| A | B |
|---|
| ecosystem | All the living and nonliving things that interact in an area. |
| biome | A group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms. |
| biotic | A living part of an ecosystem. |
| abiotic | A nonliving part of an ecosystem. |
| adaptation | A characteristic that helps an organism survive in its environment or reproduce. |
| variation | Any difference between individuals of the same species |
| terrestrial ecosystems | An ecosystem found only on landforms; tundra, coniferous forest, deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, grassland, and desert. |
| freshwater ecosystem | Include lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, springs, swamps, and wetlands; water has little salt content. |
| marine ecosystems | Salt marshes, intertidal zones, estuaries, lagoons, mangroves, coral reefs, deep sea, and sea floor; water has salt content. |
| desert | An area in which the yearly amount of evaporation is greater than the amount of precipitation. |
| grassland | An area populated by grasses that gets 25 to 75 centimeters of rain each year. |
| savanna | A grassland close to the equator. |
| deciduous trees | Trees that shed their leaves and grow new ones each year. |
| coniferous trees | Trees that produce their seeds in cones and have needle-shaped leaves. |
| tundra | An extremely cold, dry biome. |
| permafrost | An extremely cold, dry biome. |
| estuary | A habitat in which the fresh water of a river meets the salt water of the ocean. |
| rainforest | A dense forest rich in biodiversity, found typically in tropical areas with consistently heavy rainfall. |
| deciduous forest | Temperate deciduous forests are dominated by trees that lose their leaves each summer in areas with warm, moist summers and mild winters |
| coniferous forest | Temperate coniferous forests are found in temperate regions with warm summers, cool winters, and adequate rainfall characterized by con-bearing, needle leaved trees. |
