| A | B |
|---|
| tundra | treeless biome forming a belt across North America, Europe, and Asia |
| coniferous forest | biome dominated by conifers located in the northern hemisphere |
| taiga | northernmost band of coniferous forest occupying northern Canada and Alaska |
| deciduous forest | biome characterized by the presence of trees that lose their leaves in the fall |
| grassland | biome dominated by grasses |
| deserts | dry areas where rainfall averages less than 25 cm per year |
| tropical rain forest | biome found near the equator where reinfall and sunlight abound |
| temperate rainforest | biome extending along the west coast of North America from central California to southern Alaska |
| polar biomes | biomes found at the earth's coldest extremes, mostly surrounding the North and South poles |
| biome | large area identified by the presence of characteristic plants and animals |
| marine biome | the earth's ocean and its associated areas |
| benthic zone | ocean bottom |
| neritic zone | first subarea of pelagic zone that extends over the continental shelf |
| pelagic zone | open ocean |
| photic zone | where light penetrates in the ocean |
| aphotic zone | where light is unable to penetrate in the ocean |
| oceanic zone | deep water of the open sea |
| intertidal zone | area of water running along the shores where tides produce a rythmic rise and fall of the water |
| estuary | biome where freshwater rivers and streams flow into the sea |
| freshwater biome | aquatic biome with low levels of dissolved salts |
