Ecology_basics_-_Zoo_BI_1 Flashcards
Q: Ecology
The study of the living world– interactions between living (animals, plants) and nonliving (earth, air, sun water) components in the environment.
Q: Environment
An animal’s environment is everything in its surroundings. The environment is made up of
living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components.
Q: Biotic
Refers to the living parts of an environment such as plants and animals.
Q: Abiotic
Refers to the components of an environment that are non-living which include air, water,
rocks and minerals, and sunlight.
Q: Ecosystem
A community of living organisms and their environment working together and in
a natural balance.
Q: Clarify the difference between an ecosystem and an environment
The term environment encompasses biotic and abiotic surroundings, but not the relationships. An ecosystem includes the interactions between the environment and the organisms that dwell within it.
Q: Habitat
The specific environment in which any given organism or any given population lives. A habitat contains everything that an animal needs to survive, including air, food, water, shelter, sun, space and other animals of its own kind so that it can reproduce.
Q: Biome
Large, naturally occurring, major habitat region defined by its climate and dominant vegetation.
The climate is mainly determined by the temperature and rainfall.
Each biome consists of many ecosystems whose communities have adapted to the small differences in climate and the environment inside the biome.
A biome supports a characteristic populations of fauna, which are adapted to that particular environment.
Zoo visitor discussion topic: Notice similar adaptations among different animals that live in the same biome.
Q: Name the 5 principle biomes
Aquatic, desert, forest, grassland, tundra
Q: Aquatic biome (general summary)
Freshwater habitats (ponds, lakes, streams, wetlands) as well as marine habitats (ocean, coastal waters, estuaries, coral reefs).
Q: Desert biome (general summary)
Areas where rainfall is less than 10 inches/year. Desert habitat types include
hot and dry, semiarid, coastal, and cold. (i.e. Antarctica is a desert biome because if its low rainfall)
Q: Forest biome (general summary)
Areas that are dominated by trees and other woody vegetation.
Occupy approximately one-third of Earth’s land area (today).
Tropical: areas are around equator between the Tropic of Cancer (latitude ~23.4 N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (latitude ~23.4 S). Temperate: (~30-60 deg. latitude), between the tropics and the polar regions.
Q: Grassland biome (general summary)
Habitats dominated by grasses (not trees and shrubs). Grasslands include tropical savannas and temperate grasslands (prairies).
Too dry for forests but too wet for deserts.
Two types: the tropical savanna, like the Serengeti Plains of Africa, and the temperate grassland or steppe, like the prairie of the American midwest.
Q: Tundra biome (general)
Very cold habitats with low biotic diversity and simple vegetation structure.
Covers the northernmost regions of North America and Eurasia
About 20% of the Earth’s land area
8-10 inches/year of rainfall
Winters are long and dark. Very short summers.
Water frozen most of the time, producing frozen soil, permafrost.
Q: Discuss the importance of bodies of water and aquatic biomes
Water is major natural resource; basis for all life
Oceans regulate Earth’s climate
Land animals depend on lakes for hydration and food
Many insects and other invertebrates as well as some fish are found only in freshwater
Wetlands purify water and trap pollutants
Q: Discuss the importance of water, bodies of water, and aquatic biomes
-Major natural resource; basis for all life
-Oceans regulate Earth’s climate (details on separate card)
-Oceans contain several billion photosynthetic plankton which account for most of the photosynthesis occurring on Earth and the oxygen we breathe
-Many land/water animals depend on freshwater habitats/resources (details on separate card)
-Wetlands purify water and trap pollutants
Q: Discuss the dependence of a variety of animals on freshwater habitats/resources
-Excellent source of food and minerals for plants and animals that thrive in and around the water.
-Land animals depend on lakes for hydration and food
-Amphibians are highly dependent on water for reproduction
-Diving birds, storks, and waterfowl depend on freshwater resources
-Reptiles such as turtles, alligators, and water snakes live most of their lives in or next to fresh water
-Mammals such as bears, otters, and beavers are found only near these habitats.
-Many insects and other invertebrates as well as fish are found only in fresh water.
Q: Discuss the relationship between the oceans and climate
-Water has high heat capacity; keeps the temperature of the atmosphere fairly constant.
-Oceans circulate heat and water throughout the planet, establishing the underlying conditions that lead to storms and rainfall patterns that can cause droughts and floods.
