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MODULE 3

STUDY GUIDE

Lesson 1

COMMUNITY ECOLOGY

• community

• ecological succession

• primary succession

• climax community

• secondary succession

• A biological community is a group of interacting populations that

occupy the same area at the same time.

• Ecological succession occurs when one community replaces

another as a result of changing abiotic and biotic factors.

• Primary succession occurs on areas of exposed rock or bare sand

(no soil).

• Communities progress until there is little change in the composi-

tion of species.

• Secondary succession occurs as a result of a disturbance in a

mature community.

Lesson 2

TERRESTRIAL BIOMES

• weather

• latitude

• climate

• tundra

• boreal forest

• temperate forest

• woodland

• grassland

• desert

• tropical savanna

• tropical seasonal forest

• tropical rain forest

• Two major abiotic factors, latitude and climate, determine

terrestrial biomes.

• Latitude affects terrestrial biomes because of the different angles

at which sunlight strikes Earth.

• Latitude, elevation, ocean currents, and other abiotic factors

determine climate.

• There are nine major terrestrial biomes.

• There are two additional terrestrial regions, mountains and polar

regions, that do not fit into these major categories.

• Terrestrial biomes are defined primarily by the characteristics of

their plants.

Lesson 3

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

• sediment

• littoral zone

• limnetic zone

• plankton

• profundal zone

• intertidal zone

• pelagic zone

• photic zone

• aphotic zone

• abyssal zone

• benthic zone

• wetlands

• estuary

• Freshwater ecosystems include ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, and

wetlands.

• Marine ecosystems are divided into zones that are classified

according to abiotic factors.

• Estuaries and coral reefs are among the most diverse of all

ecosystems.

• Wetlands and estuaries are transitional aquatic ecosystems.

Module 3 • Study Guide