Analyzing Ecosystems Pt. 2 Flashcards
What is weathering?
The process that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces
What is physical vs. chemical weathering
In physical weathering, there is no change to the composition, but there is in chemical weathering
What are different methods of physical weathering?
- abrasion- grinding away of rock by rock particles
- ice wedging
- exfoliating- to peel in sheets (enchanted rock is an example)
- plant growth
- animal action
What are different methods of chemical weathering
- water
- oxidation- O2 reacts with minerals, rusting
- carbonation- carbonic acid
- living organisms- produce weak acids
- acid rain- burning fossil fuels releases chemicals into air that react with water
What is erosion?
movement of sediment from one place to another
What are different types of erosion?
- gravity- landslides, slump, and mudflows
- running water- #1 agent in erosion
- wind
- glaciers
What is deposition?
the laying down of sediment in a new location
Where does deposition primarily occur?
In flat areas like deltas
What is abrasion?
The grinding away of rock by other rock particles carried by water, ice, wind, or gravity
What is ice wedging?
water freezes and expands, acting like a wedge that pushes open cracks in rocks
What is exfoliation?
layers of rock crack and flake off when pressure is removed from the rock
What is plant growth?
roots grow into cracks in rocks and pry cracks farther apart
What is animal action?
animals burrowing breaks apart rocks in the soil
What is oxidation?
oxygen reacts with minerals (iron) in some rocks
What is carbonation?
carbon dioxide and water form carbonic acid which reacts with minerals (marble and limestone) in some rocks
What is acid rain?
burning fossil fuels releases chemicals into the air that react with water to form acids which can dissolve rocks
What are the 11 Texas Ecoregions?
- Piney Woods
- Post Oak Savannah
- Blackland Prairie
- Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes
- Coastal Sand Plain
- South Texas Brush County
- Edwards Plateau
- Llano Uplift
- Rolling Plains
- High Plains
- Trans Pecos
What are effects of hurricanes and typhoons?
- An increase in the amount of beach erosion; increases competition for space and resources
- animals are displaced or killed
- animals lose their habitats
- vegetation is destroyed
What is a flood?
Erosion of soil and deposition of sediment by flood waters that also transport organisms to a new habitat
What is a tornado?
A rotating column of air that causes a lot of destruction, such as loss of vegetation and erosion of land
What is an earthquake?
a sudden shift in the earth’s crust
What is a tsunami?
a large ocean wave causes by an underwater earthquake
What is a volcanic eruption?
an opening in the earth’s crust through which molten lava, ash, and gases are released
What is a drought?
a long period with no rain
