Ch. 34 Biosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

The scientific study of how organisms interact with their environments

A

Ecology

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2
Q

1) Organism Level
2) Population Level
3) Community Level
4) Ecosystem Level

A

1) How an organism meets the challenges of it’s environment.
2) The interbreeding group of individuals belonging to the same species in a particular area.
3) All of the organisms (population of different species) that inhabit a particular area.
4) All life in the area and the non-living factors

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3
Q

Abiotic

4 types?

A

Non living factors

1) Solar Energy
2) Water
3) Temperature
4) Wind

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4
Q

Organisms making up a community of species in an area

A

Biotic

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5
Q

The global ecosystem (portion that is alive)

A

Biosphere

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6
Q

Environmental situations in which organisms live

A

Habitat

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7
Q

Solar Energy

A

Powers nearly all surface terrestrial and shallow water ecosystems

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8
Q

Water

A

Essential for all life.

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9
Q

Temperature

A

Affects the metabolism and survival rate.

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10
Q

Can blow nutrients to organisms, affect patchiness, and increase an organism’s rate of water loss by evaporation

A

Wind

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11
Q

An organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

A

Natural Selection

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12
Q

How does the presence of a species come about in an area?

A

1) Species evolves in that location.

2) Species dispersed to the location and survive there.

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13
Q

How does natural selection shape the adaptations of an organism so it may function in its environment?

A

Organisms can usually only tolerate environment fluctuations it is adapted to; natural selection may then limit distribution of organisms.

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14
Q

How does Earth itself affect temperature and seasons?

A

Earth has an uneven curvature so it has an uneven distribution of solar energy; the equator recieves the most heat due to direct hit. This affects air and water currents.
Seasons are attributed to the planet being on a tilt of its axis as it orbits.

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15
Q

An area of calm or very light winds near the equator caused by warm air.

A

Doldrums

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16
Q

When some dry air spreads back to the equator after air masses have lost moisture, cooled, and descended to latitude 30 degrees. Common to the tropics.

A

Trade Winds

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17
Q

Latitude between 23.5 North and 23.5 South.

A

Tropics

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18
Q

Latitude between tropic and the Arctic/Antarctic Circle

A

Temperature Zone

19
Q

Major of global air movements. Results from the combined effects of rising/falling air masses and Earth’s rotation.

A

Prevailing Winds

20
Q

In temperature zones (slow moving) wind will blow west to east.

A

Western Winds

21
Q

Riverlike flow patterns in the ocean. Created by prevailing winds, planet rotation, uneven heating, and continents. Affects regional climates such that warm currents have warm climate.

A

Ocean Currents

22
Q

What are the major biological communities?

A

Rainforests and deserts. (Refer to notes as to why. See diagram.)

23
Q

Area where fresh water merges with seawater. Among the most productive environments.

A

Estuary

24
Q

Shallow zone where waters of an estuary/ocean meet land.

  • experiences tides and tidepools
  • a type of wetland (soil saturated by water, water factors affect organisms)
A

Intertidal Zone

25
Q

Ecosystem between aquatic and terrestrial

  • have soil saturated by water (permanent/periodic)
  • flow of water, frequency, duration, depth, season affect organisms type
A

Wetland

26
Q

Ocean

  • supports communities dominated by highly motile animals
  • gets some light
A

Pelagic Zone

27
Q

Algae and photosynthetic bacteria that drifts passively in aquatic environments

A

Phytoplankton

28
Q

Animals that drift in aquatic environments because can’t resist current/can’t swim
- eats phytoplankton and then eaten by others

A

Zooplankton

29
Q

Seafloor

  • organisms depend on depth and light penetration
  • gets some light
A

Benthic Zone

30
Q

Submerged parts of the continents

A

Continental Shelves

31
Q

Region of aquatic ecosystem where light penetrates and photosynthesis occurs

A

Photic Zone

32
Q

Aphotic ZoneRegion of aquatic ecosystem below photic zone where light doesn’t penetrate enough for photosynthesis to occur

A

Aphotic Zone

33
Q

Name the 2 types of aquatic ecosystems. Similarities and differences.

A

1) Seawater 2) Freshwater

Similarities: photic and aphotic zones w/ phytoplankton
Differences: Salinity (scarcity of dissolved ions in fresh water)

34
Q

A terrestrial ecosystem, largely determined by climate, usually classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by organisms adapted to the particular environment

A

Biome

35
Q

9 types of terrestrial biomes

A

1) Tropical Forest
2) Savanna
3) Desert
4) Polar + High Mountain Ice
5) Chaparral
6) Temperate Grassland
7) Temperate Deciduous Forest
8) Coniferous Forest
9) Tundra (arctic/alpine)

36
Q

Tropical Forest characteristics?

A

1) Thorn Forest
- common in dry equatorial land (Africa, India)
- thorny shrubs, trees, nonwoody plants that retain water
- rainfall is rare (long dry seasons)

2) Deciduous Forest
- Tropical areas w/ distinct wet/dry seasons (Africa, S. Asia)
- plants drop leaves seasonally

3) Rain Forest
- Humid equatorial areas (Indonesia + Amazon River)
- rainfall abundant, reduced rain seasonally but not long
- lots of trees
- sensitive to clearing, burning, abandoning, and mining which results in deforestation
- Hard to recover as soil has poor nutrients

37
Q

Savanna

A

Biome dominated by grasses and scattered trees

  • Central S. America/Africa, Australia, N. America
  • Fires, human activity, grazing animals prevent invasion of trees (stay grass)
38
Q

Desert

A

Organisms adapted to scarce rainfall and rapid evaporation

  • centered at 30 degrees North and South latitudes
  • environmental issue: desertification (conversion of biomes to desert)
  • cycles of growth and reproduction (seeds dormant)
  • animals active at night and adapted to save water
39
Q

Chaparral

A

Dominated by spiny evergreen shrubs adapted to periodic drought/fires

  • rainy winters and long hot dry summers
  • cold ocean currents circulate offshore
  • shoot tips of plants don’t burn to regenerate faster due to nutrients.
40
Q

Temperate Grasslands

A

Similar to tropical savannas but mostly treeless

  • regions w/ relatively cold winters
  • seasonal droughts, fires, grazing to prevent tree growth
  • glacial deposits = nutrients
41
Q

Temperate Deciduous Forests

A

Latitudes of 30 to 50 degrees w/ sufficient moisture to support large trees

  • temp varies and species varies
  • rich soil
42
Q

Coniferous Forest

A

Principle trees are cone bearers

    • fire essential to prevent deciduous trees from replacing conifers
  • Taiga (northern boreal coniferous forest which externs across N. American and Eurasia to southern border of Arctic tundra)
  • harsh winters, short summers
  • soil is thin and acidic due to low temp and waxy needles
43
Q

Tundra

A

Biome at the northernmost limits of plant growth and at high altitudes, characterized by dwarf woody shrubs, grasses, mosses, and lichens

44
Q

Permaforest

A

Continuously frozen ground found in the tundra