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ESS (christin) > 2.4 Biomes, Zonation and Succession > Flashcards

2.4 Biomes, Zonation and Succession Flashcards

1
Q

Define biome

A

collections of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions that can be grouped into five major classes

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2
Q

Explain the distributions, structure, biodiversity, and relative productivity of deserts

A

distribution:
- covers 20-30 percent of the land surface
- dry air
- high temperatures (45-49 C in day)
- low precipitation (250 mm yr-1)

structure:
- vegetation scarce (absence of trees).
- soil has low water holding capacity, low fertility

relative productivity:
- low rates of photosynthesis
- low NPP rates

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3
Q

5 major classes of biomes

A

aquatic, forest, grassland, desert and tundra

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4
Q

Explain the distributions, structure, biodiversity, and relative productivity of a tundra

A

distributions:
- high alt
- low temps
- seasonal sunlight
- short day length
- low percipitation

structure:
- simple
- vegetation = low, single layer
- abscence of tall trees
- frozen permafrost = soil limit productivity

relative productivity:
- low mean NPP
- 0.14 kgm-2yr-1

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5
Q

Explain the distributions, structure, biodiversity, and relative productivity of a tropical rainforest

A

distribution:
- found between tropics of cancer and capricorn
- high rainfall
- high sunlight
- high temperatures
- no seasons = consistent light keeps temperatures

structure:
- complex structure
- emergent trees (up to 50m)
- dense canopy
- only 1% of light reaches floor
- soil = thin -> nutrients = poor

relative productivity:
- low mean NPP
- 2.2 kgm-2yr-1

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6
Q

Explain the distributions, structure, biodiversity, and relative productivity of a temperate forest

A

distribution:
- seasonal weather (hot summers/cold winters)
- mild climate, lower average temperature / lower rainfall

structure:
- 2 types of tree types in forests; Evergreen + deciduous could be in one forest or contain both trees
- rainfall average between 500-1500 mm yr-1

relative productivity:
- high mean NPP
- 1.20 kgm-2yr-1

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7
Q

define insolation

A

the amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface and affects temperature.

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8
Q

define precipitation

A

when rain, snow, sleet or hail falls from the sky.

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9
Q

​what shows how insolation, precipitation and temperature determine the distribution of the biomes

A

Tri Cellular model of Atmospheric Circulation

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10
Q

Intro how the tricellular model contributes to the distribution of biomes

A

The tricellular model explains the distribution of precipitation and temperature and how they influence structure and relative productivity of different terrestrial biomes. The tricellular model is made up of three different air masses, these control atmospheric movements and the redistribution of heat energy. The three air masses, starting from the equator, are called the Hadley cell, Ferrel cell and the polar cell.

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11
Q

Discuss how climate change is impacting biomes and causing them to shift.

A
  • increases in co2 + other greenhouse gases lead to an increase in global temperatures -> affect rainfall patterns
  • these changes in climate affect the distribution of biomes
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12
Q

Convection Currents

A

Warm air rises as it heats and becomes less dense, cools at higher altitudes, increases in density, and descends, driving atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns that influence global climate and biome distribution.

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13
Q

define zonation

A

refers to changes in community along an environmental gradient due to factors such as changes in altitude, latitude, tidal level or distance from shore (coverage by water).

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14
Q

define succession

A

the long term change in the composition of a community

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15
Q

difference zonation versus succession

A

zonation is a spacial phenomenon whereas succession is a temporal phenomenon

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16
Q

example zonation

A

rocky seashore:
The distinct vertical layers experience particular abiotic conditions. This is particularly clear in the distribution of plants and animals on a rocky seashore, where different species inhabit a series of horizontal strips or belts of the shore, approximately parallel to the water’s edge. In many places the strips (zones) are sharply bounded by the differently coloured seaweeds that populate them.

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17
Q

primary succession

A
  • Begins with no life
  • No soil present
  • New area (e.g., volcanic island)
  • Lichen and moss come first
  • Biomass is low
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18
Q

secondary succession

A
  • begins after removal of existing life
  • soil present
  • old area
  • biomass is higher
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19
Q

early stages versus later changes in climax community

A

Early Stages of Succession:
- gpp = low (low density)
- npp = high (low R)

Later Stages/Climax Community:
- GPP = high (high density)
- NPP = low (high R)

20
Q

Explain how succession links to habitat, species and genetic diversity​

A

Succession increases species diversity as there are new habitats been formed and a more complex ecosystem had been formed. An increased species diversity causes an increased genetic diversity

21
Q

r strategist characteristics

A

Short life
Rapid growth
Early maturity
Numerous and small offspring
Little parental care or protection
Little investment in individual offspring
Adapted to unstable environment.
Pioneers, colonizers
Niche generalists
Prey
Regulated mainly by external factors
Lower trophic level

22
Q

k strategist characteristics

A

Long life
Slower growth
Late maturity
Fewer, but larger offspring
High parental care and protection
High investment in individual offspring
Adapted to stable environment
Later stages of succession
Niche specialist
Predators
Regulated mainly by internal factors (homeostasis)
Higher trophic level

23
Q

Compare and contrast r and K strategist species including their roles in succession.

