50 Flashcards
1
Q
what # of species are undescribed
A
5-30 million
2
Q
organismal ecology is subdivided into the disciplines of
A
physiological, evolutionary, behavioral ecology
3
Q
organismal ecology concerns hw
A
an organism’s structure, physiology, and (for animals) behavior meet the challenges posed by the environment
4
Q
population ecology concentrates mainly on
A
factors that affect how many individuals of a particular species live in an area
5
Q
community ecology focuses on how
A
interactions affect community structure and organization
6
Q
in ecosystem ecology, the emphasis is on
A
energy flow and chemical cycling among the various biotic and abiotic components
7
Q
landscape ecology focuses on
A
the factors controlling excahnges of energy, materials, and organisms among the ecosystem patches making up a landscape/seascape
8
Q
patchiness
A
environmentl characteristic; every landscape/seascape consists of a mosaic of diff types of “patches”
9
Q
precautionary principle
A
the introduction of a new product or process whose ultimate effects are disputed or unknown should be resisted
10
Q
dispersal
A
movement of individuals away from centers of high population density or from their area of origin
11
Q
one direct way to determine if dispersal is a key factor limiting distribution is to
A
observe the results of intentional/accidental transplants of a species to areas where it was previously absent
12
Q
for a transplant to be considered successful,
A
some of the organisms must not only survive in the new area but also reproduce there
13
Q
a transplant’s success may not be determined until
A
at least 1 life cycle is complete
14
Q
if a transplant is successful, then we can conclude that
A
the potential range of the species > actual range; the species could live in certain areas wher eit currently doesn’t
15
Q
when individuals seem to avoid certain habitats, even when the habitats are suitable, their distribution may be limited by
A
habitat selection behavior
16
Q
photoperiod
A
relative lenghts of daytime and nighttime
17
Q
wind amplifies the effects of environmental temperature on organisms by
A
increasing heat loss due to evaporation and convection; increasing the rate of evaporative cooling and transpiration
18
Q
wind can have a substantial effect on the morphology of plants by
A
inhibitng the growth of limbs on the windward side of trees, resulting in a “flagged” appearance
19
Q
4 abiotic factors __ are the major components of climate
A
temp, water, sunlight, wind
20
Q
climatic factors, particularly __ and __, have a major influence on the distribution of organisms
A
temp and water
21
Q
macroclimate
A
patterns on the global, regional, local level
22
Q
microclimate
A
very fine patterns – ex, those underneath fallen log
23
Q
earths global climate patterns are determined largely by
A
input of solar energy, planet’s movement in space
24
Q
__ contribute to the patchiness of the biosphere
A
regional and local climate variations
25
earths curved shape causes
latitudinal variation in sunlight intensity
26
tropics
regions that lie btwn 23.5degnorth and 23.5degsouth latitude
27
at higher latitudes, sunlight strikes earth at an __, and thus __
oblique angle; light energy is more diffuse
28
earths tilt causes
seasonal variation in solar radiation intensity
29
bc the planet is tilted on its axis by 23.5deg relative to its plane of orbit around the sun, the tropics experience
greatest annual solar radiation input and the least seasonal variation
30
seasonal variations of _ and _ ______
light, temp, ; increase steadily toward the poles
31
march,september equinox:
| equator? pole? hours of sunlight/darkness
equator faces sun directly; neither pole tilts toward sun; all regions experience 12h daylight, 12h darkness
32
december solstice: northerm hemipshere __, winter begins in __, summer begins in __
tilts away from sun; NH; SH
33
june solstice: northerm hemipshere __, winter begins in __, summer begins in __
tilts toward sun; SH,NH
34
as earth rotates on its axis, land __ moves __ than __, ___________ and creating __ and __
land near equator moves faster than land at poles, deflecting the winds from the vertical paths shown above; more easterly and westerly flows
35
cooling trade winds
blow easter to west in tropics
36
prevailing westerlies
west to east in temperate zones
37
temperate zones
regions btwn tropics and arctic/antarctic circle
38
high temps in tropics evaporate water from earths surface and cause warm, west air masses to rise and __
flow toward poles
39
high-altitude air masses (after releasing water content in tropics), now dry, descend toward earth, _____(2)
absorb moisture from land and creating an arid climate that make deserts common at 30degN and S latitudes
40
the air masses again rise and release abundant precipitation @
latitudes around 60deg N and S
41
why are the polar regions rainless and bitterly cold
air masses from 60deg latitudes flow toward the poles, where they absorb moisture and descend and flow back to the equator
42
when land is hotter than a large lake/ocean?
air over the land heats up and rises, drawing a cool breeze across the land
43
when large lake/ocean warmer than land?
