Understanding Biospheres, Ecosystems, and Biomes

Posted on Mar 20, 2025 in Biology

  1. What is a biosphere: The biosphere is the life zone of the Earth.
  2. What is an ecosystem: An ecosystem consists of the organisms that live in a particular area, the relationships between them, and their physical environment.
  3. What are biomes: Biomes are the large-scale ecosystems of the world.
  4. What is the biocenosis: It is the set of living beings in the ecosystem.
  5. What are biotic factors: They are the effects that other organisms have on a living being in its environment.
  6. What is a biotope: The biotope is the inorganic part of the ecosystem.
  7. What are abiotic factors: They are the physical and chemical elements in an ecosystem that affect living organisms.
  8. What are decomposers: They are living beings that decompose organic matter into inorganic matter.
  9. What is a habitat: It is the physical place where species live.
  10. What is an ecological niche: It is the way a species relates to the biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
  11. What is trophic dynamics: It is the system that describes the position of a living being in a food chain.
  12. What is a food web: A food web shows what an organism eats or is eaten by.
  13. What are trophic pyramids: A trophic pyramid is a graphic representation of a particular characteristic at each trophic level.
  14. What does a number pyramid represent: It represents the number of individuals at each trophic level.
  15. The energy in an ecosystem is represented by a one-way flow of energy.
  16. The matter in an ecosystem is represented by a closed cycle of matter.
  17. What are interspecific relations: They are interactions among organisms of different species.
  18. Explain mutualism: This is a relationship between two or more individuals for a mutual benefit.
  19. Explain commensalism: This is a relationship between two organisms where one benefits, but the other is not affected.
  20. Explain parasitism: One species (a parasite) lives at the expense of another (host).
  21. Explain inquilinism: One organism uses another for housing.
  22. What is gregarious: This describes groups of individuals that live together for some time to provide mutual help.
  23. What is colonial: Related individuals live together.
  24. Explain social relations: This describes groups of individuals organized in a hierarchy.
  25. What is familial: This describes groups of related individuals which live together to procreate and protect the young.

Climate Zones and Their Characteristics

  1. Abiotic factors related to climate: Temperature, light, and humidity.
  2. The frigid zone: Cold zone from the poles to the polar circle.
  3. The temperate zone: Area between the polar circles and the tropics.
  4. The torrid zone: Hot zone between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

Specific Biomes and Their Characteristics

Tundra

  • Climate: Permanently frozen soil.
  • Flora: Moss, lichens.
  • Fauna: Reindeer, white foxes, lemmings.

Taiga

  • Climate: Long, dark, cold winters; abundant snow; short, warm, humid summers.
  • Flora: Pine and fir trees.
  • Fauna: Bears, lynxes, wolves.

Temperate Deciduous Forest

  • Climate: Cold and warm seasons, abundant rainfall.
  • Flora: Oak, beech, chestnut trees.
  • Fauna: Bears, foxes, squirrels, mountain lions.

Mediterranean Forest

  • Climate: Warm, dry summers; mild winters; low rainfall.
  • Flora: (Same as climate description in original text – needs review for accuracy).

Savannah

  • Climate: Dry and wet seasons, warm temperatures all year round.
  • Flora: Grass, shrubs, some trees.
  • Fauna: Zebras, giraffes, gazelles, lions.

Desert

  • Climate: Very high daytime temperatures, very low nighttime temperatures, extremely low rainfall.
  • Flora: Cacti.
  • Fauna: Camels, lizards, birds, small mammals.

Rainforest

  • Climate: High rainfall and high temperatures all year round.
  • Flora: Small to very large trees.
  • Fauna: Snakes, iguanas, bats, birds, monkeys, insects.