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Ecology/conservation > 1. terrestrial systems > Flashcards

1. terrestrial systems Flashcards

1
Q

what are the four mains aspects of ecology

A
  1. abundance
  2. distribution
  3. interactions
  4. patterns (phenology)
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2
Q

How to describe patterns

A

what and where questions

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3
Q

How to explain patterns

A

how and why questions

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4
Q

What are julian days and where are they used

A

Julian days are days of the year within the julian calendar (1-365 days) they are used in phenology graphs

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5
Q

what is phenology concerned with

A

cyclic, seasonal, periodic and time dependent patterns in nature (life cycles) related to environmental and climatic triggers and variations

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6
Q

what causes a phenology event

A

environmental trigger

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7
Q

what do phenology events cause

A

phenology events are growth stages, milestones

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8
Q

what is a shift in phenology

A

variations in climatic conditions eg higher temperatures early in the year

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9
Q

what is a biome

A

large biological community (all organisms) that has been shaped by its climate, they share common features due to the common climate.

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10
Q

How are biomes defined

A

by structure of the vegetation

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11
Q

10 major biomes

A
  1. Desert
  2. Grassland
  3. Island
  4. savanna
  5. Tropical Forest
  6. Temperate deciduous forest
  7. temperate evergreen forest
  8. tundra
  9. mountains
  10. wetlands
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12
Q

what are the major variables effecting biomes (7)

A

strongly determined by climate, temperature, precipitation, radiation and albedo, seasonality and soil and topography

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13
Q

what are the two variables that affect temperature

A

patterns with latitude and altidue this affects air temperature.

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14
Q

is there more change in longitude or altitude in air temperature

A

atilitide. 1 degree change for every 22m vertically vs 145km longitude

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15
Q

what is the relationship between precipitation and temperature with an example

A

this affects predominate vegetation structure therefore causing different biomes. example high p high t = evergreen forest. low p and high t = deserts

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16
Q

when looking at temperature (daily, monthly yearly) what three aspects must be considered that will effect the biome

A

mean, maxima and minima

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17
Q

what is seasonality and how does it affect biomes

A

seasonality is regular change that occurs in a calander year in relation to envrionmental variables eg precipitation dominance.

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18
Q

what is the effect of environmental change to a system

A

known as disturbance which can differ in scale and frequency, can change the composisiton of communities however systems usually return to orginal state after disturbance unless continous/ large

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19
Q

what are two methods of proxy climate change

A
  1. tree rings (width to record past climatic conditions)

2. ice cores (measure of gas bubbles co2 concentrations and other materials

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20
Q

what is the keeling curve

A

a station located in mauna loa (hawaii) that measures co2 concentrations since 1960s, showing rise in co2. sawtooth pattern reflects deciduous tree seasonality

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21
Q

4 main green house gas components

A 
there are 43 gases
CO2
N2O
CH4 
water vapour
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22
Q

in order of emissions list the 5 highest contributors of green house gases

A
  1. energy
  2. transport
  3. agriculture
  4. industry and products
  5. waste
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23
Q

how do we know the climate temp is increasing looking at temperatures

A

looking at anomiles divations from mean (since 1970s always been hotter)

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24
Q

how has rainfall anomalies changed since 1910

A

large events increasing causing higher risk of flooding

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25
Q

how does climate change relate to phenology

A

phenological shifts are early warning signs to climate change.

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26
Q

what are the 4 complex ecological changes occuring under climate change

A
  1. abundance change
  2. growing season change
  3. morphology shifts
  4. range shifts
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27
Q

what are GGD

A

growing degree days. quanity warmth above a baseline experienced over time by an organism, needed for development.

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28
Q

how is GGD calculated

A

average of daily max and min and compare to base temp or winter low

(Tmax + Tmin)/2 - Tbase

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29
Q

in the simplist of definitions, what is a plant community?

A

a distinct collection of plant species within a geographical unit that are distinguishable from other plant communities

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30
Q

simply; what is the debate surronding plant communities

A

are communties fundamental units that exist in nature or are humans imposing a sturcture onto nature that doesnt really exist?

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31
Q

who are the two key opinions in the plant communities debate and what are their views?

A
  1. clements (1937). communities are superogranisms, descrete and highly organised
  2. Gleason (1917,26)
    vegetation is individualistic, chance and interactions shape distributions (no organisation)
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32
Q

what is the view currently held by ecologists about plant communities debate

A

boundaries are diffuse however communities exist and can be recognised in nature

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33
Q

describe the main vegetation patterns in australia

A
  1. rainforests in northern east coast (tropical hot)
  2. equcalypt forests on east coast (temperate wet)
  3. humic grasslands in arid centre (hot dry)
  4. acia shurbs edge of grasslands
  5. savannah north
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34
Q

describe main climate, geology and vegetation of sydney basin

A

geomorphology: cumberland plain surrounded by plateau to north and south and blue moutains to west.
climate: gradiant from east of west of wet to dry to wet again.

geology and soil: majority of the basin is wianamatta shale with hawsbury sandstone (low nutrient with woodlands and forests)

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35
Q

how has vegetation in the sydney basin changed since colonisation

A

widespread land clearing in the cumberland plain resulting in fragmented vegetation communities. while some national parks exists it is not representative of all communities exisiting pre 1788.

