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Glossary Ecosystems

  
     
Abiotic factors Non-living parts of an ecosystem.
Acacia tree Trees with a flat canopy found in the savanna.
Baobab tree Giant trees that can be up to 10 metres wide found in the savanna.
Biomes A very large ecosystem.
Biotic factors Living parts of an ecosystem.
Buttress roots Large roots above the surface to help support large trees in shallow soil.
Canopy General layer of tree tops below the canopy layer in a Tropical rainforest.
Cattle ranching Large farms created in the rainforest for the production of meat.
Coniferous forest The world's largest biome. Made up of evergreen (don't lose leaves in winter). Found between 50ºN and 60ºN
Consumers Animals that eat producers.
Decomposers Living beings that recycle the nutrients of dead creatures.
Drip tips Waxy leaves with a point, shaped to help water run-off. 
Ecological footprint The ammount of land we use to sustain ourselves.
Ecosystem A unit made of two parts; living things and non-living things.
Elephant grass Tall grass (up to 5 metres tall, with large blades to preserve moisture found in the savanna.
Emergent trees Taller trees above the canopy in a Tropical rainforest.
Epiphytes Plants that grow on branches of trees.
Food chain The movement of energy in an ecosystem.
Food web Group of interlocking food chains in an ecosystem.
Ground level The lowest level of a Tropical rainforst.
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) A band of wet weather conditions linked to low air pressure near the equator.
Lianas Woody climbing vines. (what Tarzan swings on)
Logging The extensive cutting down of trees in the rainforest.
Overcultivation Using land for agriculture too intensely causing desertification.
Overgrazing Too much cattle (farm animals) feeding on the land causing desertification. 
Podzol Thin soil found in coniferous forests.
Producers Living things that produce their own food.
Savanna The temperature all the year is on average 20-35 ºC. Some parts get a lot of rain and others very little. There are two seasons, a short wet season and a long dry season. 
Shrub layer Layer of small plants in a Tropical rainforest.
Sustainable living Living without harming the environment or other species in a wasteful way.
Timber Name used to describe trees that have been cut down for their wood.
Tropical rainforest Found close to the equator, they have high and constant temperatures all year. Rainfall totals are over 2000mm per year.
Under-canopy Layer of bush tops in a Tropical rainforest.
Xerphytic features Plants that can resist drought.