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GEO1009F > global biogeographical patterns > Flashcards

global biogeographical patterns Flashcards

1
Q

what are the three earth realms

A

atmos
lithos
hydros

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2
Q

what is biogeography?

A

Biogeography is the study (identification, explanation, analysis) of the distribution of living organisms in space and through time

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3
Q

what questions does biogeo address?

A

‘How many types of living things are there?’

‘Where are these living organisms found?’ ‘

Are there clear patterns of distribution?’

‘What factors control such patterns?’

‘How have these patterns changed over time?’

‘How do people affect organisms and their distribution patterns?’

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4
Q

define limiting factor

A

factors in the environment which control, or limit, the abundance of a particular organism or group

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5
Q

what are the four types of limiting factors?

A

climate = temp, moisture, humidity, wind, light, shade

soil = nutrients, salinity, pH, texture, physical space

other organisms = predation, grazing, food availability, competition

humans = land use trans, into of aliens, pollutions, mis-management

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6
Q

why is climate the master factor?

A

temp and moisture

- Climate factors can control or influence the distribution of organisms – especially clear at the global scale

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7
Q

temperature as a limiting factor

A
  • endothermic reactions (metabolic reactions for ex) rate doubles with every 10 degree increase in temp
  • there is a threshold - 50 degrees - metabolism is impossible and 0 degrees
  • organisms are classified based on ability to maintain body temps
  • photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction - temp strongly influences bio productivity
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8
Q

what are endotherms

A

produce their own body heat

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9
Q

what are ectotherms

A

acquire heat from environ

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10
Q

what are homeotherms

A

maintain a constant body temp

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11
Q

poikilotherms

A

body temp adjusts based on temp of environ

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12
Q

photosynthesis equation

A

6CO2 + 6H20 - C6H12O6 + 6O2

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13
Q

photosynthesis reaction in words

A

carbon dioxide +water = gluscose + oxgen

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14
Q

most obvious example of importance of temp thresholds determining the distribution

A

existence in the northern hemisphere of the so called arctic tree line
cooler conditions - tree growth is retarded and only small shrubs and herbs thrive

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15
Q

explain how moisture may be a limiting factor

A

protoplasm - 95% h2o - water is an obvios and highly potent biogeog factor

  • Moisture availability very dependent on precipitation inputs (and evaporation outputs) - highly variable in space and time.

Organisms are classified according to their adaptations to water availability: e.g. hydrophytes, mesophytes, xerophytes, halophytes.

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16
Q

define protoplasm

A

he colourless material comprising the living part of a cell, including the cytoplasm, nucleus, and other organelles.

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17
Q

list the categories of plants in order of moisture requirement

A

xerophyte
mesophyte
hydrophyte

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18
Q

what is a halophyte

A

plant adapted to growing in saline conditions

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19
Q

what is a biome

A

a grouping of terrestrial ecosystems on a given continent that are similar in vegetation type and structure, in their associated animal communities and in their physical environmental characteristics

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20
Q

what is a bio-climatic zone

A

concept that summarises large-scale vegetation formations and at the same time recognise associated physical environmental characteristics – a holistic or integrating concept.

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21
Q

what is considered to be the dominant environmental determinant

A

climate

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22
Q

what are the defining factors of a biome

A
  • Large-scale terrestrial ecosystems identified at the global, continental/sub-continental scale.
  • scale ; 1: 10 000 000
  • named after the dominant vegetation
  • Predominant environmental determinant is climate (therefore geology, soils etc. have local importance but not at the global or continental scale).
  • natural
  • plants and animals have adapted to that environ challenges of that biomes
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23
Q

where is the tundra

A

in the high north of the world

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24
Q

explain the physical constraints of life in a cold climate

A
  • low temps
  • limited day length
  • low solar radiation input
  • low moisture
  • permanently frozen subsoil
  • active layer in summer - solifluction mass wasting
25
Q

describe the tundra

A

Treeless ‘tundra’ (northern European word) region occupies 25 million km2 at high latitudes – almost all in the northern hemisphere. High altitude equivalent in the tropics (e.g. South American Andes)

26
Q

further constraints of living i the tundra

A

poor drainage
patterned ground produced by frost heaving
solifulction: lobes and terrraces

