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Ecology > Climates And Biomes > Flashcards

Climates And Biomes Flashcards

1
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

Energy from the sun that reaches the surface reflected, absorbed, then re radiation as infra-red radiation

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2
Q

Infrared radiation is absorbed and re-radiated by certain gases in the atmosphere…such as…

A

-Water vapour
-Carbon dioxide (volcanos, respiration)
-Methane (CH4)-anaerobic decomposition
-N2O from wet soils and low o2 water area
-ozone (O3) broken O2 by UV

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3
Q

The mean temperatures of Earth in summer and winter are…?

A

14°c and -18°c

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4
Q

About ____ of incoming solar radiation-composed of visible and ultraviolet light-is reflected back into space by atmosphere, clouds and earths surface

The remaining solar radiation is absorbed by_____, which become warmer and emit _____

A

1/3

Clouds, earth surface
Infrared radiation

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5
Q

Much of the emitted infrared radiation from the earth is absorbed by_____

A

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

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6
Q

Warmed greenhouse gases re emit _______, some goes out to space, but most return to earth

A

Infrared radiation

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7
Q

Climate

A

Average weather conditions at a particular place over a (long) period
-main factor that influences the distribution and abundance of organisms
-temperature and precipitation

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8
Q

The earths spherical shape and tilt of earths axis results in uneven hearing of earth surface which in turn cause….

A

Air circulation patterns
Precipitation patterns

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9
Q

At higher altitudes, light strikes the earths surface at a _____ angle and is spread over a ______ area

At the equator, the sun is closer to the perpendicular and shines ________ on the earth surface

A

Lower
Greater

Directly down (higher angle=smaller area but extremely warm)

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10
Q

Albedo

Examples

A

Fraction of solar energy reflected by an object

-snow: 80-95%
-clouds: 10-95%
-grass: 10-25%
-asphalt: 5-10%

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11
Q

Rainforests are found where
Major deserts are found where

A

Near equator

30° N/S

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12
Q

Hadley cells patterns

A

-At the ITCZ, the sun heats the moist tropical air, causing it to rise.
-the rising air experiences adiabatic cooling, which causes water vapour to condense into rain and fall back to earth.
-the condensation of water vapour produces latent heat release. This causes the air to expand and rise further up into the atmosphere
-the warm, rising air displaces the cooler, drier air above it to the north and south
-the cool, dry air singles and experiences adiabatic heating. It reaches earths surface as warm, dry air, and flows back towards the equator

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13
Q

Rotation of the earth is faster at the _____ than it is at the ____. This results in what effect?

A

Equator

Poles

Coriolis effect

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14
Q

The coriolis effect causes deflections where in the northern and Southern Hemisphere?

A

In northern: if heading North, deflected East. If heading south, deflected west.

In southern: if heading North, deflected west. If heading south, deflected east

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15
Q

Coriolis effect

A

The deflection of an objects path due to the rotation of the earth.

Clockwise in N hemisphere: westerlies and northeast trade winds

Counterclockwise in the S hemisphere: southeast trade winds, westerlies

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16
Q

Gyers

A

A large scale water circulation pattern between continents

-The middle between imposing winds heading clockwise and counterclockwise
-Accumulate trash!!!!
-redistribute energy by transporting both warm and cold ocean water around the globe.

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17
Q

Upwelling coasts are important, as they bring what to the ocean

A

Nutrients

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18
Q

Why is London warmer than winnipeg even though it’s higher in latitude

A

-warm Gulf Stream water
-surrounded by water which has high heat capacity

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19
Q

Thermohaline circulation

A

Global pattern of surface - and deep water currents that flow as a result of variations in temperature and salinity that change the density of water.

  1. Warmer water flows from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic, where some of it freezes and evaporates
    2.the remaining water, now saltier and denser, sinks to the ocean bottom
    3.the cold water travels along the ocean floor, connecting the worlds oceans.
    4.the cold, deep water, eventually rises to the surface and circulated back to the North Atlantic
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20
Q

Why is there more temperature variation in the northern hemisphere?

