Chapter 52: Ecology and the Biosphere

Question 1

Ecology (def.)

Answer 1

Science that studies the interactions among organisms and their environment

Question 2

Relationship between ecology and evolution?

Answer 2

• Ecologists see products of interaction ver time

Question 3

Compare/Contrast Evolutionary vs. Ecological Time

Answer 3

• Ecological time faster than evolutionary
• Interactions take place on ecological time scale
• Adaptation takes place on evolutionary time scale

Question 4

How do ecologists study ecological questions?

Answer 4

• Observation based
• Use experiments
• Ask questions related to each of the three components of definition of ecology

Question 5

Factors that influence distribution of individuals

Answer 5

• Dispersal
• Habitat selection
• Biotic factors
• Abiotic factors

Question 6

Biotic factors (def.)

Answer 6

Living factors

Question 7

Abiotic factors (def.)

Answer 7

Factors that are nonliving (temperature, water, sunlight)

Question 8

Questions an ecologist might ask to understand what limits distribution?

Answer 8

• Where are they distributed over the region?

- Why are they distributed over the region that way?

Question 9

What is the most important factor that limits an organism’s distribution?

Answer 9

Climate

Question 10

Dispersal (def.)

Answer 10

• Organism’s ability to move may limit their distribution

Question 11

Method to study what affects dispersal?

Answer 11

• Use of species transplants to determine dispersal limits

Question 12

Habitat selection

Answer 12

• Species might choose to live in a particular area simply because of a preference

Question 13

Biotic factor examples

Answer 13

Predation and competition

Question 14

Abiotic factor examples

Answer 14

Temperature, water, sunlight, wind, salinity

Question 15

Factors that determine climate

Answer 15

• Temperature
• Precipitation
• Sunlight
• Wind

Question 16

Factors that determine global climate patterns?

Answer 16

• Latitudinal variation in intensity of sunlight
• Seasonal variation in intensity of sunlight
• Variation in sunlight causes patterns in air circulation and precipitation

Question 17

How does air move?

Answer 17

• Warms and rises (can hold moisture)
• As air rises, pressure decrease, air cools
• Cool air loses moisture

Question 18

Sunlight intensity over the globe and by season?

Answer 18

• Intensity at equator is highest

- Neither pole is tilted toward the sun

Question 19

Seasonal variation is greatest at…?

Answer 19

• 90˚N and S latitude

Question 20

Wind and ocean currents occur how?

Answer 20

• Air in motion plus Earth’s rotation creates global wind patterns
• Wind patterns create great ocean conveyor belt

Question 21

Regional, local factors that affect climate?

Answer 21

• Oceans and large lakes moderate coastal climate

- Mountains

Question 22

Large bodies regulate climate how?

Answer 22

• Water evaporates over land during day, at night returns to the ocean

Question 23

How mountains affect climate?

Answer 23

• Sunlight
• Temperature
• Influence wind patterns, rain pattens
• Aspect (north vs. south facing)

Question 24

Microclimate (def.)

Answer 24

Determined by fine-scale differences in the environment that affect light and wind patterns

Question 25

Biome (def.)

Answer 25

Combination of species and climates determine the biome; major aquatic or terrestrial life zones on Earth

Question 26

Main factors that determine biomes

Answer 26

• Precipitation vs. Temperature

Question 27

Examples of biomes and their characteristics?

Answer 27

• Savanna: Grassland, some trees
• Desert: Restricted population
• Tundra: poorly productive areas, permafrost, small plants
• Chaparral: Mediterranean areas; just north of equator

Question 28

What biome is Bozeman?

Answer 28

Northern coniferous forest

Question 29

Ecotone (def.)

Answer 29

• Region of transition between two biological communities