| A | B |
|---|
| biodiversity | The variety of organisms that live in Earth's many ecosystems. |
| biomes | Ecosystems that cover large areas of land and have a distinct combination of plants and animals. |
| bog | A type of wetland which consists primarily of mosses. |
| coastal ocean | A saltwater ecosystem that is relatively shallow and close to, but just beyond, the shoreline. It supports an abundance of life. |
| coniferous trees | Evergreens such as spruce, pine, and fir. They never lose their needles. |
| deciduous forest | A biome that contains many trees in which rainfall is moderate, winters are cold, and summers are warm and wet. Much wildlife lives here. |
| deserts | A biome in which plant life is not abundant and rainfall is low. Plants and animals have made adaptations to conserve water. |
| endangered | A species in danger of dying out completely and forever. |
| extinct | No longer living as a species. |
| grasslands | A biome containing many grasses but few trees and having low to moderate rainfall. Taller grasses occur in those with more rainfall. |
| marsh | a type of wetland dominated by grasses and cattails. |
| lake | A freshwater ecosystem characterized by still, or standing water. |
| open ocean | A large saltwater ecosystem containing both floating and free-swimming organisms. It covers most of Earth's surface and is the largest ecosystem on Earth. |
| plankton | The organisms that form the basis of the food chain in coastal ocean ecosystems. |
| river | A freshwater ecosystem characterized by running water. |
| shoreline | The saltwater ecosystem where land and ocean meet. It varies in width around the world. |
| swamp | A type of wetland, similar to a marsh but has mostly trees and shrubs. |
| taiga | A biome that contains many coniferous trees and in which rainfall is moderate. |
| threatened | A species in danger of becoming endangered. |
| tropical rain forest | A biome distinguished by lush vegetation, abundant rainfall, and plentiful sunlight. It supports the greatest variety of life of any biome. |
| tundra | A biome characterized by cold temperatures and low precipitation. It blooms in summer. |
| wetland | Any one of three freshwater ecosystems - marsh, swamp, or bog - where land and fresh water meet. They help purify water. |
