Chapter 49 -Ecology & Climate Flashcards
Ecology
study of how organisms interact with their environment and each other
Organismal Ecology
how adaptations of shape, physiology, and behavior allow individual organisms to live in a particular area
Population
group of individuals of the same species that live in an area
Population Ecology
how and why the numbers of individuals in a population change over time
biological community
species that live and interact with one another in an area
Community Ecology
focus on consequences of the interactions between species and ask questions about predation, parasitism, and competition, and how groups of species respond to fires, floods, and other disturbances
ecosystem
all the organisms in a particular region, along with nonliving, or abiotic, components
Ecosystem Ecology
focuses on
–how nutrients and energy move among organisms
–the surrounding atmosphere, soil or water
–what keeps the whole system stable
biosphere
thin zone surrounding the Earth where all life exists
Global Ecology
focus on the effects of human impacts on the biosphere
EX: Salmon migration in a warming world
Each year, salmon migrate up Fraser River to spawn in their natal streams.
Temperatures in the Fraser River have increased ~ 2°C since 1960 (will continue to rise with climate change)
In hot years, 70 % of fish may die before they spawn
Salmon Migration Experiment
5 m ‘fish treadmill’ – a tunnel forcing fish to swim in that direction using 8 different stocks
Hypothesis: stocks exposed to higher temperatures in nature will be better adapted
Conservation biology
aims to preserve, and restore threatened populations, communities, and ecosystems
Biogeography
study of how organisms are distributed geographically
Range
geographic distribution of species
niche
suite of conditions a species can tolerate
Niche Models
summary of conditions a species can live under
Biotic Factors
an limit or expand species range
Competition, reproductive needs (nursery, food), parasitism, and other interactions, such as mutual benefits, can affect a species’ range
EX: Tsetse flies limit the distribution of cattle
- carry Trypanosoma, deadly to cattle
- cause sleeping sickness
Continental Drift
Causes a radical change in the shapes and positions of continents and oceans over time
Pop may have to travel to new enviros
invasive species
An exotic species that is introduced into a new area and spreads rapidly and eliminates native species
EX: Argentine ant
Argentine antnative to S.America expands
When they invade a new habitat, often eliminate native ants
However, they need moisture; in dry areas, they fail to spread. Native ants survive in dry areas
Climate
prevailing long-term weather conditions found in an area
Weather
specific short-term atmospheric conditions of temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind
Why are the tropics warm and areas far from the equator cold?
farther distance from light source
hits at an angle
Why are the equatorial tropics wet?
Major cycle in global air circulation, called a Hadley cell, is responsible for this pattern
- Warm air rise and cools, dropping rain
- cool air pushed poleward
- dense dry air descends, warms, and absorbs mositure at poles and returns to equator where fall as precipation
Why do we have summer and winter?
Tilt of Earth towards/away from sun
How do mountains and oceans affect climate?
rain shadow
- on the west of a mountain, the Pacific blows moist air up
- it rise and cools over mountain, rain falls
- on the other side of the mountain, air is dry, so desert conditions
Do oceans affect climate?
ocean has high heat cap
Water absorbs heat in the summer and releases it in winter
-If you are close to the ocean, you will be warmer
-If you are in the ocean, you will be cooler
