adaptive radiation
evolution from a common ancestor that results in diverse species adapted to different environments
biogeography
the large-scale geographic pattern in the distribution of species, and the causes and history of this distribution
biome
a group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms
biotic province
a geographical region inhabited by life forms of common ancestry bounded by barriers of life to other regions and the immigration of foreign species into that region
chaparral
a dense scrubland found in areas with Mediterranean climate (a long, warm dry season, and a cooler rainy season
convergent evolution
process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments
divergent evolution
organisms coming from an original ancestor but then forming a new species over time because of changes in environment, etc
ecological island
an area that is biologically isolated so that a species occurring within the area cannot mix with any other of the same species
exotic species
species introduced into a new area, one in which it had not evolved
realms
major biogeographic regions of Earth in which most animals have some common genetic heritage
taiga
forest of cold climates, of high latitudes, and high altitudes; also known as a boreal forest
taxa
categories that identify groups of living organisms based on evolutionary relationships or similarity of characters
tundra
treeless arctic or alpine biome characterized by cold, harsh winters, a short growing season, and potential for frost any month of the year; vegetation includes low-growing perennial plants, mosses and lichens