Ecology and the Biosphere Flashcards
What is the definition of ecology?
The study of the interaction of organisms and their environment.
What are the five different types of ecology?
Organismal
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Landscape
Global
Describe organismal ecology and give an example. What are the three subcategories embedded in this category of ecology?
This is how an organisms structure, physiology, and behavior meet environmental challenges.
How do flamingos select a mate?
Physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology
Describe population ecology and an example.
This focuses on factors effecting population size over time.
What environmental factors effect the reproductive rate of flamingos?
Describe community ecology and give an example. What is the definition of a community?
The effect of interspecific interactions on community strucure and organization.
Like predation and competition
A group of populations of different species in an area
Describe and give an example of ecosystem ecology. What is an ecosystem?
Emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling among the various biotic and abiotic components.
What factors effect photosynthetic productivity in an ecosystem.
The community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which those organisms interact.
what is a landscape? Describe landscape ecology and give an example.
This is a mosaic of connected ecosystems
The study of the exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across ecosystems.
How do terrestrial nutrients effect the organisms in a lake?
What is the biosphere? What is global ecology and an example?
The biosphere is the global ecosystem, which is the sum of all of the planets ecosystems.
Global ecology is the study of the influence of energy and materials on organisms across the biosphere.
How do global air circulation patterns effect the distribution of organisms?
What is climate?
The long-term prevailing weather conditions of an area.
What are the 4 major abiotic components of climate?
Temperature
Precipitation
Sun-exposure and intensity
Wind
What is the difference between a microclimate and macroclimate?
microclimate - fine patterns such as the climate found by the community of organisms under a fallen log
macroclimate - global, regional, and landscape level patterns
How does latitudinal variability change sunlight and heat intensity?
Sunlight is most intense per unit of surface area between 23.5 north latitude and 23.5 south latitude.
As you go past these latitudes the sunlight is more and more diffuse.
What is considered the tropics?
between 23.5 north (tropic of cancer) latitude and 23.5 south (tropic of capricorn) latitude.
How do the global air circulation and precipitation patterns work?
High temperatures in the tropics evaporate water from the earths surface.
Warm and wet air masses rise and flow towards the poles.
The rising air masses expand and cool, causing heavy precipitation in the tropics.
The now dry air masses descend towards earth at around 30 degrees north and south latitude and absorb moisture from the land creating an arid climate.
Some of the air heads towards the poles, some heads towards the equator
At around 60 degrees the same process occurs, though less precipitation than around the equator
What is an equinox? What do they symbol?
When the length of day and night is the same amount at the equator.
September equinox = start of fall
March equinox = start of spring
Describe the trade winds. How does this relate to the earths rotation?
COOLING WINDS
blow from east to west in tropics (from northeast in north tropics and from southeast in south tropics)
Earth spins from left to right (counter clockwise), this pushes the trade winds in their direction.
Describe the winds known as westerlies.
These blow from west to east in the temperate zones. (opposite the trade winds) SO from northwest in south temperate and from southwest in north temperate.
What are the temperate zones?
the zone between the north tropic and the arctic circle and the zone between the south tropics and the antarctic circle.
As you move towards the poles, what happens to seasonal variability of light and temperature? What does this mean for the tropics?
IT INCREASES
this means the tropics have much much less seasonal variability.
What causes the increase of seasonal variability at higher latitudes?
the tilt of the earths axis of rotation and its annual passage around the sun
What is a solstice? Difference between june and december solstice?
When the sun is at its highest or lowest point at noon.
June (highest point) - northern hemisphere tilts towards sun and has longest day and shortest night, opposite for southern hemisphere. MARKS START OF SUMMER
December (lowest point) - Northern hemisphere tilts away from sun, shortest day and longest night, opposite for southern hemisphere START OF WINTER
Do oceans and their currrents as well as large lakes have an effect on the climate of nearby terrestrial environments?
YES YES YES
What temperature of water do currents that flow towards the equator carry? What about currents that flow away from the equator?
towards equator from poles carry cold water
away from equator carry warm water to poles
How can you remember which way the trade currents flow (clockwise or counter clockwise) based on their location above or below the equator?
Think about the trade winds and how they would push the water.
North would be clockwise and south would be counter clockwise
How does a nearby body of water help to cool down terrestrial landscapes?
The warm air rises up and draws a cool breeze from the water across the land (water has a high specific heat)
How does a nearby body of water help to warm up a terrestrial landscape?
