ecology quiz 1 Flashcards
1.1 define ecology
it is the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.
1.1 what is included within the environment?
the physical and chemical conditions and biological/living components of an organisms surroundings.
1.1 what is included within the relationships?
the interactions with the physical world as well with members of the same or other species.
1.1 True or False,
evolution and ecology are linked?
true, evolution is a mechanism that allows ecology to go into deeper understandings of organisms and their processes.
1.2 ____ conditions surround an organism influence physiological processes crucial to survival & growth
physical and chemical
1.2 what is the ultimate goal for living organisms?
pass their genes on to successive generations
1.2 define ecosystem
environment including physical conditions and array of organism coexisting within its confines
1.2 biotic community & abiotic environment function as a system. define biotic & abiotic
biotic = living abiotic = non-living
1.3 define population
group of individuals of the same species occupying a given area
1.3 define community
group of interacting plants & animals inhabiting an area
1.3 what are the levels of the ecosystem?
individual -> population -> community -> ecosystem -> landscape
-> biome -> biosphere
1.3 define biomes
regions dominated by similar types of ecosystems (rainforest)
1.3 define biosphere
thin layer surrounding earth that supports life
1.4 what does the level on individual focus on?
morphology, physiology, behavior influence on organisms ability to survive, grow and reproduce in its environment.
1.4 what does the level of population focus on?
examining number of individuals and how it changes; birth/death are expressed as rates
1.4 what does level of ecosystem focus on?
collective properties characterizing the flow of energy and nutrients through the physical and biological system
1.4 what does the level of landscape focus on?
factors that give rise to the spatial extent and arrangement of various ecosystems that make up the landscapre
1.4 what does the level of biome focus on?
continential-global scale distribution of different ecosystem/biomes
1.4 what does the level of biosphere focus on?
linkages between ecosystems and earth components (ex. atmosphere)
1.5 if something cannot be observed it _____
cannot be investigated by science
1.5 observation must be ______, since it can then be made by multiple observers
repeatable
1.5 define hypothesis and what must you be able to do with it
educated guess/ proposed explanation for a
phenomenon. and you must be able to test it then accept or reject it
1.5 what is the independent variable
the cause. variable that is changed
1.5 what is the dependent variable?
effect. the variable affected by the change
1.5 define statistical population
set of objects to which inference can be drawn
1.5 define sample
part of population that is selected for observation
1.5 define categorical data and what is it subdivided into?
qualitative observations that fall into separate and distinct categories. nominal & ordinal
1.5 define nominal data
unordered categories
1.5 define ordinal data
order is important
1.5 in the special case where only 2 categories exists, categorical data are referred to as ____
binary
1.5 define numerical data and how it is subdivided
objects are measured based on quantitative traits. discrete & continuous
1.5 define discrete data
only certain values are possible
1.5 define continous data
any value within interval is possible
1.5 define frequency distribution
count of the number of observations having a given score or value
1.5 define histogram
a type of bar graph
1.5 define scatter plot
constructed by defining two axes, each representing one of the two variable being examined
1.5 define theory
integrated set of hypotheses that together explain a broader set of observations than any single hypothesis
1.5 when both number are _____, most common graph is _____
numerical, scatter plot
1.5 y increasing with x increasing =
positive relationship
1.5 y decreasing with x increasing =
negative relationship
2.1 wavelength of radiation emitted by an object is a function of its ____
temperature
2.1 the sun emits ____ while the earth emits ____
shortwave, longwave
2.1 quantity of shortwave radiation reflected by a surface is a function of its reflectivity called ____
its albedo
2.1 the hotter the surface =
more radiant energy emitting
2.1 longwave radiation is absorbed by water vapor and CO in the atmosphere, the absorbed radiation is emitted _____ toward the surface as __________, which keeps the surface temp ____
downward, longwave atmospheric radiation, warmer
2.1 define greenhouse effect
selective energy absorptiony CO in the atmosphere, which allows shortwave wavelength energy to pass through BUT absorbs longer wavelengths and reflects heat back to earth
2.1 define greenhouse gas
gas that absorbs longwave radiation and contributes to the greenhouse effect when present in the atmosphere (ex. water vapor & CO)
2.1 define net radiation
difference between incoming and outgoing electromagnetic radiation for an object
2.1 if the incoming shortwave radiation exceeds the amount of outgoing long wave radiation…
surface temperature increases
2.1 if long wave radiation exceeds the incoming shortwave radiation…
surface temperature decreases
2.1 at higher altitudes, solar radiation hit the surface at a steeper angle, spreading sunlight over a large area. which means what?
