#18 Global Ecology & Conservation

Question 1

Biosphere

Answer 1

The combined total of all of the Earth’s ecosystems functioning together
(atmosphere -> deep ocean)
Self-contained system except for input and output of solar energy

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

Often determines the distribution of terrestrial communities

Question 3

Solar radiation

Answer 3

Unequal (concentrate at equator; spread out at poles) seasons

Question 4

Tropics

Answer 4

Between 23.5 north and 23.5. south

-uneven heating causes rain and winds

Question 5

Temperate zones

Answer 5

Between the tropics and

• Arctic circle (North)
• Antarctic circle (South)

Question 6

Prevailing wind patterns result from

Answer 6

• rising and falling air masses
• Earth’s rotation
• in tropics, vertical wind circulation because rapidly moving surface
• in temperate zones, westerlies (west -> east wind) because slower-mivng surface

Question 7

Ocean currents

Answer 7

Flow patterns in ocean

Have profound effects on regional climates

Result from combination of:

• prevailing winds
• earth’s rotation
• unequal heating of waters
• location & shapes of continents

Question 8

Near mountains, rainfall is effected by

Answer 8

• location of mountains
• prevailing winds
• ocean current patterns

Question 9

Control the global distribution of organisms

Answer 9

Climate and other abiotic factors

Question 10

Biomes

Answer 10

Result from influence of abiotic factors

The major types of ecological associations that occupy broad geographic regions of land or water

Question 11

Intertidal zones (transitional)

Answer 11

Where the ocean meets the land and the shore

• pounded by waves during high tide
• exposed to the sun and drying winds during low tide

Question 12

Estuaries (transitional)

Answer 12

Productive areas where rivers meet the ocean

Question 13

Wetlands (transitional)

Answer 13

Transitional between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

Question 14

Freshwater biomes

Answer 14

Either standing water biomes (lakes and ponds) or flowing water biomes (rivers and streams)

Question 15

Terrestrial biomes

Answer 15

Distinguished by predominant vegetation
Largely depend on climate (temperature and precipitation)
Same biome may occur in geographically distant places if climate is similar

Question 16

Tropical forests

Answer 16

Found near equator

• Heat
• Water

Question 17

Savannas

Answer 17

Grassland with scattered trees

• warm year round
• seasonal variations

Question 18

Deserts

Answer 18

Dry

• low and unpredictable rainfall
• border tropical regions

Question 19

Chaparral

Answer 19

Dominated by spiny shrubs

Question 20

Temperate grasslands

Answer 20

Mostly treeless

• cold winters
• hot summers
• more inland

Question 21

Temperate forests

Answer 21

Dominated by broad trees

• moisture -> large trees
• seasonal variation in climate

Question 22

Coniferous forests

Answer 22

Dominated by a few species of trees

Question 23

Tundra

Answer 23

Long, bitter-cold winters

• treeless
• arctic
• little precipitation

Question 24

High latitudes

Answer 24

Polar ice covers land

Question 25

Threats to the biosphere

Answer 25

Humans (mass extinction, changing climate)

Extinction:

• habitat destruction
• introduced species
• overexploitation

Climate change

Question 26

Greenhouse effect

Answer 26

CO2 absorbs heat and slows escape from the Earth (necessary for life!)

Question 27

Carbon cycle

Answer 27

Burning fossil fuels transfers large amounts of carbon from one abiotic reservoir to another by releasing CO2 into the atmosphere
Created imbalance (warmer Earth because greenhouse effect)

Question 28

Global warming

Answer 28

Earth getting warmer

• faster now than recent history
• correlates with human-increased CO2

Question 29

Greenhouse gases most important to climate change

Answer 29

CO2
Methane
Nitrous oxide

All have increased since mid-1900 (industrial revolution)