air over water rises, drawing cooler air from the land to the water, replacing land's cool air with warmer air
44
what causes upwelling
seasonal changges in wind patterns
45
what causes development of tropical deciduous forests
belts of wet and dry air on both sides of equator move slightly northward and southward w/ the changing angle of sun, producing marked wet and dry seasons around 20deg latitudes
46
turnover defnition
lakes, semiannual mixing of waters as a result of changing temperature profiles
47
turnover brings
oxygenated water from lakes surface to bottom and nutrient-rich water from bottom to surface
48
when do turnovers occur
spring and autumn
49
why do cleared areas experience greater temperature extremes than forested areas
greater solar radiation and wind currents that are established by the rapid heating and cooling of open land
50
2 master factors limiting geographic ranges of organisms
temp and moisture
51
until __ yrs ago, continental glaciers covered north armerica and eurasia
16,000
52
what happened to tree distribution when climate warmed
tree distribution expanded northward
53
biomes
major types of ecological associations that occupy broad geographic regions of land/water
54
__ account for the largest part of the biosphere in terms of area
aquatic biomes
55
marine biomes salt concentrations
average 3%
56
freshwater biomes salt concentrations
<1%
57
the largest marine biomes, the __, cover __% of earths surface
oceans; 75
58
photic zone
upper layer; sufficient light for photosynthesis
59
aphotic zone
lower layer; little light penetrates
60
benthic zone
at the bottom of all aquatic biomes
61
benthic zone made of __ and __
sand, organic and inorganic sediments "ooze"
62
benthic zone occupied by
communities of organisms collectively called benthos
63
detritus
major food source for benthos; dead organic matter; rains down from photic zone
64
in aquatic environments, communities are distributed according to (4)
water depth, degree of light penetration, distance from shore, open water vs bottom
65
(3) found in photic zone
phyto, zooplankton, many fish species
66
most of the ocean volume is
virtually devoid of light (aphotic zone) and harbors relatively little life
67
(3) found in aphotic zone
microorganisms, sparse populations of luminescent fishes and invertebrates
68
temperate vs tropical lowland lakes
temperate: seasonal thermocline
| trop lowland: year-round thermocline
69
__ is low in oligotrophic lakes and high in eutrophic lakes
amount of decomposable organic matter in bottom sediments
70
oligotrophic lakes
nutrient-poor, oxygen-rich
71
eutrophic lakes
nutrient-rich, oxygen-poor if ice-covered in winter and in deepest zone during summer
72
oligotophic vs eutrophic lakes in terms of geologic features
oligotrophics tend to have less surface area relative to their depth
73
littoral zone
shallow, well-lighted waters close to shore
74
littoral zone inhabitants
rooted and floating aquatic plants
75
limnetic zone
water is too deep to support rooted aquatic plants
76
limnetic zone inhabitats
phyto, zooplankton and cyanobacteria
77
profundal zone
deep, open water, aphotic
78
top to bottom, lake layers
littoral, limnetic, profundal, benthic
79
benthic zone inhabitants
variety of invertebrate animals; species composition depends on oxygen levels
80
wetland
area covered w/ water for a long enough period to support aquatic plants
81
basin wetlands
develop in shallow basins, ranging from upland depressions to filled-in lakes and ponds
82
riverine wetlands
develop along shallow and periodically flooded banks of rivers and streams
83
fringe wetlands
occur along the coasts of large lakes and seas, where water flows back and forth b/c of rising lake levels or tidal actions; include both freshwater and marine biomes
84
swamps and bogs vegetation
swamps: woody plants
bogs: sphagnum mosses
85
wetlands are among the most
productive biomes on earth
86
chemical environment of wetlands
high organic production and decomposition; low in dissolved oxygens
87
wetlands have a high capacity to
filter dissolved nutrients and chemical pollutants
88
most prominent physical characteristic of streams and rivers
current
89
headwater streams are
cold, clear, turbulent, swift
90
farther downstream,
tributaries may have joined and formed a river; warmer and more turbid due to sediment
91
streams and rivers stratification
vertical zones, extending from surface water thru groundwater
92
headwaters are rich in
oxygen
93
chemical environment: streams and rivers; change?
