Chapter 20* Flashcards
The Biological Hierarchy
BBECPO
- Biosphere: all ecosystems of earth
- Biome: similar ecosystems characterized by similar characterized by similar climatic conditions.
- Ecosystem: community and its surroundings.
- Community: populations of different species that live together and interact.
- Population: groups of organisms.
- Organism: individual living thing.
Ecology
The study of interactions between organisms and their biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) environment.
Weather
The environmental conditions at any given point in time.
Climate
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).
Biomass
A measure of how much living material is in an area, often refers to the plant life.
Latitude
A measure of distance north or south relative to the equator.
Influence the angle of the sun’s rays.
Convection Cells
Earth has 6 of these.
Warm, moist air rises…cool,dry air sinks…generating relatively consistent wind patters.
Temperate Deciduous Forests
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.
Temperate Regions
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.
Prevailing Winds
Dominant wind patterns in a particular area.
The Coriolis Effect
The curve of winds on the surface of the earth caused by the earth’s rotation.
Easterlies and Westerlies.
Easterlies
0-30 degrees and 60-90 degrees.
Westerlies
30-60 degrees.
Ocean Current
The continual directional movement of water in the ocean.
Ocean currents are dependent on…
- Prevailing winds.
- Temperature fluctuation.
- Geography.
Gyre
Large circular pattern of ocean currents.
Gyre currents reflect prevailing winds.
Rain Shadow Effect
A landscape feature.
Little precipitation falls on the side of the mountain that faces away from the prevailing winds.
Windward and Leeward sides.
Windward Side
Facing the wind, usually sees a good amount of rain.
Leeward Side
Facing away from the wind, usually much drier.
Arctic/Polar Climate Region
High Latitude, low temperatures, low precipitation.
Sub-arctic Climate Region
High Latitude, low temperatures, moderate precipitation.
Temperate Climate Region
Moderate Latitude, moderate temperature, moderate precipitation.
Tropical Climate Region
Low Latitude, high temperature, high precipitation.
Ecological Features of Biomes…
- Landscape
- Communities
- Latitude
Landscape Features that Shape Climate…
- Large Lakes
- Oceans
- Mountain Ranges
Terrestrial Biomes
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).
Aquatic Biomes
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.
Tundra
Features low-growing bushes, grasses, mosses, and lichen.
Found in high latitudes and high altitudes.
Permafrost
Permanently frozen soil found below the surface layers of the tundra.
Boreal Forests
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).
Grasslands
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.
Chaparral
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.
Desert
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.
Lakes
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.
The abundance and distribution of a lake’s life forms are strongly influenced by…
- Nutrient concentration
- Water depth
- The extent to which the lake water is mixed (northern lakes mix, tropical lakes don’t.)
Rivers
A part of the freshwater (aquatic) biome.
Bodies of water that move continuously in a single direction.
Wetlands
A part of the freshwater (aquatic) biome.
Characterized by standing water shallow enough that rooted plants emerge above the water surface.
Bogs
Acidic wetlands whose productivity and species diversity are low.
Marshes/Swamps
Highly productive wetlands.
Estuaries
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.
Ecological Zones
What the marine biome is split into.
Areas with similar environmental conditions and biodiversity.
Ecological Zones are classified into 2 dimensions…
- Distance from the shore
2. Depth
Subtidal
EZ
Fully submerged, but relatively shallow water that extends out to the edge of the continental shelf.
Intertidal
EZ
Shallow areas that are revealed during tides.
Organisms in this zone must adapt to the challenges created by the tides.
Abyssal or Bathyal
EZ
Pass the continental shelf, deep.