A

pioneer communites: suited to r-strategist

climax communities: suited to k-strategist

24
Q

Distinguish the roles of r and k strategists in succession.

A

As succession proceeds, r strategists will tend to be replaced by more competitive (k-selected) species. They tend to inhabit relatively stable biological communities, such as late-successional or climax forests

25
Q

Discuss the factors that could lead to alternative stable states in an ecosystem.

A

Ecosystems can shift from one state to another due to changes in the ecosystem. These changes are quantities that change quickly in response to feedbacks from the system. This means tht different states can exist simultaneously under equal environmental conditions. These will be dependent:
1.Climatic Factors
2.Soil Properties
3.Random Events

26
Q

changes in energy flow, gross productivity, and net productivity during succession

A

early stages:
- Gross Productivity low bc low density of producers
- Net Productivity high bc low levels of community respiration

later stages:
- Gross Productivity high in climax community
- GP and respiration are balanced
- NPP approaches zero

27
Q

2 components of stability

A

Resistance - the ability of the ecosystem to continue to function without change when stressed by disturbance.
Resilience - the ability of the ecosystem to recover after disturbance.

28
Q

factors affecting stability

A
  • Disturbance frequency and intensity (how often and what kind of tillage)
  • Species diversity (intercropping or rotations), interactions (competition for water and nutrients from weed species), and life history strategies (do the species grow fast and produce many seeds or slow with few seeds)
  • Trophic complexity (how many functions are represented), redundancy (how many populations perform each function), food web structure (how do all of these groups interact)
  • Rate of nutrient or energy flux (how fast are nutrients and energy moving in and out of the system or input:output efficiency)
29
Q

List the ways in which humans can disrupt the process of succession.

A

by modifying the ecosystem, for agriculture, grazing pressure, or resource use such as deforestation. This diversion may be more or less permanent depending upon the resilience of the ecosystem.

30
Q

ecosystem resilience definition

A

the capacity of an ecosystem to recover from disturbance or withstand ongoing pressures.

31
Q

Coral reefs and resiliance

A

Coral reefs and other tropical marine ecosystems face disturbances such as cyclones, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, freshwater influxes, and various human activities

These disturbances can damage, stress, or kill components of the ecosystem, impacting its overall health and biodiversity.

A resilient ecosystem can fully recover from disturbances over time, returning to its original state of biodiversity and health. It may also absorb stresses with little or no sign of degradation, demonstrating its resilience against environmental challenges.

32
Q

Discuss the impact of climate change on biomes.

A
  • changes in patterns of rainfall
  • alterations in land and sea surface temps → shift in distribution of biomes
33
Q

case study to describe the pattern of change in the plant communities during succession

A

Lava from an erupting volcano incinerates everything in its path and forms new land that is made from inorganic material. While it is rich in minerals, the land cannot support a varied and complex ecosystem. Its capacity to sustain a stable ecosystem is limited. Pioneer species that colonize areas after volcanic eruptions include swordfern and green algae. A few small invertebrate animals may also venture into this territory, followed by crickets and spiders.

34
Q

Explain the general pattern of change in communities undergoing succession

A
  • The size of the organisms increases with trees, creating a more hospitable environment.
  • Energy flow becomes more complex as simple food chains become complex food webs.
  • Soil depth, humus, water-holding capacity, mineral content, and cycling all increase.
  • Biodiversity increases because more niches (lifestyle opportunities) appear and then falls as the climax community is reached.
  • NPP and GPP rise and then fall.
  • Productivity: Respiration ration falls.
35
Q

what determines the structure, function and distribution of biomes?

A

rainfall, temperature and insolation rates.

36
Q

how does the tricellular model of atmospheric circulation work?

A

winds meet from the N and S hemisphere:
- as substance gains heat energy, density decreases and particles rise
- as you go up, air cools, density increases + falls back toward earths surface
- these convection currents drive wind patterns -> affects biomes

37
Q

what changes occur during succession

A
  • size of organisms increase
  • energy flows become more complex
  • soil depth, humus, water holding capacity, mineral content, cycling -> increase
  • biodiversity increases and falls with climax community
  • NPP+ GPP rise/fall
  • production: R rise
38
Q

what changes in species diversity occur during succession

A
  • early stages: few species
  • increases w/ succession
  • balance is reached in amount of species
39
Q

what is the level of productivity during succession

A

zero

40
Q

example 4 causes of succession

A
  • climate change
  • fires
  • severe flooding
  • pest infestations
41
Q

what is respiration ratio

A

relationship when GPP is low but NPP is high bc of low rates of respiration (production/respiration ratio or P/R ratio)

42
Q

P/R> 1

A

biomass accumulates

43
Q

P/R<1

A

biomass depletes

44
Q

P/R = 1

A

a steady-state community results

45
Q

changes in diversity during succession

A

early stages:
- low biomass
- few niches

plant community:
- changes in every state
- leads to larger plants and greater complexity

later stages:
-> number of niches increases
-> food webs become more complex
-> habitat/species diversity increases

ESS (christin) (25 decks)

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