As the land cools, the warmer air near the water rises and draws the cooler air from the land over the water, the warm air from offshore replaces the cold air from the landscape.
In regards to mountains, what is a rain shadow? Start with the air flowing from water inland.
Air flows inland from water to help in temperature moderation, warming up and expanding as it moderates
the air hits the mountains and rises, eventually it cools at higher altitudes and precipitates on the same side of the mountain it traveled up (windward side).
the leeward side is left with dry air, allowing for little precipitation, causing a desert on the leeward side of the mountain.
Do mountains effect the amount of sunlight an area gets? What is an example of this?
YES
In the northern hemisphere south-facing slopes receive more sunlight than north facing slopes.
How much of a temperature decrease occurs with an increase in 1000m of elevation?
approximately 6 degrees CELSIUS
What are some biotic factors that help to characterize an environment and effect the microclimate?
organisms that are a part of the environment
What are some abiotic factors that help to characterize an environment and effect the microclimate?
temperature, light, water, and nutrients
Can scientists predict how climate change will affect the biosphere? What is an example given?
YES
the american beech (all along eastern coat) has troubles dispersing its seeds and grows in certain climates. it is predicted that as the climate warms its range will slowly decrease and retreat further north and be more confined to Canada.
What are biomes? What are the two different categories of biomes?
These are the major life zones that are characterized by their vegetation type (terrestrial) or their physical environment (aquatic)
terrestrial and aquatic
What is a major factor that determines the location of terrestrial biomes?
CLIMATE
What is a climograph?
a graph that plots the annual mean temperature and precipitation in a region.
Is it only the average temperature and precipitation that effects the biomes?
NO, its also their patterns
How are classifications for biomes often given?
based on their physical and climatic factors, as well as VEGETATION.
Are there usually sharp boundaries between terrestrial biomes?
NO, they usually grade into each other without sharp boundaries.
What are the areas of intergradation of terrestrial biomes called? can these vary in size?
ecotones
YES
What is meant by terrestrial biomes often have vertical layering? Why is this important?
There are literally vertical layers.
FOR EXAMPLE: Forest layers from top to bottom -upper canopy - low-tree layer - shrub understory - ground layer w/ herbaceous plants - forest floor - root layer
THIS ENCOURAGES DIVERSITY
What is convergent evolution? Example?
similar characteristics of species arise in different biomes.
cacti in north america and euphorbs in africa appear the same but come from different evolutionary lineages.
What is a disturbance? Examples?
An event that changes a community.
storm, fire, human acitivity
some dominant species depend on these disturbances.
What are the terrestrial biomes (10)?
Tropical forest
savanna
desert
Chaparral
temperate grassland
temperate broadleaf forest
northern coniferous forest
tundra
high mountains
polar ice
Describe a tropical forest.
Distribution: near equator (tropics)
Temperature: high year round
Precipitation: relatively constant
Plants: very layered, heavy competition for light
Animals: abundance of many species
Human Impact: rapid growth destroying these
Describe a desert.
Distribution: near 30 degrees north and south of equator
Temperature: variable seasonally and daily (hot or cold)
Precipitation: LOW, and variable
Plants: adapted for desiccation (drying out) tolerance, water storage, reduced leaf surface area
Animals: snakes and lizards, scorpions, ants, beetles, birds, seed-eating rodents, MANY NOCTURNAL
Human Impact: urbanization and irrigated agriculture have reduced natural biodiversity of some desserts
Describe a savanna.
Distribution: equatorial and subequatorial
Temperature: stable but more variable than in the tropics
Precipitation: seasonal, dry season lasts 8-9 months
Plants: grasses and forbes mostly, FIRE ADAPTED (store water), tolerant of droughts
Animals: insects, wildabeests, zebras, lions, hyenas
Human Impact: human set fires help to maintain this biome
Describe a chaparral.
Distribution: mid-latitude COASTAL regions
Temperature: hot summers, every other season is cold.
Precipitation: highly seasonal, rainy winters, dry summers.
Plants: shrubs, small trees, grasses, and herbs. plants are adapted to fire and drought.
Animals: amphibians, birds, reptiles, insects, mammals
Human Impact: agricultural and urbanization have reduced amount of this biome.
Describe a temperate grassland.
Distribution: found in many continents
Temperature: cold and dry winter, hot and wet summers
Precipitation: highly seasonal
Plants: grasses and forbs (sunflowers) that are adapted to drought and fire
Animals: grazing mammals like bison, wild horses. also burrowers like prairie dogs
Human Impact: many converted to farmland
Describe a temperate broadleaf forest.
