chapter 46: major ecosystems of the biosphere

Question 1

what is climate

Answer 1

prevailing weather conditions in a region over a long period of time

Question 2

what is weather

Answer 2

environmental conditions that occur over a short period of time

Question 3

condition at the equator

Answer 3

At the equator sun heats air & evaporates water (more direct sunlight)
-30°N & S air water cools and condenses, supporting a band of moist vegetation
-Dry air descends & warms areas of high pressure are generated
-High pressure zones of low rainfall

Question 4

conditions at the earth’s surface

Answer 4

At the earths surface
-60° N & S warmed air rises & cools
-Another low-pressure zone with high rainfall

Question 5

what is topography

Answer 5

physical features of the land
-Consider coastal mountain range
-Coastal side is the windward side of the mountain
-Leeward side (rain shadow) is the interior side of the mountain -range

Question 6

what is climate affected by

Answer 6

Temperature, rainfall, topography, variations in solar radiation distribution (sunlight)

Question 7

characteristics of ocean climate

Answer 7

-Ocean temperature is more stable than that of landmasses
-Causes coasts to have a unique weather pattern that is not observed inland

Question 8

what is monsoon climate

Answer 8

ocean winds blow onshore for almost half the year
-Similar to the “lake effect”

Question 9

what is a biome

Answer 9

One of biospheres major communities characterized in particular by certain climate conditions & particular types of plants & animals
-Distribution of biomes around the globe is very patterned

Question 10

what is a tundra biome

Answer 10

-very long cold winters, little sunlight
-short summers because of locations
-high pressure zone, little rainfall
-average temp 0 degrees C
-not a lot of moisture available in the air
-permafrost zone - layer of soil that never truly unthaws, not available to producing community - growing season short
-caribou arctic foxes, polar bears - adaptations to combat long cold winters and freezing temperatures

Question 11

what is a taiga biome

Answer 11

-slightly south of tundra
-still cold, not cold enough for permafrost zone
-conifer trees - adapted to fighting cold bc of pine needles
-low lying plants, soil not very deep still
-not a ton of plant diversity
-more animal diversity
-bears moose beavers muskrats - still arctic foxes sometimes
-no comparable biomes in the south

Question 12

what is a deciduous forest biome

Answer 12

-low pressure zone, mainly occurs in the north
-moderate climate with relatively high rainfall
-a lot of available moisture - 60 degrees north or south
-very defined seasons
-angiosperms - oats beech sycamore maple
-development of more flower specked bc more heat
-more reptiles now and more insects - things that can’t survive the harsh cold conditions
-east coast and midwest

Question 13

what is a tropical rainforest biome

Answer 13

-around equator
-warm weather and plentiful rainfall
-a lot of complex plants and animals - particular niches - a lot of evolution
- not a lot of defined seasons - dry and wet seasons - defined by rainfall
-insects everywhere - unique plants
-plants can grow outside soil and absorb moisture from air
-defined by level - canopy, understory, forest floors - all have unique structures and ecosystems

Question 14

what is a shrubland biome

Answer 14

-southern side typically
-high pressure
-dry summers, wet winters
-evolution of shrubs - well adapted to holding moisture - adapted to survive dramatic switch in seasons
-animals adapted to fight heat - smaller animals - rodents, heavy on reptiles
-fire seasons

Question 15

what is a temperate grassland biome and savanna biome

Answer 15

grasslands
-very cold winters, very hot dry summers
-more or less grasses, a few shrubs
savanna
-cool dry season and hot rainy season
-can support some slightly larger trees every now and then
both
-inefficient at supporting a lot of trees
-grasslike plants - good at surviving grazing and fire
-growth of grass is seasonal
-accessible to animals that hibernate and migrate
-a lot of herbivores

Question 16

what is a desert biome

Answer 16

-occurs right after tropics
-high pressure, not a lot of rain
-night and day large temperature difference - heat good at escaping at night
-no large plants - primarily cacti - survive long periods of drought and can handle heat and cold
- nocturnal animals - evolved to withstand high heat
-reptiles and insects - can withstand heat

Question 17

two types of aquatic ecosystems

Answer 17

1. freshwater
2. saltwater

Question 18

characteristics of aquatic ecosystems

Answer 18

-Seawater evaporates leaving salts behind
-Evaporated fresh water rises into atmosphere, cools, & falls as rain
-Gravity returns all fresh water to sea

Question 19

what are wetlands

Answer 19

Areas that hold some amount of water during part of year
-barrier between land and aquatic ecosystems