that it must travel through a deeper layer of air which then means it encounters more particles in the atmosphere which reflects more of a shortwave radiation back into space
2.2 summer solstice june 22
solar radiation falls directly on tropic of cancer, with an increased input and day length in the northern hemisphere
2.2 vernal and autumnal equinoxes
solar radiation falls directly onto the equator
2.2 winter solstice december 22
solar radiation falls directly on tropic of Capricorn, with increased input and day length in southern hemisphere
2.3 average net radiation of the planet =
amount of incoming _______ absorbed by the surface is offset by the quantity of outgoing ______ back into space
0
shortwave radiation, longwave
2.3 what is the primary mechanism of this planetary transfer of heat from the tropic to the poles?
convection. which is the transfer of heat through circulation of fluids (air & water)
2.3 define intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
resulting convergence of winds from the north and south in the region of the equator
2.3 air moves from…
high to low pressure
2.3 define Coriolis Effect
pattern of airflow. earth rotation results in a moving object veering to the right in the north hemisphere and in the south it veers to the left
2.3 define equatorial low
low-pressure zone near the surface of the equatorial zone
2.3 define subtropical high
semipermanent high-air-pressure belt at the surface encircling the earth
2.3 define westerlies
dominant east-west motion of the winds centered over the middle altitudes of both hemispheres
2.3 define trade winds
southward-flowing stream that becomes strong
2.3 define subpolar low (polar front)
zone of low air pressure near the surface of the eath
2.3 define polar easterlies
easterly wind located at high altitudes poleward of the subpolar below
2.3 what are the belts of prevailing winds
they break the flow of surface air toward the equator and flow aloft to the poles in a series of 6 cells - 3 in each hemisphere
2.3 what is the first cell called and how is it closed
hadley cells - in the north hemisphere, the Coriolis effect forces air in the easterly direction, slowing its progress north, the cool air now sinks at about 30N
2.3 what is the name of the 2nd cell and how does it close?
ferrel cell - 2 air masses of contrasting temperatures do not mix and are separated, some of the air moves southward until 30 latitude, where it then sinks back to the surface and closes the cell
2.3 what is the last cell called and how does it close?
northward-moving air reaches the pole, it slowly sinks to the surface and flows back southward toward the polar front
2.3 pattern of global atmospheric circulation function to what?
transport heat from the tropic towards the pole ( net radiation surplus to net radiation deficit), moderating temperatures at higher latitudes.
2.4 what are currents
systematic patterns of water movement
2.4 until encountering a continent, major ocean current mimic …
movement of surface winds
2.4 each ocean is dominated by what?
gyres - 2 circular motions of water
2.4 ocean current moves ____ in northern hemisphere and ___ in southern hemisphere
clockwise, counterclockwise
2.4 gyres function to what?
redistribute heat from the tropic northward and southward toward the poles
2.5 define latent heat
amount of energy released or absorbed during a change of state (ex. liquid to solid)
2.5 liquid to gas means energy is ____
absorbed, going from a more ordered state to less ordered
2.5 less ordered state to more ordered state =
energy is released
2.5 define evaporation
transformation of water from a liquid to gaseous state
2.5 define condensation
transformation of water vapor to liquid state
2.5 evaporation rate = condensation rate means…
air is saturated
2.5 define vapor pressure
amount of pressure water vapor exerts independent of dry air
2.5 saturation vapor pressure =
water vapor content of air at saturation (cannot be exceeded)
2.5 what happens if vapor pressure exceeds the capacity?
condensation occurs and reduces the vapor pressure
2.5 define saturation
state that occurs when no more of something can be absorbed, combined with, or added.
2.5 saturation vapor pressure varies with _____
temperature
increasing as air temperature increase
2.5 equation for relative humidity
(current vapor pressure / saturation vapor pressure ) x100
2.5 amount of water in a given volume of air is its….
absolute humidity
2.5 define relative humidity
water vapor content of air at a given temperature - expressed as a percentage of the water vapor needed for saturation at that temperature
2.5 define dew point temperature
temperature at which saturation vapor pressure is achieved
2.6 precipitation is _____ distributed across the earth
not evenly
2.6 the narrow region where trade winds meet is the….
intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
2.6 two air masses meet → air piles up → warm humid air _____
rises and cools
2.6 dew point is reached → clouds form → _____
precipitation falls as rain
2.6 ITCZ is not _____…. tends to migrate to regions with ____ surface temperatures
stationary, warmer
