Chapters 54 (Ecology) and 57 (Species Interactions) Flashcards
Chapter 54 (Ecology)
What is ecology?
The study of interactions between organisms and the environment.
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic interactions?
Biotic interactions are interactions between living organisms in an ecosystem, such as predator-prey interactions and competition between organisms for resources. Abiotic interactions are interactions between living organisms and the environment. Abiotic factors are all the non-living things that affect organisms, such as temperature, light and water.
What are the 6 physical features of the environment (abiotic factors) that we discussed in class that limit the distribution of organisms?
Temperature, wind, availability of water, availability of light, salinity, pH
What is climate?
The prevailing (characteristic) weather pattern in a region
How does latitudinal variation (distance from the equator) affect temperature and why?
Temperature decreases as latitude increases (i.e., as we move further from the equator towards the poles). Due to the curvature of the Earth, as we get further from the equator the sun’s rays must travel a greater distance through the atmosphere to reach the Earth’s surface, so more energy is lost to the atmosphere. Also, due to the curvature of the Earth, the sun’s rays are spread out over a larger surface area at the poles compared to the equator.
What is the greenhouse effect? Is it a natural process?
The greenhouse effect is the mechanism responsible for keeping the Earth’s surface warm enough to sustain life. It is a natural process. Energy from the sun hits the Earth’s surface and is radiated back into the atmosphere; the greenhouse gasses absorb this energy and radiate it back towards the Earth again, therefore keeping the Earth’s surface warm.
What is global warming and what is causing global warming?
Global warming is the gradual increase in the Earth’s surface temperature (i.e., an increase in the greenhouse effect). It is generally accepted in the scientific community that current global warming is caused by an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gasses due to human activity. An increase in the concentration of greenhouse gasses results in more energy being absorbed and radiated back to Earth than would occur naturally. The Earth does go through natural cycles of heating and cooling over long periods of time, but current global warming is predicted to occur at a much faster rate than would occur naturally.
How might global warming affect existing species?
The Earth’s temperature may change too quickly for some species to evolve and adapt through natural selection because evolution is a gradual process.
For example, if the temperature increases then current plant and animal species will have to adapt quickly to the increasing temperatures. The range of animal species may move north(where temperatures are cooler), but many plant species may not be able to migrate fast enough. If animals move north, but their food sources do not migrate with them, then the animals will have to adapt quickly to survive in a new environment. Species that live near the poles will not have any habitats further north to migrate to, so they will have to adapt fast to warmer temperatures to survive.
How does the proximity of land to a large body of water affect climate?
The water (sea or ocean) heats and cools slower than the land, so water moderates the climate of coastal regions.
During the day, the water heats more slowly than the land; as the warm air rises from the land, cool air comes in from the ocean and creates an onshore breeze that lowers temperature.
At night, the water cools more slowly than the land; as warm air rises from the ocean, cool air from the land moves out to sea to replace the rising warm air and creates an offshore breeze.
What determines global patterns of precipitation?
Global patterns of precipitation are largely determined by six regions of characteristic air circulation patterns consisting of rising masses of warmer air and sinking masses or cooler air. (As warmer air rises, it cools and condenses, and precipitation falls on the land, so regions underneath rising warm air have ample precipitation. The cooler air that sinks back downward is dry, having just released precipitation, so regions underneath the sinking cooler air that is picking up moisture have sparse rainfall).
Mountains influence precipitation patterns. Would the windward side or the leeward side of the mountain have more precipitation and why?
The windward side of the mountain would have more precipitation. As air rises over the windward side of the mountain, it cools and condenses from water vapor to liquid (rain or snow), which falls on the land.
On the leeward side of the mountain, there is less rain because the air is now dry having just released precipitation on the windward side.
What are biomes? What two physical factors are used to classify biomes?
Biomes are regions of the world that have a similar climate and therefore have animals and plants with common characteristics (as they are adapted to the similar climate). Biomes are classified according to annual temperature and precipitation.
Chapter 57 (Species Interactions)
A tree provides a squirrel with shelter and protection from predators. The tree does not benefit, but nor is it harmed by the relationship.
Commensalism