Q: Discuss adaptations of marine mammals
-Marine mammals require special adaptations
-Extra layers of blubber help to retain body temperatures
-Bodies are streamlined for swimming
-Must be able to regulate the salt in their systems
-Mammals must come to the surface to breathe
Q: Marine animals at the zoo
-[not anymore?] California sea lion
-Magellanic penguin
-Pelicans (white, brown, and pink-backed).
Q: Freshwater animals at the zoo
-green anaconda
-[gone?] North American river otter
-plumed basilisk
-capybara
Q: How are the position of the eyes and nose of the hippo similar in the green anaconda
Both are located high on their head, to sit above surface of water while animal is mostly submerged
Q: How do desert animals get much of their water?
From the food they eat
Q: How much of the Earth’s land surface is covered by desert?
About one-fifth
Q: Desert dwelling animals at the zoo
-Meerkat
-Desert tortoise
-Giant desert centipede
Q: What is the biome of Antarctica?
Most of Antarctica is a cold/polar desert. Less than 10” of rain.
Some parts, including surrounding islands, have milder climate, more plants (moss, algae, some grass), soil with more organic matter, and are considered to be tundra.
Antarctic tundra is not as diverse or complex as the Arctic tundra.
Q: Tundra plants and animals
Snow melt makes water plentiful during summer months. Plants/shrubs/lichens/mosses can grow, but too cold for trees.
Dwarf woody shrubs flower and produce seeds quickly during the short growing season.
During summer, tundra hosts numerous insects and migratory animals.
Example animals: Snowy owl, polar bears, brown bears, arctic fox, arctic hare, caribou…
Many animals have thick fur, blubber
Very fragile environment.
Q: Reindeer adaptations for tundra
Splayed hooves: helpful in snow.
Large nose: sense smell to find food hidden under snow, locate danger, and recognize direction. Noses also act as heat exchangers, warming the inhaled arctic air before it enters their lungs and retaining the heat from the exhaled air.
Q: Arctic species at the zoo
Wolverine
Grizzly bear (also in temperate forests)
[still true?] During the Christmas holiday season, reindeer.
Q: Temperate forest vegetation, rainfall
Mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees.
Dominated by relatively few species, in contrast to the tropical forests which contain thousands of species, none of which dominates.
Wind pollinated species are predominant.
Yearly precipitation is 30–60 in.
Well-defined growing season.
Cold winter.
Q: Temperate forest wildlife
Dominated by relatively few species, in contrast to the tropical forests which contain thousands of species, none of which dominates.
Birds are plentiful; many insects for them to feed upon.
Quite a few larger animals.
Many animals hibernate during the harshest months, with many birds migrating.
Predators have a hard time finding food during harsh months and may travel long distances to find sufficient food.
Q: Temperate forests animals at the zoo
(info probably needs updating)
Grizzly bear
Wolverine
Bald eagle
Q: Temperate rainforest vegetation, rainfall, diversity
Over 80 inches of rain, falls throughout year.
Very lush and wet.
Cooler than tropical rainforests
Rich in plant and animal species; diversity is greater in tropical rainforest
Q: Tropical rainforest vegetation, rainfall, diversity
Richest and most diverse biome on earth.
Over 80 inches of rain, falls throughout year.
Warm and moist year round.
Vegetation dense.
Year-long growing season.
Rapid cycling of nutrients.
Soils tend to have very little organic matter since most of the organic carbon is tied up in the standing biomass of the plants.
Scientists estimate that more than half of all the world’s plant and animal species live in tropical rainforests, with many more yet to be discovered.
Flowering plants predominant; fertilized mainly by insects, birds, and bats.
Only tallest trees get light; most vegetation adapted to grow in almost permanent shade.
Note: only a small percentage of tropical forests are rainforests.
Q: Example of temperate rainforest
Along the coast of the Pacific Northwest from Northern California up through Oregon, Washington, and into Canada.
Q: Tropical rainforest animals at zoo
[probably needs updating]
Two-toed sloth
[?] Howler monkeys
Black and white and red ruffed lemur
Green-winged macaw
Many birds, reptiles, and amphibians in tropical rainforest building.
Some tropical rainforest arthropods in insect zoo.
Q: Grassland vegetation, rainfall, diversity
Occur in temperate and tropical areas with reduced rainfall (10-30 inches per year) or prolonged dry seasons.
Sparse trees, shrubs and bushes, tall grass.
Sometimes harsh conditions such as drought or wildfires.
Grasses survive fires because they grow from the bottom [and can have deep roots].
Many animals rest in shade during hot part of the day.
Animals: burrowers, grazers/browsers (many large herding animals), consumers
