Chapter 52 - An Introduction To Ecology And The Biosphere

Question 1

Define ecology

Answer 1

The scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment (other organisms as well as physical aspects of an organism’s surroundings)

Question 2

What is organismal ecology concerned with?

Answer 2

How an organism’s structure, physiology, and behavior meet the challenges posed by its environment

Question 3

Describe population ecology

Answer 3

Analyzes factors that affect population size and how and why it changes through time

Question 4

Describe community ecology

Answer 4

Examines how interactions between species, such as predation and competition, affect community structure and organization

Question 5

Define ecosystem

Answer 5

An ecosystem is the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which those organisms interact

Question 6

Define community

Answer 6

A group of populations of different species in an area

Question 7

Describe ecosystem ecology

Answer 7

Emphasizes the energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and the environment

Question 8

Define landscape

Answer 8

A mosaic of connected ecosystems

Question 9

Describe landscape ecology

Answer 9

Focuses on the factors controlling exchange of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystems

Question 10

Define biosphere

Answer 10

The global ecosystem - the sum of the planet’s ecosystems and landscapes

Question 11

Describe global ecology

Answer 11

Examines how the regional exchange of energy and materials influences the functioning and distribution of organisms across the biosphere

Question 12

What is climate and how does it differ from weather?

Answer 12

The long term prevailing weather conditions in a given area; its key components include temperature, precipitation, sunlight and wind

Weather is short term

Question 13

Describe microclimate and it’s difference from macro climate.

Answer 13

Very fine, localized patterns in climate conditions vs. the general climate of a large area

Question 14

What is climate affected by?

Answer 14

Seasonality, large bodies of water, and mountains

Question 15

Describe north vs south facing slopes in the northern hemisphere

Answer 15

South facing is drier and the north facing is more moist because of the angle of the sun; opposite in Southern Hemisphere

Question 16

Where are the strongest winds?

Answer 16

The trade winds are 30 degrees above and below the equator

Question 17

Where are rain shadows located?

Answer 17

The leeward side of the mountains

Question 18

Define biomes

Answer 18

Major life zones characterized by vegetation type (terrestrial biomes) or physical environment (aquatic biomes) defined by the types of plants that live there

Question 19

What is a major factor of determining the locations of terrestrial biomes and why?

Answer 19

Climate is very important in determining why terrestrial biomes are found in certain areas because they affect the types of plants

Question 20

What is an ecotone?

Answer 20

The area of degradation of other biomes into each other

Question 21

Describe vertical layering

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Define disturbance

Answer 22

An event that changes a community ie storm, fire, human activity

Question 23

Describe tropical rainforests

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Describe deserts

Answer 24

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)

Question 25

Where are hot deserts commonly located?

Answer 25

At lower altitudes

Question 26

Where are cold deserts commonly located?

Answer 26

Interior of continents
High altitudes
Areas with little precipitation

Question 27

Describe the coastal desert (chaparral = Mediterranean climate)

Answer 27

Very few places in the world
Western sides of continents with cool ocean currents
Cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers
Adapted to periodic fire and seasonal drought
Vegetation: shrubs and low trees with tough leaves
Harmed by urbanization and ATVs

Question 28

Describe semi-arid deserts

Answer 28

Similar to coastal but with less rainfall and higher temperatures
Prone to flash floods
Ex. Utah, Arizona, S. Nevada

Question 29

Describe a Savanna

Answer 29

Grassland scattered with individual trees
Climate shapes biome (rainfall is concentrated with dry season lasting 8-9 mo)
Fires are important
Large grazing and browsing mammals (bc a lot of plants to eat); large predators
Problems: poaching, overgrazing, land clearing/agriculture

Question 30

Describe the temperate grassland

Answer 30

Precipitation highly seasonal
Cold, dry winters and hot, wet summers
Dominated by grasslands
Adapted to drought and fire
Native mammals: large grazers (bison, horses) and small burrowers ( prairie dogs)
Most converted to farmland

Question 31

Describe northern coniferous forest/Taiga/boreal

Answer 31

Largest terrestrial biome on earth (most of Canada and Russia)
Shorter, warmer summers and long, cold winters
Conifers dominate (shape of needle scale like leaves allows snow to fall off and reduces water loss)
Migratory birds
Unstable/cold conditions
Only N. Hemisphere

Question 32

Describe temperate broadleaf (deciduous) forest

Answer 32

Mainly mid-latitudes in N. Hemisphere
Well defined season w/ summer rain (hot&humid) and winter snow
Well developed vertical layers
Richer soil bc more leafy trees and light (humus)
Small animals dominate
Treats: urbanization and acid rain

Question 33

Describe the tundra

Answer 33

Tundra = treeless plain
Precipitation: mainly snow but not much in arctic
Cold winters (-60F) cool summers (50C)

Question 34

Describe the arctic tundra

Answer 34

Only few species with large populations and lots of insects
Many migratory species (high population oscillations)
Few reptiles and amphibians (cold)
Soil = permafrost
Plants: lichens, poss, low shrubs
Threats: climate change, permafrost = carbon source

Question 35

Describe the alpine tundra

Answer 35

Soil is well drained
Mountains where trees cannot grow
Plants: low growing shrubs
Mammals: small year round (little migration except elk)
Threats: ski development, air pollution, acid rain, climate change

Question 36

Define ecological time

Answer 36

The minute to minute time frame of interactions between organisms and the environment

Question 37

Define evolutionary time

Answer 37

The time frame from generation to generation (long periods of time) that natural selection goes through; can be resulting from ecological time

Question 38

Define dispersal and how it is different from migration.

Answer 38

The permanent movement of individuals/gametes from origin or from centers of high population density.
Migration is the regular long lasting change in location to areas of good birthing or good food

Question 39

Define adaptive radiation

Answer 39

Rapid evolution of an ancestral species into a new species that can fill an ecological role ie. Tarwerd to Hawaiian Silversword