Ch.52 - Intro to Ecology

Question 1

_________ is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment. These interactions determine the _________ of organisms and their _________.

Answer 1

Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment. These interactions determine the distribution of organisms and their abundance

Question 2

List the biological hierarchy.

Answer 2

Atoms

Cells

Organisms

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Biosphere

Question 3

Over what time scale does ecology occur?

Answer 3

Minutes to years

Events that occur in ecological time affect life on the scale of evolutionary time (many generations)

Question 4

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 4

All living organisms and the physical environ around them

Biotic features: interactions with other living organisms

• Focus of community ecology

Abiotic features: non-living characteristics

• Climate: 4 key abiotic features
• Salinity and pH of water source

Question 5

Differentiate biotic and abiotic factors

Answer 5

Biotic features: interactions with other living organisms

• Focus of community ecology

Abiotic features: non-living characteristics

• Climate: 4 key abiotic features
• Salinity and pH of water source

Question 6

Abiotic factors often vary over time and space, called temporal and spatial ________, resp.

Answer 6

Abiotic factors often vary over time and space, called temporal and spatial heterogeneity resp.

Question 7

Describe how organisms may acclimate to abiotic variation, both behaviorally and physiologically.

Answer 7

Behavioral changes: hibernation, dormancy, migration

Physiological changes: thicker coats, increasing/decreasing water intake in response to salinity

Question 8

What are the four major abiotic components of climate?

Answer 8

Climate: long-term prevailing weather conditions

• Temperature • Precipitation • Sunlight • Wind

Question 9

Diff b/w macro and microclimate

Answer 9

Macroclimate: patterns on the global, regional, and landscape level.

Microclimate: very fine patterns

• Ex: conditions encountered by the community of organisms underneath a fallen log

Question 10

Describe how global climate patterns are determined largely by solar energy

Answer 10

Warming effect of sun causes temperature variations, which drive evaporation and the circulation of air and water. This causes latitudinal variations in climate.

Question 11

With each 1,000 meters in elevation, temperature declines __°C.

Answer 11

With each 1,000 meters in elevation, temperature declines 6°C.

Question 12

The “normal limits” of temperature are ___ and ___.

Answer 12

Below 0°C – cells rupture

Above 45°C – proteins denature

Question 13

Biomes are major life zones characterized by _________ in terrestrial biomes and __________ in aquatic biomes.

Answer 13

Biomes are major life zones characterized by vegetation type in terrestrial biomes and physical environment in aquatic biomes.

Question 14

Climate is v imp in det why terrestrial biomes are found in certain areas. Can be summarized w a climograph, wh plots annual mean temp and precip in a region.

Answer 14

Climate is v imp in det why terrestrial biomes are found in certain areas. Can be summarized w a ________, wh plots annual mean temp and precip in a region.

Question 15

which general features define terrestrial biomes

Answer 15

Often named for major physical or climatic factors and for vegetation

Question 16

T/F: terrestrial biomes typ grade into ea/o

Answer 16

True

Typ grade into ea/o, w/o sharp boundaries

Ecotone: area of intergradation, may be wide or narrow

Question 17

_______ (vert/horizontal) layering is an imp feature of terrestrial biomes.

Answer 17

Vertical layering is an imp feature of terrestrial biomes.

• Ex: forest might consist of an upper canopy, low-tree layer, shrub understory, ground layer of herbaceous plants, forest floor, and root layer
• Layering of vegetation in ALL biomes provides diverse habitats for animals

Question 18

________ is an event such as a storm, fire, or human activity that changes a community

Answer 18

Disturbance is an event such as a storm, fire, or human activity that changes a community.

• Frequent fires can kill woody plants and maintain the characteristic vegetation of a savanna.
• Hurricanes create openings in forests that allow different species to grow.
• In many biomes, even dominant plants depend on periodic disturbance.

Question 19

T/F: aquatic biomes show more latitudinal variation than terrestrial biomes.

Answer 19

False

Aquatic biomes show LESS latitudinal variation than terrestrial biomes.

Question 20

Many aquatic biomes are stratified into zones or layers based on wh three factors?

Answer 20

Many aquatic biomes are stratified into zones or layers based on light penetration, temp, depth.

Question 21

Describe wh species are commonly found in the photic vs aphotic zone.

Answer 21

Photic zone: phytoplankton, zooplankton, many fish species

Aphotic zone: microorganisms, luminescent fishes, invertebrates (sparse populations)

Question 22

A __________ is a temp boundary that separates the warm upper layer from the cold deeper water.

Answer 22

A thermocline is a temp boundary that separates the warm upper layer from the cold deeper water.

• Found in oceans and lakes

Question 23

_________ is a semiannual mixing of a lake’s waters.

Answer 23

Turnover is a semiannual mixing of a lake’s waters.

• mixes oxygenated water from the surface with nutrient-rich water from the bottom

Question 24

If a species is missing from an area, what Q’s can/should be asked?

Answer 24

Does dispersal limit its distribution?

Do biotic factors (other species) limit its distribution?

Do abiotic factors limit its distribution?

Question 25

Diff b/w ecology and environmentalism

Answer 25

Ecology provides scientific understanding of living things and their environ.

Environmentalism is more about conservation and persecution of life on Earth.