abyssal ecosystem 124
alpine tundra 120
benthic 121
benthic ecosystem 121
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) 126
biome 110
boreal forest 119
climax community 106
coral reef ecosystem 122
desert 111
emergent plants 125
estuary 124
euphotic zone 121
eutrophic lake 125
freshwater ecosystem 121
grassland 113 		limnetic zone 125
littoral zone 125
mangrove swamp ecosystem 124
marine ecosystem 121
marsh 126
northern coniferous forest 119
oligotrophic lake 125
pelagic 121
pelagic ecosystem 121
periphyton 126
permafrost 120
phytoplankton 121
pioneer community 106
plankton 121
prairie 113
primary succession 106 		savanna 114
secondary succession 106
seral stage 107
sere 107
steppe 113
submerged plants 125
succession 106
successional stage 107
swamp 126
taiga 119
temperate deciduous forest 117
tropical rainforest 116
tundra 120
zooplankton 121

On-line Flashcards
      Can geese actually threaten a biome? Take a look at Snow Goose Population Threatens Arctic Tundra Habitat and see how an animal that is normally found in an area can become a problem.
      A biome that has changed considerably in the past two hundred years is the grasslands of the Great Plains region in North America. What has caused the major changes? The story of this region's freshwater marshes is told in The Prairie Wetlands of Southwest Minnesota.
     Temperate rainforests have had a lot of publicity with the controversy over logging and spotted owls. Now is it mushrooms? Check out the Matsutake Mushroom Mania case study for an update on this craze.
      Tropical rainforests have also received publicity for a high rate of deforestation and loss of species. Estimating the rate of deforestation is difficult for many reasons but read the latest in New Study Raises Estimates of Deforestation in Amazon. 		      Speaking of tropical rainforests, what can you do to help protect forest species? Every morning (especially during finals week) you could have an impact. Find out how by reading Why You Should Buy Organic Coffee: It Helps Migratory Birds and Other Forest Species.
      Green, soupy, and no fun for swimming. A lake in the summer with too many nutrients and an algae bloom can cause problems for fish and humans alike. Read how some ecologists are proposing to manipulate the food web for better water quality in Food Web Control of Primary Production in Lakes.
      Speaking of human manipulation, the restoration of ecosystems is an issue that has some people in south Florida worrying about their water supply. Read Everglades Restoration: Greatest Restoration Yet, or Just More of the Same? for a better understanding of the issues and concerns related to this ecosystem restoration.
      What can cause the oxygen of a lake to decrease? Chapter 16 will investigate this process in more depth but you can get a sneak preview by checking out the Deoxygenation of Lakes animation.
      Some animations can make a concept clearer, even if you have heard of it since elementary school. The animations that deal with climate are worth checking out since they make the concepts clear and let you see the process and hear it at the same time. Study Global Air Circulation for an excellent explanation of why there are tropical rainforests near the equator and desert belts at 30 degrees north and south latitude. 		      The rainshadow effect is another process that you've probably studied in the past. Check out the Rainshadow Effect animation for a clear and concise explanation of this phenomenon.
      Did you know that when some college graduates were asked to explain the four seasons, they were not able to do so? Study the Four Seasons animation to make sure you can describe the seasons without embarrassment.
Review Questions
  1. Describe the process of succession. How does primary succession differ from secondary succession?
  2. How does a climax community differ from a successional community?
  3. List three characteristics typical of each of the following biomes: tropical rainforest, desert, tundra, taiga, savanna, grassland, and temperate deciduous forest.
  4. What two primary factors determine the kind of terrestrial biome that will develop in an area?
  5. How does height above sea level affect the kind of biome present?

  1. What areas of the ocean are the most productive?
  2. How does the nature of the substrate affect the kinds of organisms found at the shore?
  3. What is the role of each of the following organisms in a marine ecosystem: phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, coral organisms, and fish?
  4. List three differences between freshwater and marine ecosystems.
  5. What is an estuary? Why are estuaries important?
Critical Thinking Questions
  1. Does the concept of a "climax community" make sense? Why or why not?
  2. What do you think about restoring ecosystems that have been degraded by human activity? Should it be done or not? Why? Who should pay for this reconstruction?
  3. Identify the biome in which you live. What environmental factors are instrumental in maintaining this biome? What is the current health of your biome? What are the current threats to its health? How might your biome have looked 100, 1000, 10,000 years ago?
  4. Imagine you are a conservation biologist who is being asked by local residents what the likely environmental outcomes of development would be in the tropical rainforest in which they live. What would you tell them? Why do you give them this evaluation? What evidence can you cite for your claims?
  1. The text says that 90 percent of the old-growth temperate rainforest in the Pacific Northwest has been logged. What to do with the remaining 10 percent is still a question. Some say it should be logged and others say it should be preserved. What values, beliefs, and perspectives are held by each side? What is your ethic regarding logging old-growth in this area? What values, beliefs, and perspectives do you hold regarding this issue?
  2. Much of the old-growth forest in the United States has been logged, economic gains have been realized, and second-growth forests have become established. This is not the case in the tropical rainforests, although they are being lost at alarming rates. Should developed countries, who have already "cashed in" on their resources, have anything to say about what is happening in developing countries? Why do you think the way you do?