Ch. 34 Biosphere Flashcards
The scientific study of how organisms interact with their environments
Ecology
1) Organism Level
2) Population Level
3) Community Level
4) Ecosystem Level
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
Abiotic
4 types?
Non living factors
1) Solar Energy
2) Water
3) Temperature
4) Wind
Organisms making up a community of species in an area
Biotic
The global ecosystem (portion that is alive)
Biosphere
Environmental situations in which organisms live
Habitat
Solar Energy
Powers nearly all surface terrestrial and shallow water ecosystems
Water
Essential for all life.
Temperature
Affects the metabolism and survival rate.
Can blow nutrients to organisms, affect patchiness, and increase an organism’s rate of water loss by evaporation
Wind
An organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
Natural Selection
How does the presence of a species come about in an area?
1) Species evolves in that location.
2) Species dispersed to the location and survive there.
How does natural selection shape the adaptations of an organism so it may function in its environment?
Organisms can usually only tolerate environment fluctuations it is adapted to; natural selection may then limit distribution of organisms.
How does Earth itself affect temperature and seasons?
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.
An area of calm or very light winds near the equator caused by warm air.
Doldrums
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.
Trade Winds
Latitude between 23.5 North and 23.5 South.
Tropics
Latitude between tropic and the Arctic/Antarctic Circle
Temperature Zone
Major of global air movements. Results from the combined effects of rising/falling air masses and Earth’s rotation.
Prevailing Winds
In temperature zones (slow moving) wind will blow west to east.
Western Winds
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.
Ocean Currents
What are the major biological communities?
Rainforests and deserts. (Refer to notes as to why. See diagram.)
Area where fresh water merges with seawater. Among the most productive environments.
Estuary
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)
Intertidal Zone