A

Less water, more land

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21
Q

Mountains

A

-built by geological processes and thus concentrated in belts of geological activity
-soils are generally well-drained and thin

Islands in the sky

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22
Q

______ and _____ change with elevation and latitude

A

Climate

Flora and fauna

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23
Q

Mountain ranges in north and South American generally run ____

While mountain ranges in suppose and Asia generally run

A

North to south

East to west

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24
Q

Weather

A

Variation in temperature and precipitation over periods of hours of days

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25
Q

Atmosphere

A

600 km thick layer of air that surrounds the planet

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26
Q

Equinox’s and the suns position

A

March and September equinox

Sun is positioned directly over equator. Equator received greatest amount of solar radiation and the poles receive less.

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27
Q

Earths surface revives more solar energy per square meter near the ____ than the ____

A

Equator

Poles

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28
Q

Solar equator and where it shifts

A

The latitude recovering the most direct rays of the sun

Shifts from 23.5°N in June to 23.5°S in December

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29
Q

Atmospheric currents

A

The circulations of air between the surface of earth and the atmosphere
-driven by unequal heating and that warm air rises
-circulation of air in Hadley cells

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30
Q

Inter tropical convergence zone

A

The area where the two Hadley cells converge and cause large amounts of precipitation
-moves throughout year and causes rain seasons

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31
Q

Polar cells

A

The atmospheric currents that move air between 60-90° latitudes in the northern and Southern Hemispheres

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32
Q

Ferrel cells

A

Areas of air circulation that lack distinct atmospheric currents between 30°-60° latitude

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33
Q

What drives water currents

A

-coriolis effect
-salinity
-topography of ocean basins
-wind
-unequal heating

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34
Q

Upwelling

A

An upward move to if ocean water

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35
Q

El-NIÑO-southern oscillation (ENSO)

A

The periodic changes in winds and ocean currents in the South Pacific, causing weather changes throughout much of the world.

-warm water to South America
-cold water to Australia

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36
Q

Which hemispheres revives more precipitations

A

Southern

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37
Q

Rain shadows

A

A region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean, causing precipitation on the windward side

-dry zone

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38
Q

Plant hardiness zones

A

Zones that describe which plants can live where based of of average annual extreme minimum temperatures

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39
Q

Convergent evolution

A

A phenomenon in which two species descended from unrelated ancestors look similar because they have evolved under similar selective forces

40
Q

Biomes

A

Geographic region that contains communities composed of organisms with similar adaptations

41
Q

Land and aquatic biomes are determined by what

A

Land-main producers

Aquatic-depth, salinity, flow

42
Q

Nine biomes and there groups based off average annual temperature

A

<5°c
-tundra
-boreal forest

5-20°c
-temperate rainforest
-temperate seasonal forest
-woodland/scrubland
-temperate grassland/cold dessert

> 20°c
-tropical rainforest
-tropical seasonal forest/savanna
-subtropical desert

43
Q

Climate diagrams

A

A graph that plots the average monthly temperature and precipitation of a specific location on earth

44
Q

Growing season

A

The months in a location that are warm enough to allow plant growth

45
Q

For every 10°c increase in temperature, plants need an additional ___cm of monthly precipitation

A

2

46
Q

Major aquatic biomes

A

Streams
Rivers
Ponds
Lakes
Freshwater marshlands
Saltmarshlands
Estuaries
Mangroves swamps
Intertidal zones
Coral reefs
Open ocean

47
Q

Lotic vs lentic

A

Flowing fresh water

Sessile fresh water

48
Q

Streams vs rivers

A

Narrow channel of fast-flowing fresh water (creek)

Wide channel of slow- flowing fresh water

49
Q

Riparian zone

A

A band of terrestrial vegetation alongside river and streams that is influenced by seasonal flooding and elevated water tables

50
Q

Allochthonous
Autochthonous

A

Inputs of organic matter, such as leaves, that come from outside an ecosystem (streams)

Inputs of organic matter that are produced by algae and aquatic plants inside an ecosystem (rivers)

