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A _________ factor is a nonliving aspect of an ecosystem.
Abiotic
Which biome gets very little rainfall, but has dramatic temperature changes from daytime to nighttime?
Desert
What happens when their is too much competition in an ecosystem?
What occurs when one organism depends on a much larger animal for food, which often weakens the host?
Parasitism
What is the number of species in an area?
Which biome has trees such as oaks and birch, and receives moderate temperature and rainfall?
Deciduous forest
What shows the flow of energy in a biome based on who produces the most energy?
Ecological pyramid
What is the layer of types of biomes due to elevation?
Vertical zonation
What's a niche?
The way that an organism affects the habitat
Which biome, with trees such as hemlock and fir, have cool and moist conditions?
Coniferous forest
What is neutralism?
When organisms share a habitat, but are not affected by one another
What is the biosphere?
The realm of earth that extends from a few kilometers into the atmosphere to a few kilometers into the earth's crust
Ecosystem - a limited area that is smaller than a biome
Give three characteristics of a tropical rainforest biome.
Has a vast variety of vegetation
Has warm, humid air
Trees are so dense and tall that it produces different layers of individual habitats
What are decomposers and detritus?
Decomposers - organisms that break down nutrients
Detritus - the waste of plants and animals
Give four characteristics of the tundra?
Frozen all year long
Very little vegetation
Short summers and long winters
Common animals found: caribou, grizzly bears, etc.
Explain the six factors that affect the climate of a biome.
Temperature - different animals prefer different temperatures
Precipitation - the amount of water that a biome receives
Seasons - a direct result of the earth's tilt
Latitude - warm areas are closer to the equator
Elevation - how high up an area is
Bodies of water - often moderate temperature in nearby land areas
Give four characteristics of the chaparral biome.
Gets moderate amounts of precipitation
Has cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers
Covers the least amount of earth
Common animals found: deer and antelope
What is the difference between a food chain and food web?
Food chain - energy in a biome moving from one organism to another
Food web - ahs overlapping food chains of different animals
What is the difference between a benthic and pelagic organism?
Benthic - lives on the ocean floor
Pelagic - drifts or swims in the ocean