Distribution: mid-latitudes in northern hemisphere
Temperature: cold winters, hot and humid summers
Precipitation: significant during all seasons
Plants: DECIDUOUS TREES (lose leaves during autumn)
- vertical layers, closed canopy, understory trees, shrub layer, herb layer
Animals: mammals (many hibernate), birds, insects
Human Impact: heavily settled on all continents
Describe a northern coniferous forest.
Distribution: largest terrestrial biome on earth, also called taiga (northern coniferous forest)
Temperature: winters are cold, summers may be hot.
Precipitation: varies, some have periodic droughts and some are wet.
Plants: conifers (conical shape) like pines and spruce have shapes that decrease snow loading.
Animals: birds, large mammals like moose, brown bears, siberian tigers
Humans: some being logged way too much
Describe a tundra.
Distribution: expansive areas of arctic, also exists on high mountaintops
Temperature: cold winters, cool summers
Precipitation: low in arctic, high in alpine (mountain)
Plants: mosses, grasses, forbs, shrubs, trees, lichen
Animals: musk oxen, caribou, reindeer, bears, wolves, foxes
Humans: sparse settlement, focus of oil and mineral extraction.
What is permafrost and where do you find this?
found in tundra
permanent frozen layer of soil which restricts growth of plants or roots
How are aquatic biomes generally characterized?
by their physical environment
Do aqautic biomes show as much longitudinal variation as terrestrial biomes?
NO NO NO
What is the difference between marine and freshwater biomes?
marine - have a salt concentration of about 3%, largest is the oceans (75% of earths surface)
freshwater - salt concentrations of less than 0.1%, closely linked to soils and biotic components of surrounding terrestrial biome
What are the 3 characteristics that help differentiate the zones of aquatic biomes?
- Light penetration
- Distance from shore or water depth
- Open water or bottom
What are the zone that are characterized by light penetration?
Marine and freshwater:
Photic - sufficient light for photosynthesis
aphotic - little light penetrates (little to no photosynthesis)
What are the zones characterized by distance from the shore or water depth?
Marine:
Intertidal - affected by tides
Neritic - close to shore, shallow.
Oceanic zone - deep, off coast
Freshwater:
Littoral - shallow, close to shore
Limnetic - Deep, away from shore
What are the zones characterized by open water or the bottom.
Both:
Pelagic - photic and aphotic zone together
Benthic Zone - bottom of all aquatic zones (organic and inorganic sediments found)
MARINE ONLY:
Abyssal - 2,000-6,000M below surface
What is a thermocline?
This is a layer of abrupt temperature change that separates warm water from cold deeper water.
What is the process of turnover? 4 steps.
- in winter: coldest water is just below the ice and gets warmer as you go towards the bottom
- in spring, as surface water warms it mixes with the layers below and spring winds help to mix the water, this brings oxygen to the bottom and nutrients to the surface
- Summer, thermocline is established, water is separated
- Fall, surface water cools and sinks beneath underlying layers, remixing water until surface freezes and winter temperature profile is established.
What is the difference between an oligotrophic and eutrophic lake? Describe what these lakes look like.
Oligotrophic - nutrient poor and oxygen rich
eutrophic - nutrient rich and oxygen poor - organisms commonly grow here in shallow regions especially (photic zone)
What lakes may have a seasonal thermocline?
Temperate lakes (found above or below tropics)
Where do rooted and floating plants tend to grow in lakes?
Littoral zone
What is present in the Limnetic zone?
small drifting animals like zooplankton that graze on phytoplankton
Where do invertebrates tend to live in lakes?
the benthic zone
Where do fishes tend to live in lakes?
all areas with sufficient oxygen
What is eutrophication? What is an example of this?
human-induced nutrient enrichment that leads to algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and killing of fish.
this is why we had to change our fertilizers near lakes because they caused this
What is the most productive biome on earth?
WETLANDS
have high organic production and decomposition, low-dissolved oxygen (many anaerobes)
What is a wetland? Where would you find a wetland?
habitat that is inundated (flooded) by water at least some of the time and supports plants that have adapted to water-soiled material (have many anaerobic bacteria and archaea), many methanogens
swamp, marsh, bog
What kinds of plants are found in wetlands?
lillies, cattails, sedges, tamarack, and black spruce
What animals are found in wetlands?
birds, otters, frogs, alligators
How have humans infected wetlands?
90% have been destroyed by humans, this is bad because wetlands purify water and reduce flooding.
What characterizes a stream or river?
