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Biology > 34.14-18 > Flashcards

34.14-18 Flashcards

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1
Q

what are the characteristics of a coniferous tree?

A

Narrow pyramidal shape, cone-bearing

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2
Q

At what latitudes are tundras found?

A

50-60 degrees N

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3
Q

What types of trees are found in coniferous forests?

A

Cone-bearing evergreen trees, such as spruce, fir, pine and hemlock.

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4
Q

What is an alternate name for northern coniferous forests

A

the taiga

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5
Q

What does “coniferous” mean?

A

woody evergreens that have cones and needles rather than leaves

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6
Q

What is so defining about the taiga?

A

it is the largest terrestrial biome on earth, located in Canada and Russia, mostly

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7
Q

Besides the far north, where can taigas be found?

A

at cool, high elevations in more temperate latitudes. Western North America, for example.

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8
Q

What are the seasons like in the taiga?

A

long, cold, winters and short, wet summers

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9
Q

What is the soil quality like in coniferous forests?

A

Thin and acidic; coniferous needles do not decompose well. There are few nutrients.

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10
Q

What is the precipitation like in coniferous forests?

A

Found mostly in the form of snow, a moderate amount.

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11
Q

How do trees adapt to the heaviness of snow?

A

Conical shape and density of branches.

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12
Q

What are common animals found in the taiga?

A

Moose, elk, hares, bears, wolves, grouse, and migratory birds

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13
Q

What are the common adaptations of organisms in the taiga?

A

Migration, hibernation, thick fur, large paws (like snowshoes) and camouflage.

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14
Q

What is another example of coniferous forests?

A

The temperate rain forests of coastal North America (in Washington and Oregon)

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15
Q

What supports the temperate rain forest biome?

A

Warm, moist air from the Pacific Ocean.

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16
Q

In the coniferous forest variant, temperate rain forest, what are the most common trees?

A

hemlock, Douglas Fir and redwood. *These trees are heavily logged

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17
Q

How does the soil of northern coniferous forests differ from that of a broadleaf forest?

A

The soil is thinner, nutrient poor, and acidic because conifer needles decompose slowly in the low temperatures.

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18
Q

What is the russian word “tundra” mean?

A

Marshy plain.

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19
Q

Where are tundras located

A

Between the taiga and polar ice. Very far north.

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20
Q

What does the climate diagram describe the coniferous forest as?

A

Middling temperature, moderate rain. However, remember coldness of taigas.

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21
Q

What is the climate of the tundra?

A

colder and lacking precipitation (almost as little as deserts).

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22
Q

When do tundras have small amounts of light?

A

winter and autumn.

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23
Q

What is the soil quality like the arctic tundras?

A

The subsoil is permafrost, meaning it is constantly frozen, and only higher regions melt in summer.

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24
Q

However, if arctic tundras and deserts receive similar amounts of water, how do their soils differenciate?

A

Because of the arctic tundra’s permafrost, the soil has poor drainage. Adding on slow evaporation from the lack of sun, the small amount of water remains to saturate the soil.

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25
Q

Why are there few trees in tundras?

A

The permafrost prevents deep root systems.

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26
Q

What plants are more common to tundras?

A

dwarf shrubs, grasses (herbaceous plants) mosses and lichens.

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27
Q

what is the main producer for taigas?

A

coniferous trees.

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28
Q

what is the main consumer for taigas?

A

insects, rodents, birds and deer

29
Q

what is the main decomposer for taigas?

A

fungi

30
Q

When can tundras have plants that grow?

A

During the summer in the light.

31
Q

What are summers like in tundras?

A

They have almost constant light.

32
Q

Why are plants so short in tundras?

A

Because of high winds that would threaten to kill them if they were taller.

33
Q

Where are alpine tundras found?

A

On the top of mountains with high winds and cold temperatures. They can be found at all latitudes.

34
Q

What is a key difference between arctic and alpine tundra?

