Chapter 44: Ecology

Question 1

Organismal ecology

Answer 1

Interested in adaptations that allow for organisms to live in different habitats.
Adaptations can be morphological, behavioral, or physiological.

Question 2

Populations

Answer 2

Just one species together

Question 3

Community

Answer 3

All diff species, fish & plants

Question 4

Ecosystem

Answer 4

All species together plus environment type (water/sand)

Question 5

Biosphere

Answer 5

Encompasses all ecosystems on Earth

Question 6

Biomes

Answer 6

Grouping of ecosystems

Aquatic and terrestrial

Question 7

Abiotic

Answer 7

Non-living factors contributing to ecosystem

Ex. Sand, water etc.

Question 8

Biotic

Answer 8

Living things contributing to ecosystem

Ex. Vertebrates, bacteria etc.

Question 9

Biogeography

Answer 9

study of the distribution of living organisms across geographic space.

Question 10

Endemic species

Answer 10

found in one very specific area, usually limited in size

Question 11

Haze-cooling effect

Answer 11

Earths way of cooling after volcanic activity

Question 12

Weather vs. Climate

Answer 12

Weather is atmospheric action in a day

Climate is weather over long periods of time

Question 13

Conspecific

Answer 13

Same specific species in the same habitat

Question 14

heterospecific

Answer 14

Different species living in the same habitat

Question 15

Human impact

Answer 15

Overfishing
Destruction of habitats for development/agriculture
Pollution
Extermination of native animal & plant pop.

Question 16

Reasons for global variation in climate

Answer 16

1. Uneven heating of Earth surface by the sun
2. Rotation of the earth on its axis.
   - Equator spins faster than the regions north & south of it
   - Prevailing winds that result distribute heat & moisture over the earth’s surface & drive ocean currents
3. Properties of air, water, and land

Question 17

El Niño/enso

Answer 17

Occurs every 2 – 7 years
When a high-pressure weather system that is normally stable over the eastern Pacific Ocean breaks down, destroying the pattern of westward-blowing trade winds.
Increasing in strength

Question 18

Largest threats to coral reefs

Answer 18

Increased sea temperature Decreased pH
Increased disease (related to
increased temperature, human activity)
Direct human contact (boat strikes, improper use by divers and snorkelers, sunscreen)
Coastal development (run off, increased nutrients)

Question 19

Global Climate Change means

Answer 19

Global warming of atmosphere & Sea
Increased number & intensity of hurricanes
Sea Surface Level Rise
Ocean Acidification

Question 20

Hurricane needs

Answer 20

1. Weather disturbance

2. Warm ocean temps

Question 21

Natural Effects of Global Climate Regulation

Answer 21

1. Milankovitch Cycles
   - eccentricity
   - precession
   - obliquity
2. Solar intensity
   - has decreased in recent years
3. Volcanic activity
   
   • Haze Cooling Effect

Question 22

Eccentricity

Answer 22

The Shape of Earth’s orbit

Question 23

Precession

Answer 23

The direction Earth’s axis of rotation is pointed

Question 24

Obliquity

Answer 24

The angle Earth’s Axis is tilted with respect to Earth’s orbital plane
Has greatest effect on global climate
Increased tilt means increased solar intensity means increased global temps

Question 25

Milankovitch Cycles

Answer 25

Includes precession, eccentricity and obliquity | Obliquity having the greatest effect, however we according to our tilt, should be in a period of cooling

Question 26

Volcanic Activity

Answer 26

Can impact climate by the Haze-Cooling effect, but hasn’t decreased to a great extent Volcanic activity cannot account for the climate alterations observed.

Question 27

Ecosystem Alterations

Answer 27

increased sea surface temperatures increased atmospheric temperatures decreased ocean pH increased sea surface levels due to melting of glacial ice sheets

Question 28

Ocean acidification

Answer 28

The ocean is becoming more acidic | Acids will dissolve calcium carbonate in coral reefs

Question 29

Terrestrial biomes

Answer 29

Consistent sunlight Not much seasonality Deals w altitude and latitude Forests, Deserts, Grasslands, Tundra

Question 30

Forest subtypes

Answer 30

``` Tropical Chaparral Temperate Coniferous Deciduous ```

Question 31

Desert subtypes

Answer 31

Semi-arid Hot/Dry Cold Coastal

Question 32

Grassland subtypes

Answer 32

Prairie (Temperate) | Savannah (Tropical)

Question 33

Aquatic Biomes

Answer 33

Phytoplankton drives ecosystem Divided up by depth Saltwater, Brackish, Freshwater

Question 34

Saltwater subtypes

Answer 34

Open ocean (pelagic) Deep sea Shallow Coastal habitats (coral reefs)

Question 35

Brackish subtypes

Answer 35

Saltwater into freshwater Estuaries Salt marshes

Question 36

Freshwater subtypes

Answer 36

Rivers/streams Wetlands/swamps Lakes/ponds