Chapter 3 Flashcards
The intensity of light impinging on a surface is referred to as irradiance. The irradiance at the top of the Earth’s atmosphere is diminished by nighttime periods without light, reflection of light by clouds,and absorption of light by the atmosphere before it reaches the surface of the earth. Most of the solar radiation striking the earth is reflected back into space by oceans, snow, ice and bare soil. The proportion of light reflected by a surface is known as the albedo of that surface.
Summary
Most of the energy for life ultimately comes from sunlight. Solar radiation varies over a spectrum of wavelengths. The visible portion of the spectrum ranges between about 400nm (violet) and 700nm (red).
summary
Explain how light serves as the ultimate source of energy for a meat-eating animal.
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What wavelengths of light should algae living in deep water use for photosynthesis?
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Why is C3 photosynthesis inefficient when the concentration of CO2 in a leaf is low?
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Describe the costs and benefits of a plant opening its stomates to increase the concentration of CO2 in its leaves.
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How does C4 photosynthesis solve the problem of low CO2 concentrations in a leaf?
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How do CAM plants solve the problem of obtaining CO2 for photosynthesis while minimizing water loss?
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Explain how plants use structural adaptations to reduce water loss.
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How do boundary layers that surround aquatic plants impede a plant’s ability to obtain CO2 for photosynthesis?
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If oxygen is very abundant in air, why is the metabolism of aquatic organisms often limited by oxygen?
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Describe the different adaptions that animals have evolved to survive freezing temperatures.
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How does having different forms of an enzyme allow organisms to live across a wide range of temperatures?
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If a snake is lying on a rock in the desert sun, how is the snake’s body temperature affected by radiation, conduction, convection, and evaporation.
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Why is torpor a particularly good adaptation for small-bodied endotherms?
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