Chap. 52 Flashcards
Ecology
is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the living and nonliving components of their environment
Organismal ecology
- studies how an organism’s structure, physiology, and (for animals) behavior meet environmental challenges
- includes physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology
Population ecology
focuses on factors affecting population size over time
community
is a group of populations of different species in an area
Community ecology
- examines the effect of interspecific interactions on community structure and organization
ecosystem
is the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which they interact
Ecosystem ecology
emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and the environment
landscape
(or seascape) is a mosaic of connected ecosystems
Landscape ecology
- focuses on the exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystems
biosphere
is the global ecosystem, the sum of all the planet’s ecosystems and landscapes
Global ecology
examines the influence of energy and materials on organisms across the biosphere
Ecology (4)
- Energy
- Photosynthesis
- Availability of Sunlight
- Adaptation to sunlight
Four of water’s properties that facilitate an environment for life are
- Cohesive behavior
- Ability to moderate temperature
- Expansion upon freezing
- Versatility as a solvent
Other Ecological Factors (6)
- Oxygen
- Salinity
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Wind
- Fire
climate
The long-term prevailing weather conditions in an area
Four major physical components of climate are
- temperature
- precipitation
- sunlight
- wind
The intensity of sunlight is strongest in
the tropics (between 23.5º north
latitude and 23.5º south latitude) where sunlight strikes Earth most directly
Cooling trade winds blow from____ in the tropics and ____ in the temperate zones.
east to west in the tropics; prevailing westerlies blow from west to east in the temperate zones
Dry, descending air masses create arid climates
especially near 30º north and south
- dry, little rain, and high evaporation
Currents flowing toward the equator carry _____ water from the _____;
currents flowing away from the equator carry ____ water toward the_____
cold water from the poles;
warm water toward the
poles
How do mountains affect climates
warm are cools as it rises so it releases moisture on the side with the water and the cool dry air absorbs moisture from the land as it goes down again on the other side
Microclimate
- refers to very fine, localized patterns in climate
- small areas with their own special climate that differs from its surrounding (ex: caves, or a big rock that is hotter than rest of the area)
Every environment is characterized by differences in (2)
- Abiotic factors
- Biotic factors
Abiotic factors
- including nonliving attributes such as temperature, light, water, and nutrients
Biotic factors
- including other organisms that are part of an individual’s environment
Climate change is ____
a directional change to the global climate lasting three decades or more
Climate
is a major factor determining the locations of terrestrial
biomes because it strongly influences the distribution of plants