51
Q

Ponds and lakes

A

An aquatic biome that is smaller than a lake and is characterized by no flowing fresh water with some area of water that is too deep for plants to rise above the waters surface

Larger than a pond and is characterized by non flowing fresh water with some area of the water that is too drop for plants to rise above the waters surface

52
Q

How are lakes subdivided

A

-littoral zone: shallow area around the edge of a lake or pond containing rooted vegetation

-limnetic zone: the open water beyond the littoral zone, where the dominant photosynthetic organisms are floating algae

-profundal zone: area in a lake that is too drop to receive sunlight

-benthic zone: area consisting of sediments at the bottom of lakes, ponds and oceans

53
Q

Temperature subdivisions of lakes and ponds

A

-epilimnion: surface layer
-thermocline: middle Seth of water that experiences a rapid change in temperature over a relatively short amount of time.
-hypolimnion: deeper layer of water

54
Q

Spring turnover

A

The vertical mixing of lake water that occurs in early spring, assisted by winds that drive the surface currents

55
Q

Stratification

A

The condition of a lake or pond when the warmer, less dense surface water floats on the cooler denser water below

56
Q

Fall turnover

A

The vertical mixing of lake water that occurs in fall, assisted by winds that drive the surface currents

57
Q

Freshwater wetlands

A

An aquatic biome that contains standing fresh water, or soils saturated with fresh water for at least part of the year, and is shallow enough to have emergent vegetation throughout all depths

Swamps
Marshes
Bogs

58
Q

Salt marshes

A

A saltwater biome that contains no woods emergent vegetation

-found along coasts of continents in termperate conditions often with estuaries

59
Q

Estuaries

A

An area along the coast where the mouths of freshwater rivers mix with the sat water from oceans.

-salt tolerant vegetation
-salt marshes in temperate zones with Jon woody vegetation
-mangrove swamps in tropical and subtropical

60
Q

Mangrove swamps

A

A biome that occurs along tropical and subtropical coasts and contains salt-tolerant trees with roots submerged in water

4 species of mangroves

61
Q

Intertidal zone

A

A biome consisting of the narrow band of coastline between the levels of high tide and low tide

62
Q

Coral reefs

A

A marine biome found in warm, shallow water that remain at 20°c year round
-often surround volcanic islands

63
Q

Neritic zone

Oceanic zone

A

The ocean zone that is beyond the range of the lowest tidal level and extends to depths about 200m

The ocean zone beyond the neritic zone (sparse nutrients)

64
Q

The neritic and oceanic zone may be subdivided vertically into _____ and _____ zones

A

Photic: the ads of the neritic and oceanic zones that contains sufficient light for photosynthesis by algae

Aphotic: water is so deep that sunlight cannot penetrate

65
Q

Tundra

A

The coolest books characterized by a treeless expanse above permanently frozen soil

Permafrost: a phenomenon whereby layers of souls are permanently frozen

-Found in Arctic regions
-low precipitation
-acidic

66
Q

Boreal forest

A

A Biome densely populated by evergreen needle-leaved trees, with a short growing season and severe winters.

-low species diversity due to low temp
-Canada, Minnesota

67
Q

Temperate rainforest

A

A books known for mild temperatures and abundant precipitation denominated by evergreen forests

-pacific coast of NA

68
Q

Temperal seasonal forest

A

A books with moderate temperature and precipitation conditions dominated by deciduous trees
-Northern hemisphere
-south east Canada

69
Q

Woodland/scrubland

A

A biome characterized by hot, dry summers and mild,wet Winters, a combination that favours the growth of drought-tolerant grasses and shrubs

-found around Mediterranean Sea
-12 month growing season

70
Q

Temperature grassland/cold desert

A

A books characterized by hot, dry summers and cold, harsh winters and dominated by grasses, non wordy flowering plans and drought-adapted shrubs

-prairies in NA

71
Q

Tropical rainforests

A

A warm and rainy biome characterized by multiple layers of lush vegetation
-generally call within 20°N/S
-Central America
-Congo

72
Q

Tropical seasonal forests

A

A biome characterized with warm temperatures and pronounced wet and dry seasons dominated by deciduous trees that shed their leaves during the dry season

-30°N/S of equator
-savannas (Kenya)

73
Q

Subtropical deserts

A

A biome characterized by hot temperatures, scares rainfall, long growing seasons and sparse vegetation
-20-30°N/S
-Sahara

74
Q

Thermohaline circulation drivers

A

-water freezes and excluded salt so warm water around that becomes more concentrated with salt, which then becomes more dense and sinks.

