Chapter 52 Flashcards
Biosphere
All of earth’s ecosystems and landscapes
Ecology
The study of interactions of organisms with each other and their environments
Global ecology
The study of the effect of regional energy and material exchanges on the distribution and functioning of organisms across the biosphere
Landscape
(Seascape) consists of several ecosystems in an area
Landscape ecology
The study of energy, material, and organisms across connecting ecosystems
Ecosystem
Includes all the organisms in an area and the abiotic factors that they interact with
Ecosystem ecology
Addresses topics like the flow of energy and chemical cycling
Community
Includes the population of different species in an area
Community ecology
Looks at interactions as predators and competition and how those interactions affect community structure
Population ecology
The factors that affect populations
Population
A group of individuals of the same species that interact with each other
Organismal ecology
Includes the disciplines of behavioral, psychological, and evolutionary ecology
Climate
Long term weather conditions of an area, influenced by temperature and precipitation
Macro climate
The climactic pattern over an entire region
Microclimate
Small scale variations within a particular habitat
Tropics
Located between 23.5 degrees latitude, receive the greatest amounts of solar radiation with the least variation
Mediterranean climate
Created when cool, dry ocean breezes warm as they cross land, creating a dry, rainless climate
Abiotic
Non-living factors
Biotic
Living factors
Biomes
Major types of ecosystems characterized by predominant vegetation and physical environment
Climograph
Plots annual mean temperature and rainfall for a region
Ecotone
Transition between biomes
Vertical stratification
Vertical layering of forests
Disturbance
An event that modifies a community and the resources available
Tropical dry forest
Rainfall is seasonal
Tropical rain forest
Constant abundant rainfall
Deserts
Very dry, plants use altered photosynthesis
Savannas
Equatorial and subequatorial grasslands
Chaparral
Midlatitude coastlines; cool rainy winters and hot dry summers
Temperate grassland
Cold dry winters and hot wet summers
