chapter 52 - an intro to ecology and the biosphere

Question 1

ecology

Answer 1

the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment

Question 2

organismal ecology

Answer 2

the sub-disciplines of physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology; concerned with now an organisms structure, physiology and behavior meet the challenges posed by its environment

Question 3

population ecology

Answer 3

analyzes factors that affect population size and how and why is changes through time

Question 4

community ecology

Answer 4

examines how interactions between species affect structure and organization

Question 5

biosphere

Answer 5

global ecosystem-sum of all the planet’s ecosystem and landscapes

Question 6

micro-climate

Answer 6

very fine, localized patterns in climatic conditions

Question 7

abiotic

Answer 7

nonliving

Question 8

biotic

Answer 8

living

Question 9

climograph

Answer 9

a plot of the annual mean temperature and precipitation in a particular region

Question 10

ecotone

Answer 10

the area of integradation

Question 11

canopy

Answer 11

the layers from top to bottom in a forest

Question 12

disturbance

Answer 12

an event such as a storm, fire, or human activity that changes a community, removing organisms from it and altering resource availability

Question 13

photic zone

Answer 13

light can penetrate (photosynthesis)

Question 14

aphotic zone

Answer 14

too deep for light to penetrate

Question 15

abyssal zone

Answer 15

2,000-6,000 m below the surface

Question 16

benthic zone

Answer 16

bottom of all of the zones

Question 17

pelagic zone

Answer 17

both the photic and aphotic zones

Question 18

benthos

Answer 18

made up of sand and organic and inorganic sediments, benthic zone is occupied by communities or organisms

Question 19

detritus

Answer 19

dead organic matter from benthos

Question 20

thermocline

Answer 20

a narrow layer of abrupt temperature changes

Question 21

turnover

Answer 21

semiannual mixing of their waters as a result of changing temperatures profiles

Question 22

oligotrophic lakes

Answer 22

nutrient poor, oxygen rich

Question 23

eutrophic lakes

Answer 23

nutrient rich, low oxygen

Question 24

littoral zone

Answer 24

shallow, well lit waters close to shore

Question 25

limnetic zone

Answer 25

farther form shore, where water is too deep to support rooted aquatic plants

Question 26

wetland

Answer 26

habitat inundated by water at least some of the time and that support plants adapted to water-saturated soil

Question 27

estuaries

Answer 27

transition area between river and sea

Question 28

inter-tidal zone

Answer 28

periodically submerged and exposed by the tides, twice daily on most marine shores

Question 29

oceanic pelagic zone

Answer 29

vast realm of open blue water, constantly mixed by wind driven oceanic currents

Question 30

marine benthic zone

Answer 30

consists of seafloor below, the surface waters of the coastal, or netric zone, and the off shore pelagic zone

Question 31

hydrothermal vents

Answer 31

on mid ocean ridges

Question 32

dispersal

Answer 32

the movement of individuals or gametes away from their area of origin or from centers of high population density