Across
- 3. the rate of production of biomass for an ecosystem
- 5. The original rock that smaller rocks or soils are formed from through weathering.
- 7. A soil of an order comprising mineral soils that have yet to differentiate into distinct horizons. This soil type is associated with hot deserts. Also known as entisols.
- 9. Areas of permanently frozen ground.
- 10. Soils that are formed in an environment underlain by permafrost, thus referred to as permafrost soils. This soil type is associated with tundra. Also known as cryosols.
- 11. The gradual process by which an ecosystem develops and changes in a region that has not previously been colonised, for example new lava flows
- 12. The rate at which ecosystems producers convert solar energy into biomass
- 14. The rate that the producers produce and store energy minus the loss of energy through respiration.
- 19. Weathered but not as much as ultisols, tropical mineral soils with highly oxidised subsurface soils. Less acidic than ultisols. This is another soil type of the tropical rainforest.
- 21. A hardy species which is capable of being the first to colonise disturbed or newly formed environments
- 23. The animal life characteristics of an area, region or environment
- 25. A hostile, barren landscape where less than 250mm of precipitation occurs annually, and biodiversity is low.
- 27. Restoring an area of land to its natural undisturbed state, specifically through the reintroduction of species of wild animals that have been driven out or hunted to extinction in an area
- 28. A variation between high and low air temperatures that occurs during the same day (e.g. changes between night and daytime temperatures.
- 29. A species that is not native to an area, and is able to outcompete other species causing changes to the balance in an ecosystem.
- 31. A biome found far north in Asia and Alaska which is characterised by long cold, dark winters, and short cool summers. Permafrost limits vegetation growth to short shrubs and grasses.
- 32. Rainfall that occurs when the energy of the sun heats up Earth’s surface and causes water to evaporate and become water vapour. This then condenses to form clouds at higher altitudes.
- 34. A species that originated and developed in a specific ecosystem or region and adapted to living in that area.
- 35. A layer of soil parallel to the soil surface whose physical, chemical and biological characteristics differ from those above or below.
Down
- 1. A branching diagram or tree showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical and genetic characteristics
- 2. The material in cells that carries hereditary information about how a living organism will look and function. Genes make up portions of the DNA
- 4. Also known as Podzolic soils (Podzol) are acid soils characterized by a subsurface accumulation of humus that is complexed with Al and Fe. Infertile acidic soils characterized by white or gray subsurface layers. Minerals have been leached into lower dark coloured horizons. It is typically found under temperate coniferous woodland. This soil type is associated with the boreal forest which is also known as the Taiga.
- 6. The process by which living organisms have developed and adapted into different forms
- 8. Relating to or characteristic of the climatic zone south of the Arctic Circle. This biome is also known as the Taiga contain coniferous trees
- 9. The rate at which energy is converted into organic material through photosynthesis by plants
- 13. Pores in the leaf or stem of the plant, forming a slit which allows the movement of gases in and out of the spaces between the cells.
- 15. Soils with thick, dark upper layer alkaline rich in humus (organic material). This soil is base rich throughout and very fertile. This soil type is associated with temperate grasslands (prairies)..
- 16. Strongly leached, acid forest soils with relatively low native fertility and high aluminum oxide. Found in warm humid climates. This soil type is associated with tropical rainforests.
- 17. A biome with grassy plains and few trees, in the tropics and subtropics, typically referred to as a savanna.
- 18. The plants of a particular area, region or environment
- 20. Soil comprising of leached basic or slightly acid soils with a clay enriched B horizon (subsoil) found in tropical dry forest, savannas, and temperate deciduous forests.
- 22. An increase in nutrients in a body of water, results in a rapid growth of algae. Algal blooms cover the surface of the water, forming a green layer. When the algae decay and die, a decline in oxygen level occurs, causing significant ecological degradation.
- 24. The gradual process by which an ecosystem develops and changes in a region that has previously been colonised, however, it has been disturbed, damaged or removed
- 26. The process by which the structure of a biological community changes over time
- 30. Originating or occurring naturally in a specific area; a species that is native to an ecosystem and found only in that area.
- 33. The basic units of heredity (characteristics) passed down from parent to offspring (young). E.g. tall parents are more likely to have all children as their genes carry that characteristic