A CURRENT
How would you describe a headwater of a river?
cold, clear, turbulent, oxygen-rich, narrow and rocky
How would you describe water downstream of a river or stream?
warmer, turbid, well oxygenated, SILTY BOTTOMS
What is the human impact to streams or rivers?
damning and flood control impairs the natural functioning of these ecosystems
What is an estuary?
transition area between river and sea.
salinity varies with rise and fall of tides.
have complex network of tidal channels, islands, natural levees, and mudflats
BRACKISH WATER DUE TO THIS
Are estuaries nutrient rish and productive?
YES YES YES
saltwater grasses and algae are major producers
What is the human use of estuaries?
we eat crabs, pysters, and crayfish
we also have disrupted estuaries with interference upstream
What is an intertidal zone?
a zone that is periodically submerged by tides as well as exposed.
What is the challenge for organisms in an intertidal zone?
the change in salinity and the mechanical forces of wave action
What are the oxygen levels for tidal zones?
oxygen levels are high
What is the difference for sandy zones and rocky zones of tidal zones?
sandy - protected from waves (worms, clams, crustaceans bury themselves)
rocky - support attached marine algae
What is the human impact on intertidal zones?
OIL POLLUTION
What is an oceanic pelagic zone?
This is a marine biome of very open water.
constantly mixed by wind driven oceanic currents as well as turnover renews nutrients in photic zones
covers 70% of earths surface.
squids, fish, sea turtles, krill, jellies
Describe coral reefs.
formed from the calcium carbonate skeletons of corals
home to many invertebrates and fish
Where do shallow reef building corals live?
photic zone in warm water
Where do deep sea corals live?
200-1500m
What is required for corals to survive?
high oxygen concentration and solid substrate for attachement
How does a coral reef progress?
fringing - above ground newly formed volcano
barrier - circle of corals above water (volcano partially below ground)
atoll - under water barrier of coral (volcano and coral underground)
What is the human impact of coral reefs?
collection of coral skeletons, overfishing, global warming, pollution, aquaculture threats to coral reef systems
What does a marine benthic zone consist of?
the sea floor below the surface waters of the neritic zone and the pelagic zone.
this includes organisms in the abyssal zone that are adapted to continuous cold temps and high water pressure
includes invertebrates and fishes
What is found in the shallow areas of the marine benthic zone?
seaweeds and filamentous algae
What is found in the deep part of the benthic zone?
DEEP SEA HYDROTHERMAL VENTS chemautotrophic prokaryotes and echinoderms as well as anthropods
GIANT TUBE WORMS
What is the human effect on marine benthic zones?
overfishing and dumping of waste have depleted fish populations.
What is the difference between ecological time and evolutionary time?
ecological - minute-to-minute time frame of interactions between organisms and the environment
evolutionary - spans through many generations and captures adaptation through natural selection
events in ecological time can lead to evolution - larger beaks were more likely to survive in drought, next generation had larger average beak size.
Can biotic and abiotic factors affect a species distribution?
YES YES YES
What is dispersal? how does this relate to natural range expansion?
the movement of individuals or gametes away from centers of high population density or from their area of origin.
Natural range expansion shows the influence of dispersal on distribution.
DISPERSAL EFFECT DISTRIBUTION
What is adaptive radiation?
Seen with long-distance dispersal where organisms reach somewhere where they didnt exist previously.
this is where there is a rapid evolution of a species to fill ecological niches.
EXAMPLE: hawaiian silverswords became very diverse after their long-range dispersal that resulted in adaptive radiation
What is a species transplant?
this is where an organism is intentionally or unintentionally relocated from their original distribution
this is a way to determine if dispersal is a key factor limiting the distribution of a species
What are some biotic factors that affect the distribution of a species?
predation
herbivory (sea urchins limit distribtution of seaweeds)
competition
mutualism
parasitism
What are some abiotic factors that limit species distribution (5)?
Temperature - effect biological processes
Water and oxygen - oxygen diffuses slowly in water and availabilityis different at different depths
Salinity - affects water balance through osmosis, different organisms can handle different salinities
Rocks and soil - physical structure, pH, mineral composition
Sunlight - light intensity and quality effect photosynthesis, shading by leaves make competition for light intense on forest floor, water absorbs light so most photosynthesis occurs near the surface, in the desert high levels of light stress plant and animals because of the increase in temperature
EXAMPLE FOR MOST: Things that live above the treeline in mountains are exposed to high UV radiation, freezing temps and moisture deficits in strong winds