salt and nutrient content of streams and rivers increases from headwaters to the mouth
94
headwater streams that flow thru grasslands/deserts may be rich in what vegetation
algae or rooted aquatic plants
95
streams that flow through temperate/tropical forests: __ is source of food for aquatic consumers
leaves and other organic matter produced by terrestrial vegetation are the primary source of food for aquatic consumers
96
in rivers, a large fraction of the organic matter consists of
dissolved and highly fragmented material carried by the current from forested headwater streams
97
estuary
transition area btwn river and sea
98
describe estuary flow patterns
rising tide: seawater flows up the estuary channel
| falling tide: seawater flows back down again
99
salinity varies w/
rise and fall of tides
100
__ make estuaries, like wetlands, __
nutrients from the river; among the most productive biomes
101
__ and ___ create a complex network of tidal channels, islands, natural levees, and mudflats
estuarine flow patterns, sediments carried by river and tidal water
102
major producers in estuaries
saltmarsh grasses, algae (inc. phytoplankton)
103
b/c of the abundant food in estuaries, many marine invertebrates and fishes use them as a
breeding ground
104
intertidal zone
periodically submerged and exposed by the tides, 2x daily on most marine shores
105
intertidal zone: __ and __ levels are __high/low;
| renewed w/
oxygen and nutrient levels are generally high;
| renewed w/ each turn of the tides
106
__ zone of rocky intertidal zones has more biodiversity
lower
107
substrates of intertidal zones are either __ or __
rocky, sandy
108
oceanic pelagic biome is
vast realm of open blue water, constantly mixed by wind-driven oceanic currents
109
__ turn over during __
surface waters of temperate ocean areas; fall thru spring
110
b/c of __, the __ zone of the __ biome extends to greater depths than in __
higher water clarity, photic, oceanic pelagic, coastal marine waters
111
oxygen levels in oceanic pelagic biome
high
112
oceanic pelagic biome -- __ lower than in coastal waters
nutrient concentrations
113
b/c they're __, some __ areas of oceanic pelagic biome have lower nutrient concentrations than __ regions
thermally stratified; tropical, temperate
114
oceanic pelagic biome covers __% of earths surface
70
115
oceanic pelagic biome has average depth of nearly
4000 m
116
deepest pt in the ocean is ___ beneath the surface
> 10,000 m
117
__ and __ produces a surge of phytoplankton growth
spring turnover, renewal of nutrients in temperate oceans
118
photosynthetic plankton account ofr __ of the phtosynthetic activity on earth
less than half
119
reef building corals are limited to the ____
photic zone of relatively stable tropical marine environments w/ high water clarity
120
corals are sensitive to temps below __ and above __
18 to 20 C, 30C
121
corals require __
high oxygen levels
122
corals are excluded by
high inputs of freshwater and nutrients
123
corals require __ for attachment
solid substrate
124
coral reef
formed largely from calcium carbonate skeletons of corals, develops over a long time on oceanic islands
125
describe formation of coral reef
begins as a fringing reef on a young, high island
forms offshore barrier reef later in the history of the island
becomes a coral atoll as older island submerges
126
mutualistic relationship within corals?
unicellular algae live within tissues of corals, provides corals w/ organic molecules
127
__ and __ contribute substantial amounts of photosynthesis on coral reefs
red, green algae
128
corals are a diverse group of
cnidarians
129
marine benthic zone
consists of seafloor below the surface waters of the coastal zone and offshore pelagic zone
130
neritic
coastal
131
most of the oceans benthic zone
receives no sunlight
132
abyssal zone
very deep benthic zone; deepest regions of ocean floor
133
temps in abyssal zone
around 3degC
134
chemical environment of benthic zone
oxygen is present at sufficient concentrations to support a diversity of animals
135
__ cover most of the benthic zone
soft sediments
136
photosynthetic organisms, mainly __ and __, ae limited to __
seaweeds, filamentous algae;
| shallow benthic areas w/ sufficient light to support them
137
deep-sea hydrothermal vents are of __ origin; located on __
volcanic; mid-ocean ridges
138
deep-sea hydrothermal vents: describe environment
dark, hot, oxygen-deficient environments
139
deep-sea hydrothermal vents: food producers are
chemoautotrophic prokaryotes that obtain energy by oxiding H2S formed by hot water reacting w/ dissolved sulfate
140
more animals associated w/ deep-sea hydrothermal vents
giant tube dwelling worms
141
giant tube dwelling worms are nourished by
chemosynthetic prokaryotes that live as symbionts within the worms
142
invertebrates such as __ and __ are abundant around hydrothermal vents
arthropods and echinoderms
143
beyond the photic zone, most consumers depend entirely on
organic matter raining down from above
144
neritic benthic communities include __ and __
numerous invertebrates and fishes
145
most impt abiotic factor in determining why a particular terrestrial biome is found in a certain area