Question 20

3 benefits of wetlands

Answer 20

1. Providing food and habitats for fish, waterfowl, and wildlife
2. Purifying water by filtering it and breaking down toxic wastes and nutrients
3. Absorbing storm and overflow waters

Question 21

3 types of wetlands

Answer 21

marshes, swamps, bogs

Question 22

what are marshes

Answer 22

frequently or continually inundated by water; dominated by grasses & sedges

Question 23

what are swamps

Answer 23

wetlands dominated by either woody plants or shrubs

Question 24

what are bogs

Answer 24

wetlands characterized by acidic waters, peat deposits, & sphagnum moss

Question 25

what are lakes

Answer 25

bodies of fresh water classified by nutrient status

Question 26

two types of lakes

Answer 26

1. Oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) lakes
2. Eutrophic (nutrient-rich) lakes

Question 27

what is eutrophication

Answer 27

process in which a body of water receives a large input of nutrients in a relatively short period of time

Question 28

three lake layers

Answer 28

1. epilimnion
   - warm temp
2. thermocline
3. hypolimnion

Question 29

characteristics of lake overturn

Answer 29

-Temperature gradients change from summer to winter
-Populations of plankton depend on sunlight & nutrient levels
-Wind aids in circulation of water
-Rich nutrients from detritus accumulate near base

Question 30

what are estuaries

Answer 30

-Fresh water & seawater meet & mix
-Organisms must be able to adapt to changing salinity & constant mixing of waters
-Nutrient-rich
-Biologically diverse & highly productive communities
-Nearly 2/3 of all marine fishes & shellfish require development in estuaries
“Nursery” of the sea

Question 31

what are coral reefs

Answer 31

-Areas of biological abundance that are primarily found in shallow, warm, tropical waters
-Reef is densely populated with life
-Crevices & caves provide shelter for filter feeders and scavengers

Question 32

5 zones of the ocean

Answer 32

-euphotic
-epipelagic
-mesopelagic
-bathypelagic
-abyssal

Question 33

what is the euphotic zone

Answer 33

Shallow ocean waters
Greatest concentration of organisms

Question 34

what is the epipelagic zone

Answer 34

Lacks inorganic nutrients
Does not have as high a concentration of phytoplankton as shallow areas

Question 35

what is the mesopelagic zone

Answer 35

-Deeper waters that contain many carnivores
-Absence of light
-Zooplankton, invertebrates, & fish migrate to surface to feed at night

Question 36

what is the bathypelagic zone

Answer 36

-Deepest waters where there is complete darkness except for bioluminescent light
-Carnivores & scavengers

Question 37

what is the abyssal zone

Answer 37

-Deepest area of ocean
-High pressure & extreme cold
-Organisms dependent on debris sinking down from above
-At hydrothermal vents seawater percolates through cracks in the ocean floor & is heated to about 350°C
-Ecosystem can exist because chemosynthesis doesn’t require light energy

Question 38

Climate is affected and/or characterized by all of the following factors except
a.
Topography

b.
Rainfall

c.
Temperature

d.
Variations in solar radiation distribution

e.
Soil type

Answer 38

e.
Soil type

Question 39

Most of the evaporated equatorial water that rises and does not immediately rain back down proceeds to
a.
At about 60° north or south the water cools and condenses, supporting a band of moist vegetation

b.
The poles if it does not encounter mountain ranges, which it usually does

c.
The poles where it causes snow

d.
At about 30° north or south the water cools and condenses, supporting a band of moist vegetation

Answer 39

d.
At about 30° north or south the water cools and condenses, supporting a band of moist vegetation

Question 40

Which of the following statements about stratified temperate zone lakes is not true?
a.
Temperature gradients change from summer to winter.

b.
Populations of plankton and zooplankton depend on both sunlight and nutrient levels

c.
Rich nutrients from the continual production of detritus accumulate near the surface of the lake

d.
Wind aids in the circulation of water

Answer 40

c.
Rich nutrients from the continual production of detritus accumulate near the surface of the lake

Question 41

A biome characterized by hot days, cold nights, and cacti is the
a.
Desert

b.
Tundra

c.
Savanna

d.
Grasslands

e.
Taiga

Answer 41

a.
Desert

Question 42

Wetlands are generally classified by their vegetation. Wetlands dominated by trees and shrubs are _____ and wetlands dominated by grasses and sedges are _____.
a.
marshes; pine savannas

b.
bogs; swamps

c.
swamps; marshes

d.
marshes; swamps

Answer 42

c.
swamps; marshes