Chapter 20*

Question 1

The Biological Hierarchy

Answer 1

BBECPO

1. Biosphere: all ecosystems of earth
2. Biome: similar ecosystems characterized by similar characterized by similar climatic conditions.
3. Ecosystem: community and its surroundings.
4. Community: populations of different species that live together and interact.
5. Population: groups of organisms.
6. Organism: individual living thing.

Question 2

Ecology

Answer 2

The study of interactions between organisms and their biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) environment.

Question 3

Weather

Answer 3

The environmental conditions at any given point in time.

Question 4

Climate

Answer 4

The weather conditions experiences in a region over a period of time.
Average of environmental conditions.
Mostly describes temperature and precipitation.
Organisms are more strongly influences by climate than by any other feature of their environment (homeostasis).

Question 5

Biomass

Answer 5

A measure of how much living material is in an area, often refers to the plant life.

Question 6

Latitude

Answer 6

A measure of distance north or south relative to the equator.
Influence the angle of the sun’s rays.

Question 7

Convection Cells

Answer 7

Earth has 6 of these.

Warm, moist air rises…cool,dry air sinks…generating relatively consistent wind patters.

Question 8

Temperate Deciduous Forests

Answer 8

Have fertile soils and relatively mild winters.
Occur in regions with a distinct winter that lasts 4-5 months and precipitation that is distributed evenly through much of the year.
There is a greater species diversity in both plants and animals, and many types of deciduous trees are the dominant vegetation.

Question 9

Temperate Regions

Answer 9

Areas with mild climate, usually between 30 and 60 degrees, and a fair amount of precipitation.
Polar air collides with warm, moist air moving north, precipitation results in the temperate regions.

Question 10

Prevailing Winds

Answer 10

Dominant wind patterns in a particular area.

Question 11

The Coriolis Effect

Answer 11

The curve of winds on the surface of the earth caused by the earth’s rotation.
Easterlies and Westerlies.

Question 12

Easterlies

Answer 12

0-30 degrees and 60-90 degrees.

Question 13

Westerlies

Answer 13

30-60 degrees.

Question 14

Ocean Current

Answer 14

The continual directional movement of water in the ocean.

Question 15

Ocean currents are dependent on…

Answer 15

1. Prevailing winds.
2. Temperature fluctuation.
3. Geography.

Question 16

Gyre

Answer 16

Large circular pattern of ocean currents.

Gyre currents reflect prevailing winds.

Question 17

Rain Shadow Effect

Answer 17

A landscape feature.
Little precipitation falls on the side of the mountain that faces away from the prevailing winds.
Windward and Leeward sides.

Question 18

Windward Side

Answer 18

Facing the wind, usually sees a good amount of rain.

Question 19

Leeward Side

Answer 19

Facing away from the wind, usually much drier.

Question 20

Arctic/Polar Climate Region

Answer 20

High Latitude, low temperatures, low precipitation.

Question 21

Sub-arctic Climate Region

Answer 21

High Latitude, low temperatures, moderate precipitation.

Question 22

Temperate Climate Region

Answer 22

Moderate Latitude, moderate temperature, moderate precipitation.

Question 23

Tropical Climate Region

Answer 23

Low Latitude, high temperature, high precipitation.

Question 24

Ecological Features of Biomes…

Answer 24

1. Landscape
2. Communities
3. Latitude

Question 25

Landscape Features that Shape Climate…

Answer 25

1. Large Lakes
2. Oceans
3. Mountain Ranges

Question 26

Terrestrial Biomes

Answer 26

Named after the dominant vegetation in the area.
Highly influences by climate.
Occur primarily because of similar climatic conditions - these determine what types of life can survive.
Terrestrial biomes change from both equator to the poles (latitude) and bottom to the top of the mountains (altitude).

Question 27

Aquatic Biomes

Answer 27

Classified by physical and chemical features such as salt content.
Freshwater vs Marine.
Largest biomes on the planet.
Influences by terrestrial biomes, water currents, and human activity.

Question 28

Tundra

Answer 28

Features low-growing bushes, grasses, mosses, and lichen.

Found in high latitudes and high altitudes.

Question 29

Permafrost

Answer 29

Permanently frozen soil found below the surface layers of the tundra.

Question 30

Boreal Forests

Answer 30

Dominate by coniferous species (pine, spruce, gymnosperms).
The largest terrestrial biome and includes the sub-arctic landmass immediately south of the tundra.
Temperature is low.
Plant diversity is low.
The soil here is thin and nutrient-poor (rainfall is low).

Question 31

Grasslands

Answer 31

Appear in regions with good soils but relatively little moisture.
Found in both temperate and tropical latitudes.
Moderate temperatures, low sporadic precipitation.
Dominated by large mammalian species.
Most areas converted to agriculture.

Question 32

Chaparral

Answer 32

Marked by shrubs and hot dry summers/cool wet winters.
The soil is relatively poor in these habitats and most species are adapted to hot, dry conditions.
Soil is sandy and does not hold water well.

Question 33

Desert

Answer 33

Desert air lacks moisture and, in turn, cannot moderate daily temperature fluctuations.
Desert plants have small leaves and some produce enormously long taproots.
A majority of the desert biome’s animal species are nocturnal.

Question 34

Lakes

Answer 34

A part of the freshwater (aquatic) biome.

Standing bodies of water that are surrounded by land and at least 2 hectacres (5 acres) in size.

Question 35

The abundance and distribution of a lake’s life forms are strongly influenced by…

Answer 35

1. Nutrient concentration
2. Water depth
3. The extent to which the lake water is mixed (northern lakes mix, tropical lakes don’t.)

Question 36

Rivers

Answer 36

A part of the freshwater (aquatic) biome.

Bodies of water that move continuously in a single direction.

Question 37

Wetlands

Answer 37

A part of the freshwater (aquatic) biome.

Characterized by standing water shallow enough that rooted plants emerge above the water surface.

Question 38

Bogs

Answer 38

Acidic wetlands whose productivity and species diversity are low.

Question 39

Marshes/Swamps

Answer 39

Highly productive wetlands.

Question 40

Estuaries

Answer 40

Highly productive parts of the marine biome - productivity varies with distance from the shore in the marine biome.
A region where a river empties into the sea and is the shallowest of the marine ecosystems.
Plentiful light, abundance of nutrients delivered by rivers, and regular stirring of nutrient-rich sediments by water flow create a rich and diverse community of photosynthesizers.

Question 41

Ecological Zones

Answer 41

What the marine biome is split into.

Areas with similar environmental conditions and biodiversity.

Question 42

Ecological Zones are classified into 2 dimensions…

Answer 42

1. Distance from the shore

2. Depth

Question 43

Subtidal

Answer 43

EZ

Fully submerged, but relatively shallow water that extends out to the edge of the continental shelf.

Question 44

Intertidal

Answer 44

EZ
Shallow areas that are revealed during tides.
Organisms in this zone must adapt to the challenges created by the tides.

Question 45

Abyssal or Bathyal

Answer 45

EZ

Pass the continental shelf, deep.