Environmental Constraints: Temperature

Question 1

Macroclimate

Answer 1

-large scale climate patterns that prevail over entire regions,
- determined by climate cells and topography

Question 2

Microclimate

Answer 2

-small scale climate patterns at an area, can deviate from macroclimate patterns
- determined by landscape, vegetation, or small scale topography features

Question 3

Elevation

Answer 3

• the timberline reflects a shift in microclimate with increasing elevation
• the mean annual temp decreases but trees need a minimum temperature for a minimum number of days per year to grow

Question 4

Mountain Aspect

Answer 4

North - slopes exposed to the north receive less solar radiation, higher snow loads, hence more water
South- slopes exposed to the south receive more solar radiation, lower snow loads and ultimately less water, grasses and shrubs prevail

Question 5

Vegetation

Answer 5

• by casting share, trees and shrubs can influence microclimate
• in the understory, temperatures are cooler and evaporation decreases

Question 6

Boulders and Burrows

Answer 6

• some organisms have adapted to live under rocks, or underground in burrows
• burrows and rocks create shade and allow inhabiting animals avoid heat during the day

Question 7

Surface Coloration

Answer 7

-lighter colours: reflect light, so that surface and surrounding do not increase in temp
- darker colours: absorb light, so that surface and surrounding increase in temp

Question 8

Albedo

Answer 8

reflectivity of a landscape, how much light is reflective vs. absorbed
- dark coloured surfaces have low albedo, light coloured surfaces have high albedo

Question 9

Specific Heat Capacity

Answer 9

the amount of energy that must be added, in the form of heat, to one unit mass of the substance in order to cause an increase of one unit it its temp

Question 10

Law of Tolerance

Answer 10

-species have optimal survival conditions within environmental thresholds
- beyond this range, the rates of survival decreases

Question 11

Principle of Allocation

Answer 11

the amount of energy available to each organism is limited, when energy is allocated to one function, it reduces the energy available for other functions

Question 12

Evolutionary Trade-offs

Answer 12

• adapting to one set of environmental conditions generally reduce fitness in other environments

Question 13

4 strategies that organisms can do

Answer 13

1. death
2. migrate
3. acclimate
4. adapt

Question 14

Acclimatization

Answer 14

physiological or morphological changes in response to changes in the environment

Question 15

Acclimatization vs. Adaptation

Answer 15

acclimatization is generally reversible whereas adaptation changes happen on a genetic level and is not reversible

Question 16

Plant adaptations to colder temperatures

Answer 16

• darker coloured leaves
  -cushion growth form
• leaf and flower orientation
• smaller surface area ratio

Question 17

Plant adaptations to warm environments

Answer 17

• decrease contact with the ground
• open growth form
• reduced leaves
• light surfaces

Question 18

Poikilotherms

Answer 18

body temperature varies with environment

Question 19

Homeotherms

Answer 19

body temperature relatively constant, regardless of environment

Question 20

ectotherms

Answer 20

control body temp using external energy
- ex. plants, fish, amphibians

Question 21

endotherms

Answer 21

control body temp using internal energy
- ex. mammals,birds