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ecology and conservation > climate, terrestrial and aquatic biomes > Flashcards

climate, terrestrial and aquatic biomes Flashcards

1
Q

terrestrial biomes

A

major life zones characterised by vegetation type

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2
Q

ecotones

A

transition zones between biomes

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3
Q

what are the key abiotic factors that shape composition of animal & plant communities in terrestrial biomes?

A
  • temp
  • precip

THIS IS WHY THERE IS VARIATION WITHIN BIOMES

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4
Q

describe the tropical forest biome

A
  • along equator: warm, little seasonal variation
  • tropical RAIN forest: 200-400cm rain per year
  • tropical DRY forest: 120-200cm rain per year and more seasonal
  • vertically layered -> each layer has own unique plant and animal species interacting with ecosystem around them
  • v high biodiversity
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5
Q

describe the desert biome

A
  • can be hot (>50℃) or cold (<-30℃)
  • precipitation typically < 30cm/year
  • low sparse vegetation, characterised by adaptations against desiccation and herbivory

-> leaves and stems of many desert plants have thick, waxy covering…

… keeping plants cooler and ↓ evaporative loss

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6
Q

describe the savanna biome

A
  • warm (>25℃ average/year)
  • pretty dry (30-50cm/year)
  • seasonal, with pronounced dry season
  • grasslands with scattered trees (to varying degrees)
  • renowned for large mammals but dominant herbivores are insects
  • fire can play important part -> happen in dry season, when high fuel loads allow them to burn over large areas
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7
Q

how do natural fires play an important part in the savanna?

A

fire in combo with cattle / bison grazing = used to control trees, woody shrubs and invasive species and KEEP GRASSLANDS HEALTHY

  • after fire, grazing animals attracted to lush re-growth of grass and concentrate their grazing in burned area
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8
Q

describe chaparral / mediterranean scrubland biome

A

eg Fynbos in South Africa

  • hot summers, mild winters
  • seasonal rainfall (30-100cm/year)
  • along coasts (but extending inland)
  • shrubs and small trees
  • high floral diversity (fynbos ~8,500 species)
  • fire can play important part
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9
Q

describe temperate grassland biome

A
  • huge areas at center of North America (prairie) and Eurasia (steppe)
  • cold winters, hot summers
  • seasonal precip 30-100cm
  • large grazers -> eg. zebras and gazelles in Africa
  • fire
  • largely converted to farmland
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10
Q

describe northern coniferous forest / taiga biome

A
  • largest terrestrial biome on earth
  • v cold winters
  • warm summers
  • pretty dry
  • LOW BIODIVERSITY
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11
Q

suggest why taiga biomes have low biodiversity

A
  • soil = low on nutrients due to slow decomposition of litter -> even stops during the deep freeze of winter
  • only few plant and animal species able to survive it’s winters
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12
Q

describe temperate broadleaf forest biome

A
  • hot summers, pretty mild winters
  • varying precip levels (70-200cm/year)
  • vertical structure
  • higher biodiversity than coniferous forest
  • high capacity for recovery (from climate change and humans breaking up biome)
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13
Q

describe tundra biome

A
  • cold and dry
  • low vegetation of mosses, herbs, grasses, lichens and dwarf shrubs
  • permafrost forms huge carbon store (how will this be affected by warming climate?)
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14
Q

how are lakes and seas divided into zones?

A
  • light penetration
  • proximity to shore
  • bottom vs water column (epipelagic zone, littoral zone, etc)
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15
Q

what makes up freshwater biomes?

A
  • lakes
  • wetlands / swamps
  • rivers and streams

-> associated with all terrestrial biomes

-> can vary greatly in physical and chemical characteristics

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16
Q

estuaries

A
  • transition between river & sea
  • tidal (linked to sea) – dynamic env
  • big variation in salinity
  • important breeding / nursery habitats for many marine species
17
Q

suggest why estuaries are seen as important breeding grounds for many marine species

A
  • good for feeding
  • safer than the sea as fewer predators can get there
  • lower salinity
  • more sheltered
  • warmer than ocean as less deep
18
Q

why is deep water algae red not green?

A

-> green light refracts more in water

  • long wavelengths don’t travel far in water
  • red light bounced off before blue and green
  • red and brown algae contain extra pigments -> v good at absorbing green and blue light
  • green algae live close to surface so don’t need more light

^ doesnt do well in deep water

red and brown algae is OUTCOMPETED by green algae when closer to shore as green algae more adapted to that env

19
Q

intertidal zones

A
  • periodically submerged (with high tide, low tide) and exposed by tides
  • requires specific adaptations for fluctuating conditions -> so v diverse ecosystem
  • exposed to fresh air
  • zonation from upper to lower shore
20
Q

ocean pelagic zone

A
  • vast areas of open water (70% earth surface)
  • phytoplankton accounts for 50% global p/s
  • LACK OF MICRO-NUTRIENTS (e.g. iron) can produce large areas of very LOW PRODUCTIVITY – oceanic deserts
21
Q

coral reefs

A
  • photic zone of tropical marine env
  • mainly near islands
  • v v high biodiversity
  • v sensitive to climate change
22
Q

key components of climate

A
  • temp
  • precip
  • sunlight
  • wind

^affect life on global, regional and local levels

23
Q

global atmospheric circulation and precip patterns

A
  1. sun’s rays don’t heat Earth’s surface evenly -> due to curvature
  2. so solar energy ↑ conc at equator than poles
  3. at equator: air warmed due to ↑ surface temps so hot, moist air rises
  4. as air rises, begins to cool as no longer heated by Earth’s surface …
  5. … so water vapour condenses => ↑ levels precip at equator
24
Q

seasonality

A

caused by tilt in Earth’s axis

in summer: UK tilted towards the sun

25
Q

regional and local effects of oceans

A
  • provide moisture (↑ precip)
  • currents distribute hot and cold water around globe (counteracts uneven distribution of solar energy from sun)
  • affect climate of nearby land -> ocean water always evaporating
    -> ↑ temp and humidity of surrounding air to form rain and storms that are then carried by trade winds
26
Q

describe how the gulf stream affects the UK climate

A
  • brings warm water from Caribbean to NW Europe
  • this keeps climate in UK warmer than other places at similar latitude
27
Q

regional and local effects of mountains

A
  • rain shadow effect:
    -> wet on windward side from rain/snow
    -> dry (desert) on leeward side
  • can influence local wind patterns
    -> flow of air around mountains can create turbulence and alter wind direction
28
Q

regional and local effects of vegetation

A
  • ↑ vegetation = ↑ solar energy absorbed
  • = ↑ rates p/s and transpiration
  • ↑ transpiration = returns more water to atm => surface cools

OVERALL: ↓ temps + ↑ precip

ecology and conservation (9 decks)

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