Biogeography Flashcards
What is biodiversity?
the number of different species found across the surface of the Earth
What is ecology?
the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment
What is biogeography?
the study of the distribution of plant and animal species through space and time
What is an ecosystem?
a self-sustaining association of living plants and animals and their non-living physical environment
What are the abiotic components of an ecosystem (2)?
temperature and precipitation
What are the biotic components of an ecosystem (1)?
organisms
What is the main source of energy in ecosystems?
sunlight
What is photosynthesis?
sunlight causes a chemical reaction in plants which produces carbohydrates
What are biochemical cycles?
numerous cycles in which key chemicals flow throughout Earth’s spheres
What is the nitrogen cycle (3)?
- some plants absorb nitrogen and fix it into the soil
- nitrogen is then absorbed by things that eat organic material
- things that eat organic material defecate and deposit nitrogen back into soil
What is a community?
an interacting population of plants and animals within a place (different levels of the rain forest)
What is a habitat?
area where a particular species resides
What is the Theory of Evolution (4)?
- developed by Charles Darwin in the 19th century
- more organisms are born than survive
- offspring from the same parents look different
- organisms engage in competition for survival
What is adaptation?
traits possessed by organisms that enable them to survive and reproduce in their environment
What is natural selection?
the process through which organisms best adapted to their environment survive
What is a niche?
the role of a particular organism determined by its physical and biological needs
How is a niche different from a habitat?
many species occupy the same habitat while only one species can occupy a niche
Will two species every occupy the same niche?
no, because both species are competing for the same thing the more able species will fill the niche and the less able species will occupy a different niche or become extinct
What are the two species interactions?
hunter-prey and symbiosis
What are the different forms of symbiosis (3)?
- mutualism: both benefit
- parasitism: one benefits, the other is harmed
- commensalism: one benefits, the other is neither helped nor harmed
What are the abiotic influences on distribution (4)?
- air and soil temp.
- precipitation
- water availability
- water quality
What is the altitudinal zonation system?
the idea that changes in latitude mimic changes in elevation
What are limiting factors?
a physical, chemical, or bioligical factor that determines where a particular species is located and how large its population can get
What are some major limiting factors for animals (3)?
- food availability
- population of predators
- availability of breeding site
What is tolerance range?
one critical limiting factor that determines the size and distribution of a particular species
What is the difference between a narrow tolerance range and a wide tolerance range?
- narrow: low tolerance; many needs
- wide: high tolerance; few needs
What is a disturbance?
anything that disrupts an ecosystem (wind storms, ice storms, flooding, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, logging, overgrazing)
What is ecological succession?
the process in which a location cleared by a disturbance undergoes changes in species composition
What is primary succession (3)?
- occurs in the aftermath of calamitous disturbances
- no soil present
- formation of a “pioneer community”
What is secondary succession (2)?
- occurs in the aftermath of a normal disturbance
- soil still present
What is a climax community?
the theory of secondary succession in which communities pass through a series of disturbances and are gradually replaced by organisms better adapted to the environment until the community returns to what it was before the disturbances
What is patch dynamics?
the theory of secondary succession in which constant disruption interrupts the succession process and the community never returns to what it was before the disturbances as different parts of the community experience different levels of disturbance
What is conservation biogeography?
the field of study in which various biogeographic tools are used to solve problems in biodiversity conservation
What are exotic invasive species?
plant or animal species that are non-native to a particular location
What is island biogeography?
the idea that isolated locations have a unique environment
Why is island biogeography important?
the concepts and ideas of island biogeography can be easily applied to global conservation
What is the theory of island biogeography (3)?
- number of species increases as island size increases
- number of species decreases as island isolation increases
- extinction of species increases as island size decreases
What is the difference between flora and fauna?
- flora: plant species
- fauna: animal species
What are the eight biogeographic realms?
- nearctic
- palearctic
- oceanic
- neotropical
- afrotropical
- indo-malay
- australasian
- antarctic
What are biomes?
large, stable ecosystems classified by vegetation type and adaptation of organisms
What are ecotones?
the gradual transition zones that exist between biomes, climates, and ecosystems
What are the three tropical biomes?
- tropical rain forest
- tropical seasonal forest and scrub
- tropical savanna
What are the characteristics of the tropical rain forest biome (6)?
- warm year-round
- high insolation
- plentiful precipitation
- associated with Am climate
- close to equator
- greatest amount of biodiversity
What are the characteristics of the tropical seasonal forest and scrub biome (6)?
- surrounds tropical rain forest
- associated with Am/Aw climate
- less precipitation than tropical rain forest
- forms due to seasonal movement of ITCZ
- dry season results in deciduous trees
- harvesting of tropical hardwood and carnauba wax
What are the characteristics of the tropical savanna biome (6)?
- even drier than tropical seasonal forest and scrub
- associated with Aw climate
- drought resistant
- poleward of tropical seasonal forest and scrub
- adapted to regular fires
- animals flourish in open grassland
What are the four temperate biomes?
- midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
- boreal and montane forest
- temperate rain forest
- mediterranean shrubland
What are the characteristics of the midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest biome (5)?
- variation in types of trees associated
- broadleaf: large, broad leaf
- needleleaf: narrow, pointed leaf
- evergreen: leaves year-round
- deciduous: leaves fall at certain times year-round
What are the characteristics of the boreal and montane forest biome (3)?
- higher latitudes/elevations
- evergreen needleleaf
- microthermal
What are the characteristics of the temperate rain forest biome (4)?
- wet, temperate climates
- marine west coast
- needleleaf/broadleaf
- evergreen/deciduous
What are the characteristics of the mediterranean shrubland biome (2)?
- mediterranean climate (Csa)
- chaparral
What are the two grassland and desert biomes?
- midlatitude grassland
- desert biome
What are the characteristics of the midlatitude grassland biome (4)?
- most modified by humans
- few trees except near rivers/settlements
- high/low latitude steppe
- tall grass prairie vs short grass prairie
What are the characteristics of the desert biome (4)?
- warm desert = low latitude
- cold desert = high latitude/elevation
- vegetation adapted to dry conditions
- ephemeral plants: dormant in normal conditions, bloom with precipitation
What are the characteristics of the arctic and alpine tundra biome (4)?
- occurs at high latitude/elevation
- associated with E climates
- lack of large vegetation
- permafrost: layer of land that is permanently frozen
