Chapter 52 - An Introduction To Ecology And The Biosphere Flashcards
Define ecology
The scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment (other organisms as well as physical aspects of an organism’s surroundings)
What is organismal ecology concerned with?
How an organism’s structure, physiology, and behavior meet the challenges posed by its environment
Describe population ecology
Analyzes factors that affect population size and how and why it changes through time
Describe community ecology
Examines how interactions between species, such as predation and competition, affect community structure and organization
Define ecosystem
An ecosystem is the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which those organisms interact
Define community
A group of populations of different species in an area
Describe ecosystem ecology
Emphasizes the energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and the environment
Define landscape
A mosaic of connected ecosystems
Describe landscape ecology
Focuses on the factors controlling exchange of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystems
Define biosphere
The global ecosystem - the sum of the planet’s ecosystems and landscapes
Describe global ecology
Examines how the regional exchange of energy and materials influences the functioning and distribution of organisms across the biosphere
What is climate and how does it differ from weather?
The long term prevailing weather conditions in a given area; its key components include temperature, precipitation, sunlight and wind
Weather is short term
Describe microclimate and it’s difference from macro climate.
Very fine, localized patterns in climate conditions vs. the general climate of a large area
What is climate affected by?
Seasonality, large bodies of water, and mountains
Describe north vs south facing slopes in the northern hemisphere
South facing is drier and the north facing is more moist because of the angle of the sun; opposite in Southern Hemisphere
Where are the strongest winds?
The trade winds are 30 degrees above and below the equator
Where are rain shadows located?
The leeward side of the mountains
Define biomes
Major life zones characterized by vegetation type (terrestrial biomes) or physical environment (aquatic biomes) defined by the types of plants that live there
What is a major factor of determining the locations of terrestrial biomes and why?
Climate is very important in determining why terrestrial biomes are found in certain areas because they affect the types of plants
What is an ecotone?
The area of degradation of other biomes into each other
Describe vertical layering
An important feature of terrestrial biomes consisting of an upper canopy, lower tree layer, shrub understory, ground layer of herbaceous plants, forest floor, and root layer
Define disturbance
An event that changes a community ie storm, fire, human activity
Describe tropical rainforests
Equatorial and subequatorial regions
Constant rainfall in rainforests and seasonal rainfall in dry forests
High temperature year round (stable environment for more speciation)
Most vertical layering
Harmed by rapid human growth
Describe deserts
Bands 30 deg N/S of equator and in interior of continents
Low&variable precipitation (<30cm/yr)
Temp variable by day and season
Specialized vegetation and animals depending on desert type
Common animals: reptiles many nocturnal, few mammals bc no water
Natural disturbances are common (floods)