-high precipitation around ITCZ creates more water and therefore less salt

75
Q

Macro climate

Microclimate

A

Large scale

Small scale

76
Q

Microclimate includes what aspects

A

-vegetation
-ground colour
-burrows/boulders
-cold pockets
-Riparian vegetation: interphase between aquatic and terrestrial habitat

77
Q

Slope aspect effect

A

N slope is more humid and cooler

S slope is more warm and dry

In northern hemisphere!!!!

Opposite in southern.

78
Q

How much decrease in temperature can occur due to a plants shade

A

Up to 45°c soil to 21°c soil

Nurse effect!!

79
Q

Nurse effect on cacti

A

Cacti grow near shrubs that provide the nursing effect

80
Q

Humic material

A

Indiscernible organic matter

Plant or animal…no one knows

81
Q

Ground colour of beaches example

A

White sand beach’s can be 45°c while Black sand beaches can be 65°c

82
Q

Soil

A

Complex mixture of living and non-living material
-classification based on vertical layering
-profile provides a snapshot of soul structure in a constant state of flux.
-characteristics determined by climate, parent material, vegetation, topography, age

83
Q

Soil horizons types

A

O horizon-Organic layer freshly fallen

A horizon-Mixture of minerals, clay, silt and sand + organic matter from above.

E horizon-layer leaches if it’s minerals, found in older soils

B horizon-Clay, humus, and other materials leached from A horizon-often contains plant roots

C horizon-weathered parent material

R layer- unaltered parent material (bed rock)

84
Q

Can you have soil without every horizon

A

Yes

85
Q

Podsolization

A

Cool moist environments, acidic soils, clay particles break down

86
Q

Laterization

A

Warm moist environments, clay particles break down, Si leached, Fe3+, and Al3+ ions remain

87
Q

How are terrestrial and quantum biomes determined

A

By predominant vegetation
-associated with particular climates: temp and prec

By flow, depth and salinity

88
Q

Climate diagrams axis

10°c equivalent to ____mm prec

A

Temperature plotted on left vertical acid
Precipitation plotted on right vertical axis

20

89
Q

Adequate moisture for plant growth occurs when precipitation is _____ temperature

A

Above

90
Q

Origin of lakes and ponds

A

Glacial, oxbow (aging rivers leaves parts), tectonic

91
Q

Salt marshes and mangrove forests land to sea transition

A

-high productivity
-tides and river flow
-transportation of organisms, nutrients, oxygen, removal of wastes
-extremely vulnerable to human intrusion

92
Q

What 3 species of mangroves adapted to tide and flooding tolerance to n mangroves

A

Rhizophora in water
Avicenia in intermediate spot
Laguncularia in sanded area

93
Q

Herb-dominated salt marshes are found at _________

Mangrove forests are found in ______

A

Mid to high latitudes

Tropical and subtropical environments where minimum sea surface temperature is >16°c

94
Q

Intertidal zone can be divided vertically as:

A

-supratidal fringe: seldom covered by high tide, often wetted by waves

-upper intertidal: covered only during highest tides

-middle intertidal: covered/ uncovered by typical tides

-lower intertidal: uncovered during lowest tides

-sub-tidal: covered by water even during lowest tides

95
Q

Types of tides

A

Semidiurnal: two periods of low and high tides daily

Diurnal: single low and high tides each day

96
Q

Coral reefs types

A

Fringing reefs

Barrier reefs

Atolls

97
Q

Kelp beds

A

Temperate

-structure similar to terrestrial forests
-canopy at waters surface

Ecology (13 decks)

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