Climate Flashcards
Ecology
the study of the interactions between organisms and their biotic and abiotic environment
Homeostasis
maintain relatively stable internal environment despite change in external condition
Regulators
actively control internal environment
Conformers
allow conditions in body to change with environment
Climate consist of…
Light, temperature, wind, and water
Climate
long-term patterns in light, temperature, wind, and water/precipitation
short-term patterns are weather
Light: Plants
effects: photosynthetic rates; provides information on seasonal changes
adaptations: leaf size; epiphytes; synchronizes activity/reproduction with seasonal changes
Light: Animals
effects: provides information; alters activity patterns; increases predation risk; increase UV damage
adaptations: vision; nocturnal/diurnal activity; coloration patterns; melanin formation
Temperature: Plants
effects: increases growth (photosynthesis and respiration rates); limits rang (too hot, too cold)
adaptations: dormancy in adverse conditions; antifreeze compounds
Temperature: Animals
effects: limits range (too hot, too cold); limits activity
adaptations: thermoregulation (ectothermic/endothermic); hibernation in adverse conditions; migration
Wind: Plants
effects: transport of resources (pollen, gas, dust); microclimate effects; damage at high winds
adaptations: wind pollination; altered growth forms; deep roots
Wind: Animals
effects: microclimate effects
adaptations: minimal; some flight characteristics
Water/Precipitation: Plants
effects: limits plant growth; damages roots if too much
adaptations: water conservation; aerenchyma
Water/Precipitation: Animals
effects: limiting resources for survival
adaptations: water conservation (forms of excretion, and longer loop of henle)
Biome
major types of ecosystems; regulated by global climate patterns; named for dominant vegetation
Global Climate Patterns
largely determined by planet’s movement in space and solar radiation
Solar radiation
warms atmosphere, land, and water; varies during the year
Atmospheric Pressure
sum weight of the air above
Convection Current
circular movement of air due to alternate heating and cooling
Low Pressure Zones
warm, moist air rises and cools as it gains altitude; forms clouds; greater precipitation
High Pressure Systems
warm, moist air trapped at surface; less cloud formation; less precipitation
Precipitation and climate determine…
the dominant vegetation types (biomes); large scale climate patterns have major effects on vegetation
Large water bodies–regional scale
water heats and cools slower than land; proximity to water fluctuates in temp; more water evaporates over water–get more precipitation (lake effect)
Lake effect weather
Water temp warmer than land–>land surface cools faster than water; air warms and picks up moisture over lake; air cools over land resulting in lake effect precipitation
Water temp cooler than land–>air warms over land; get clear skies
Water bodies–continental scale
areas near the ocean have moderate climates; areas far from ocean have more extreme climates
Rain shadow
moist air move from water to land; air must rise over mountain; as it rises it cools causing heavy precipitation on one side; on the other side the cool, dry air descends and warms absorbing moisture creating deserts
Microclimate
climate varies on very small scale; in shadow of a tree, hill, rock, concrete, etc