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36
Q

what are the three classification schemes

A
  1. beadle and costin
  2. specht
  3. leaf texture of trees
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37
Q

main differences between schemes

A
  1. beadle and costin: based on structural plant formations needing botany to understand
  2. specht: simple repetitive system based on attributes, woody species easist to classify however difficlut for non woody types
  3. Leaf texture:
    not as complex, based on leaf type (hard or soft) and understory leaf type
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38
Q

what can make a map out of date

A

disturbance, clearance or new classifications of species

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39
Q

what is specific leaf area

A

a measure of leaf thickness (leaf area/mass)

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40
Q

what are the difference between mesomorphic and sclerophyllous leaves

A

mesomorphic leaves are thin soft horizonal found in humid tropical envrionments

sclerophyllous leaves are hard thick pendulous and small found in harsher abotic environments

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41
Q

difference between open and closed forest

A

closed light is blocked from canopy

open forests are seperated and light can penetrate into understory

42
Q

what is Braun-Blanquet Scale

A

measure of cover and abundance (%) for species

43
Q

mapping process (6 steps)

A
  1. field survey and plot samples of plant composition and structure
  2. classification of site to community type
  3. correlation to environmental variables
  4. spaital model of community distribution
  5. accuracy assessment
  6. aerial photographs
44
Q

main patterns in forests australia

A
  1. ecualpty edge
  2. semi arid acacia
  3. inland mainly not forested (some woodlands)
45
Q

global rainforest distribution

A

equitorial region

46
Q

what is a rainforest

A

closed canopy forest of mesomorphic species

47
Q

what makes gondwanan rainforests distinctive

A

high conservation value, more than 200 rare or threatended species
and many relic taxa.

There are more than 50 reserves of the forest, the rest has been cleared making this area very fragmented

48
Q

when was the canopy discovered

A

exploration began in 1980s, new study dendronautics

49
Q

temperate rainforests global distribuTIon

A

restircted, non equitorial usually in coastal regions

50
Q

distinct Tarkine

A

largest single remaining temperate rainforest in AUS, provides habitat for over 60 rare and endagered specoes and has high diversity. while 80% protected from logging only 5% is protected by mining due to aus law therefore conservation debate

51
Q

greater blue mountains heritage site

A

represents adaptability and evolution post gondawana isolation and protecting relic species eg wollemia

52
Q

approx economic value of one single tree per year

A

~$50 000 by providing utility of co2 reduction, energy saving, air quaility imporve, increase property vlaue and strom water reduction

53
Q

what is a sustainable harvest

A

harvest in surplus. need to know the carrying capacity of the envrionment and population ecology

54
Q

wahat is MSY maximum sustainable yeild

A

max amount harvested that can be sustainable (assuming no flucation in envrionemnt) this is 1/2 carrying capacity or equilibium point where by after harvest populatiosn will return to carrying capacity

55
Q

what is a resource collapse

A

where harvests exceed MSY and wild populations are depleted

56
Q

what is Bioeconomic theory

A

harvest for maximal social and economic benefit

57
Q

tradgey of commons

A

Using resources from the commons has benefits for the individual but the costs are shared communally.

short term profit there’s no incentive to conserve. finite resources are overexploited. therefore needs to regulate

58
Q

pine tree invasion

A

most occur near plantation sites however these wildings produce progency. where the seed was dropped resulted in outcome (farmlands eated)

59
Q

what is a bioregion

A

large geographically distinct area of land with common geolomorpholigical, climatic and ecological features

60
Q

issue with national reserve systems

A

not all bioregions are represented meaning they are not all preserved in these areas of reserves.

61
Q

where do eucalypt forests mainly occur in aus

A

allow the coasts in temperature areas

62
Q

how is a woodland classified

A

by the height of the dominant vegetation ie eucalpyt forests

63
Q

what is a eucalpyt open forest and where do they occur

A

usually in low rainfall areas, understorey of shurbs and grasses.

64
Q

what are the great western woodlands

A

occur in WA, biome of temperature woodlands that is a global biodiversity hotspot with many endemic species

65
Q

what is a basal area

A

measurement of a tree. measured at ‘breast height’ ~ 1.3 m above ground.

66
Q

what is a stand basal area

A

area sum of basal areas of trees in a stand (an indentified mapped area of forest). m2

67
Q

what can stand basal area be used for

A

to classify an open or closed woodland forest. (eg 2 m2/ha is open vs 30 m2/ha closed)

furthermore can be used to estimate tree biomass. the greater the basal area the greater the biomass. carbon storage is also calculated from this biomass.

68
Q

how is climate change impacting fire ecology

A

climate change causes hotter and drier conditions resuilting in larger and more intense mega fires. these mega fires cannot be prevented with prescribed burning

69
Q

why are australian trees suseptible to fire?