climate
146
climograph
plot of temp and precipitation in a particular region
147
northern coniferous vs temperate forests; precipitation and temp
precipitation ranges are similar. temp ranges diff
148
temperate grasslands found where
in middle latitudes
149
forest layers top to bottom
canopy, low-tree stratum, shrub understory, ground layer of herbaceous plants, forest floor (litter layer), root layer
150
ecotone
area of intergradation btwn biomes
151
taiga
nothern coniferous forest
152
in many biomes, the doinant plants depend on
periodic disturbance
153
tropical rain forests precip
rainfall constant; 200-400 cm per year
154
tropical dry forests precip
highly seasonal; 150-200 cm; 6-7 month dry season
155
tropical forest temp
25-29C; little seasonal variation
156
__ genrally cover forest trees
epiphytes such as bromeliads and orhcids
157
__ dominant in tropical rain forests (vegtation)
broadleaf evergreen trees
158
2 types of plants common in tropical dry forests
thorny shrubs, succulents
159
deserts distribution
occur in a band near 30deg latitudes OR other latitudes in the interior of continents
160
deserts precip
low and highly variable; <30 cm per year
161
desert temp
variable seasonally and daily;
hot deserts: >50degC
cold: < -30
162
savanna distribution
equatorial and subequatorial regions
163
savanna precip: rainfall and dry season
rainfall: seasonal; 30-50 cm per year
| dry season: up to 8 or 9 mo
164
savanna temp
warm year-round, averaging 24-29 C
165
temp in savanna vs tropical forests
savanna has more seasonal variation
166
dominant vegetation in savanna
scattered trees; thorny w/ reduced leaf surface area
167
chaparral distribution
midlatitude coastal regions; far-flung distribution
168
what's chaparral called in north america
chaparral
169
what's chaparral called in france
garigue, maquis
170
what's chaparral called in south africa
fynbos
171
what's chaparral called in spain and chile
matorral
172
chaparral precip
highly seasonal. rainy winters, long and dry summers. 30-50 cm per year
173
temp: each season and daytime
fall, winter, spring: 10-12C
summer: 30C
daytime max: >40C
174
adaptations to drought in chaparral
tough evergreen leaves of woody plants, which reduce water loss
175
chaparral dominated by (4)
shrubs, small trees, high diversity of grasses and herbs
176
describe plant diversity in chaparral
high; many species confined to a specific, relatively small geogrphic area
177
temperate grassland latitudes
north and south of 23.5deg lat
178
temp (winter and summer) for temperate grassland
winter: cold. avg temps < -10C
summer: hot. approaching 30C
179
precipitation in temperate grassland
precipitation is highly seasonal; dry winters, wet summers. 30 - 100cm annual prrecip; periodic drought common
180
temperate grassland dominant plants (2)
grasses and forbs
181
(2) animals temperate grasslands
large grazers; ex: bison, wild horses
| burrowing mammals; ex prairie dog
182
coniferous forest distribution
broad band across northern North America and Eurasia to the edge of the arctic tundra; btwn 50degN and arctic circle
183
coniferous forest precipitation
30-70cm. periodic droughts are common.
184
seasons coniferous forest
cold and long winters; hot summers
185
temp coniferous forest
-70C; over 30C
186
wat vegetation dominates fonierous forests
cone-bearing trees
187
conical shape of conifers does what
prevents too much snow from accumulating and breaking their branches
188
temperate braodleaf forest distribution
midlatitudes in Northern Hemisphere; smaller areas in New Zealand and AUS
189
temperate braodleaf forest precipitation
70 to >200 cm annually. significant amounts of precip fall during all seasons
190
temperate braodleaf forest temperature and seasons
winter temps: around 0C summers: max near 30C, hot and humid
191
a mature temperate broadleaf forest has
distinct, highly diverse, vertical layers
192
layers of temperate broadleaf forest
closed canopy, 1 or 2 strata of understory trees, shrub layer, herbaceous stratum
193
dominant plants in Northern Hem temperate braodleaf forest
deciduous trees
194
deciduous trees
drop leaves before winter, when low temps would reduce photosynthesis and make it difficult to take up water from frozen soil
195
dominant plants in AUS temperate braodleaf forest
evergreen eucalyptus
196
animals in NorthernHem temperate braodleaf forest
winter: mammals hibernate; birds migrate
197
tundra distribution
covers expansive areas of the Arctic. 20% of earths land surface
198
alpine tundra
plant communities similar to those of the tundra biome; created by high winds and cold temps; occur on very high mountainstops at all latitudes, even tropics
199
tundra and alpine tundra precip
T: 20-60cm annually
AT: >100cm
200
tundra temps and seaosns
winters: long and cold; averages < -30C
summers: short, avg < 10C
201
vegetation of tundra mostly
herbaceous
202
permafrost
permenantly frozen layer of soil; generally prevents water infiltration
203
tundra animals
- resident
- migratory
- use as breeding grounds during summer
musk ox; caribou and reindeer; birds
204
human impact on tundra
focus of signifciant mineral and oil extraction in recent years /