A

Alpine does not have permafrost.

35
Q

What are common adaptations to the tundra?

A

Warm winter coats, heat efficient body type, camouflage, hibernation, snow as insulation, perennials, and heat efficiency.

36
Q

What are the large herbivores of the tundra?

A

musk oxen, caribou

37
Q

What are the smaller animals of the tundra?

A

lemmings (rodents) arctic fox, snow owl.

38
Q

What behavioral adaptation is seen in tundras?

A

There are many migratory animals, as well, such as waterfowl and mosquitos.

39
Q

What is the main producer for the tundra?

A

Lichen

40
Q

What is the main consumer(s) of the tundra?

A

pikas, musk oxen, caribou, lemmings and arctic hares.

41
Q

What is the main decomposer(s) of the tundra?

A

bacteria and fungi

42
Q

What three abiotic factor account for the rarity of trees in the arctic tundra?

A

Long, very cold winters (short growing season), high winds, and permafrost in soil

43
Q

What covers the land north of the tundra?

A

polar ice; the arctic ocean is continually frozen.

44
Q

What happens in anarctica?

A

South, surrounded by a ring of sea ice and numerous islands.

45
Q

What is the climate like in polar ice areas?

A

incredibly cold and little rain.

46
Q

what species manage to survive in polar ice areas?

A

mosses, lichens,and invertebrates nematodes, mites and wingless insects?

47
Q

What biome does polar ice interact with?

A

Marine biome: often penguins and seals, among others, inhabit this region.

48
Q

What are all the individual biomes and their landscapes linked by?

A

The water cycle.

49
Q

Because of the interconnectedness of the water cycle…?

A

events in one biome can be felt around the world.

50
Q

What drives water and air movement?

A

solar energy

51
Q

What three processes move water between land, oceans and the atmosphere?

A

evaporation, precipitation and transpiration.

52
Q

What is the ratio of evaporation to precipitation over oceans?

A

More evaporation than precipitation.

53
Q

What does the water systems dynamic over the ocean cause?

A

The large amount of water vapor in clouds are carried by wind to land.

54
Q

What is the ratio of evaporation to precipitation over land?

A

More precipitation than evaporation (and transpiration).

55
Q

What does the water systems dynamic over land cause?

A

Excess water creates surface water (lakes and rivers) and groundwater, which go back to the sea.

56
Q

define groundwater.

A

water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock

57
Q

What does water flowing from land bring with it?

A

Water carries silt (fertilizers, pesticides, chemicals in general).

58
Q

How does silt affect the oceans?

A

It can muddy the waters and diminish the light available for phytoplankton to power coral reefs. In addition, the water can carry harmful pesticides like DDT incredible distances.

59
Q

What are airborne pollutants are trapped in the water cycle?

A

sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides

60
Q

How do humans affect the water cycle?

A

By cutting down large amounts of trees, we reduce the transpiration.

61
Q

What is the main way that living organisms contribute to the water cycle?

A

Plants move water from the ground to the atmosphere via transpiration.

62
Q

Where are temperate broadleaf forests found?

A

Midlatitude, North America.

63
Q

How much precipitation in broadleaf forests?

A

30-60 inches.

64
Q

Temperature range?

A

-30 to 30 degrees celsius.

65
Q

How long is the growing season in temperate broadleaf forests?

A

5-6 months; they have distinct seasons.

66
Q

Why is the soil quality so good in temperate broadleaf forests?

A

Rates of decomposition are slower.

67
Q

What creatures inhabit temperate broadleaf forests?

A

Invertebrates: mice, shrew, squirrels. Birds. Bobcats, foxes black bears and mountain lions, predators.

68
Q

What are the main producers in the temperate broadleaf forests

A

deciduous trees: oaks, maples, beeches, chesnuts, birches aspen.

69
Q

What are the most common decomposers in a temperate broadleaf forest?

A

fungi, worms, insects, bacteria molds.

Biology (17 decks)

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