Adaptation-A structure or behavior that helps a plant or animal live in its surroundings.
Algae-A marine or freshwater plant or plant-like organism that usually contains chlorophyll.
Analyze-To study or determine the nature and relationship of the parts, suggest separating or breaking down the parts of something to understand its true nature.
Annuals-Plants that complete their life cycles in one growing season.
Arid-Lacking in rainfall, very dry.
Atmosphere-The layer of gases, like air, that surrounds the Earth.
Basin-A low, bowl-shaped area of land surrounded by higher lands.
Biome-A community of plants and animals living together in a particular climate.
Broadleaf-A type of tree with wide, flat leaves.
Carbon dioxide-A gas in air that is taken in by plants, exhaled by animals, and given off when fuel is burned. A carbon dioxide molecule is formed when two oxygen atoms combine with a single carbon atom.
Celsius scale (C)-The metric temperature scale where 0 degrees is assigned to the temperature where water freezes, and 100 to the temperature where water boils.
Centimeter (cm)-A unit of length in the metric system. There are 100 centimeters in a meter.
Chlorophyll-A green pigment found in plants, necessary for conducting photosynthesis.
Classify-To arrange in groups according to specified similarities.
Climate-The average weather conditions of an area over many years, as measured by temperature, wind speed, and precipitation.
Climograph-A representation of a single location’s basic climate in graph format. Climographs plot two variables: monthly average temperature and monthly average precipitation. Together these variables give an idea of the location’s climate.
Community-The whole group of plants and animals that interact in a common location.
Competition-The active demand by two or more organisms, such as plants, for some environmental resource in short supply.
Conserve-To preserve, or to avoid wasteful use.
Correlate-To show a relationship between things.
Deciduous tree-One of a group of trees that lose their leaves in the fall.
Dormant-Inactive or asleep, but capable of waking up; not actively growing, but protected from the environment.
Drought-A period of dryness, that when prolonged, causes damage to crops; a shortage of water.
Elevation-The height of a place above sea level.
Environment-The surroundings in which a person, plant or animal lives, including the air, water, and land.
Epiphyte-An organism that grows on another organism. The two organisms do not take nutrients from or give nutrients to each other.
Equator-An imaginary circle around the Earth that lies halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole.
Evaporate-To change from a liquid to a gas.
Evergreen-A plant that stays green all year, including firs and pines.
Fluctuate-To change back and forth uncertainly.
Fungus-An organism that grows from spores, not seeds, usually classified as a plant without chlorophyll, such as mold, mildew, mushrooms, and yeast.
Growing season-The time of the year when crops grow.
Humid-Containing moisture.
Hypothesis-An educated guess; a likely explanation for a problem.
Insulate-To separate to prevent transfer of electricity, heat, or sound.
investigate-To observe or study closely.
Landforms-Shapes, like mountains or hills, that make up the Earth's surface.
Latitude-Imaginary lines on a map or globe that measure distance in degrees north or south of the equator. Latitude lines extend horizontally, from east to west on a globe.
Longitude-Imaginary lines on a map or globe that measure distance in degrees east or west of the prime meridian. Longitude lines extend vertically, from pole to pole on a globe.
Mean-The average.
Millimeter (mm)-A unit for measuring length in the metric system. There are 10 mm in 1 cm, and 1,000 mm in a meter.
Needleleaf-A type of tree with long, thin leaves.
Nutrient-A material that plants and animals need to live and grow.
Organism-A living being.
Oxygen-A gas that is given off by plants and used by animals.
Perennials-Plants that complete a growing cycle each year for several years.
Photosynthesis-The process by which plants use light, carbon dioxide, and water to make food.
Plain-A large area of flat or nearly flat land.
Prairie-Flat land covered with tall grass and wildflowers.
Precipitation-Moisture that falls to the ground from clouds; includes rain, snow, sleet, and hail.
Predominant-Most frequent or most common.
Property-Something about an organism or object that can be observed, such as size or shape; characteristics common to all members of a group.
Reflect-To bend or fold back, to change direction.
Region-A large area with common features that set it apart from other areas.
Resource-Something that is useful.
Sod-A thick layer of soil.
Species-A group of organisms having common attributes and given a common name.
Steppe-A flat, dry plain covered with short grass.
Symbiosis-Living together in a way that benefits both individuals.
Temperature-The degree of hotness or coldness of a substance as measured by a thermometer.
Thrive-To flourish or grow vigorously.
Tolerate-To put up with, endure, or withstand.
Vegetation-Plant life of an area.