A

low nutrient soils, lower rainfall, higher heat -> sclerophyll trees -> lignin doesnt break down = more accumulation litter (fuel)

plus

areas of exposed wind =
high fire suseptilibilty

70
Q

what is a fire interval

A

length of time between one fire and the previous

71
Q

what is a fire period

A

the fire interval averaged over a number of fires eg 4 fires in 20 years = fire period of 5

72
Q

what is a fire interval and fire period important

A

defines what vegetaion and organisms will live there. recovery and reproduction of a species.

73
Q

what is a fire tolerant interval

A

the time ebtween a species reaching reproductive maturity and senescence when reproduction stops. if a fire occurs before or after these stages it may prevent recovery of the cpmmunity. each species has a different fire tolerant interval

74
Q

natural fire interval vary between biomes. which is the most frequent fire cycles vs the longest globally and in aus

A

globally:
tropical forests lowest frequency ~1000 yrs
grasslands highest ~1 yr.

aus: savanahsn in north highest ~ 1 yr. tasmania lowest ~ 10
but varies everywhere. higher frequency in north compared to south.

75
Q

what incourgases the intensity of a fire

A

high winds, high temps, low humidity incourages high spread.

76
Q

how can fire intensity be inferred post fire

A

2 methods:

  1. char height. the highest blackened levas attatched to ta tree
  2. leaf scorch height. where the leavs in the tree canpoy are killed.

with growing intensity = higher heights

77
Q

what shape are fires usually

A

elliptical from point source. the maximum intensity is at the head while the flanks at the sides and edges are at lower intensity (variation)

78
Q

intensity of a a fire equation

A

intensity = heat yeild of fuel * weigth of fuel * rate of forward spread

79
Q

how does topograohy affect fire intensity

A

upslope more contact area = travles quciker. also wind speed will indensify fire.

80
Q

fires can have positive effects for plants. list some and some reasons

A

increase productivity, flowering, germination, release of seed, estbalishment

(higher nurtients, decreased herbivory, removal of competation)

81
Q

3 ways plants can regrow after a fire

A
  1. lignotuber (underground nodules on roots)
  2. coppicing (growth from the shoot)
  3. suckering (shoots from the root in various places)
82
Q

what are the two types of plant responses to fire

A
  1. non sprouters AKA obligate seeders (die if scorched will release seeds)
  2. sprouters (will reshoot after scorched)
83
Q

how do obligate seeders and sprouters differ in location

A

spouters occur in areas frequently burned while obligate occur in areas rarely burned

84
Q

difference between woodlands and forests

A 
woodlands = simple diversity, shorter and space. 
forests = taller, more diversity, higher rainfall
85
Q

what are the types of grasses

A

all from the smae family poaceace

there are true grasses (cereals, bamboo, turf) and informa; grasses (sedges and rushes)

86
Q

how are grass species idensitified

A

throught anatomy, differences in tiller (stem), leaf blade, spike etc

87
Q

what is a spike

A

reproductive part of the grass.

88
Q

what is the difference between c3 and c4 plants

A

difference in photosythetic pathway of the species. c4 is more efficenct in fixing carbon as it uses pepc while c3 just uses rubisco.

89
Q

how is the difference for c3 and c4 grasses important for climate change

A

c4 are more efficenct with water use. they can occur in higher temps with lower quality feed and high light.
this means it may favour climate chnage comapred to c3 which usually reqauires cooler climates with high moisture

90
Q

what is digestability in reference to grasses

A

measure of the quality of grass (energy content of feed) related to the amount of energy needed for an animal - usually livestock. it is a measure of the proportion of grass utilised by an animal. it influences the speed of digestion (higher quality = quciker)

91
Q

what is a crude protien

A

related to digestability of grasses. as crude protein increases so do livestock performance.

92
Q

how has grasses changed since colonisation

A

dominant grasses would have varied with alt and rainfall however favoured regular burning and light grazing pressure. -> change to more resiliant to grazing, livestock requirements

93
Q

how does greater plant diversity effect productibity

A

greater primary productivity. more productive spieces present at higher diversity.
= more stability

94
Q

results from global nurtient enrichment experiment

A

more nurtients = fwer species, less light but more biomass

95
Q

why are long term studies of grasslands important

A

change is only observed after decades.

96
Q

what are rangelands

A

in arid and semi arid areas west of WSB. native pasture grazing.

97
Q

issues of cattle grazing for native species

A
  • tampling desturction of habitat and soil compaction
  • over grazing, loss of shelther and predation increase
  • competetion for food and selective grazing impact reuges
98
Q

impact of study removal cattle from regions

A

historic grazing has effected recovery. more rodents, more mammals, not affected reptiles

99
Q

what is the tree boundary of an apline region

A

region where trees cannot grow due to climatic limit (high altitudes

100
Q

how has the aus government justified hard hooved livestock and feral animals in the apline regions

A

they claim they reduce biomass therefore reduce thr risk fo fires however long term monitoring has shown there is no difference in grazed and ungrazed areas fire damage.

101
Q

how does leaf colour shape and orientation effect temperature

A

horzontal and vertical = different soloar radiation. in hotter areas (ie arid) leaves will be pendulous or verticle and litter colour

Ecology/conservation (4 decks)

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