefly in polar regions
benthic zone
is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as an ocean, lake, or stream.
estuary
the tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream
net primary production
is the synthesis of organic compounds from atmospheric or aqueous carbon dioxide.
deciduous
shedding its leaves annually
littoral zone
is the part of a sea, lake or river which is close to the shore.
upwelling
a rising of seawater, magma, or other liquid