27
Q

life in cold climates - desctribe the biogeog responses of plants

A
  • impoverished- few species can survive the environ
  • structurally simple plants
  • Characteristic plants are small herbs and shrubs which sprout from underground each year (perennial): often dwarf and with cushion form (provides protection against desiccating wind and maximises opportunity to be snow-covered in winter).
  • Few plants with ‘annual’ (as opposed to perennial) life cycle
28
Q

life in cold climates - desctribe the biogeog responses of animals

A
  • low diversity
  • hibernation
  • thick furs or fat
  • unique camouflage
29
Q

one massive impact of humans on tudra

A

permafrost thaw

30
Q

explain the physical conditions of life in a cold climate

A
  • consistently warm
  • aseasonal precip
  • ideal
31
Q

constraints of a tropical climate

A
  • high daily temp
  • temporary moisture stress
  • competition from pathogens
  • leaches soild
  • nutrient poor soils
  • only a thin layer of rich soil
32
Q

where do these tropical environs occur?

A

Tropical vegetation formations occur between Cancer and Capricorn; i.e. approx 15-20 degrees either side of equator. 17 million km2

33
Q

if the soils are so poor why is rain forest so productive

A
  • efficient nutrient cycle
  • ## addition of exogenus nutrients - dust
34
Q

life in tropical climates - desctribe the biogeog responses

A
  • highly productive
  • high diversity
  • complex stratified structure
  • evergreen
    Leathery, waxy, dark green leaves with ‘drip tips’, giant leaves
35
Q

describe the complex stratified structure of the tundra

A

emergents
canopy
ground layer

36
Q

how is stability of large trees maintained

A
  • buttress roots

- stilt roots

37
Q

major human impact

A

deforestation

38
Q

what are the physical constraints of life in african arid climates

A
  • dry and highly variable
  • precip is intense and short and therefore doesnt seep into soil
  • Climate in hot deserts: high temperatures and also associated with high diurnal and annual temperature ranges, low cloud cover, low humidity and windiness (therefore high potential evaporation).
  • Substrates often sandy or rocky.
39
Q

life in arid climates - desctribe the biogeog responses

A
  • limited biodiversity

- special adaptations required

40
Q

name and explain the different types of plant adaptations and give an example

A
  • drought escaping- annuals- only grow when moisture available - namaqaland daisies
  • drought enduring - perennial and evergreen with deep roots - welwitschia mirabilis
  • drought evading - perennial, dormant during drought, loose leaves, Karoo bushes
  • drought resisting - perennials, succulents that store water or have specialised photosynthesis - plants that use CAM
41
Q

what does CAM stand for

A

crassulacean acid metabolism

42
Q

explain crassulacean acid metabolism

A

stomata are open in cooler and more humid night-time hours, permitting the uptake of CO2 to be fixed and stored as a four-carbon acid (i.e. malate) so that during the hotter and drier day-time hours the CO2 is released providing the enzyme rubisco with high concentration of CO2 while the stomata are closed to reduce water loss through evapotranspiration.

43
Q

human impact on arid zone

A

desertification - land degradation in arid zone

44
Q

where is the fynbos biome

A

A ‘mediterranean-type’ climate dominated by summer drought. Mean annual rainfall 250 to 2000 mm - dependent largely on altitude.

45
Q

physical constraints of the fynbos biome

A

Soils are shallow, nutrient-poor and are acidic (i.e. infertile) because underlying geology (especially on hard, quartzitic TMG sandstones)

46
Q

plant communities of the fynbos biome

A
  • true’ fynbos (heathland) e.g. mountain fynbos (characterised by proteas, ericas and restios)
  • non-fynbos’ communities, e.g. renosterveld and afromontane forest.
  • amazing diversity
47
Q

major determining factor of the types of vegetation

A

underlying geology and rainfall

48
Q

vegetation on malmes shale and granite

A

renosterveld

49
Q

veg on TMG sandstones

A

mountain fynbos

50
Q

veg on sandy flats

A

acid sandy plane fynbos

51
Q

veg on calcareous dunes

A

dune fynbos/strandveld

52
Q

proteaceae details

A

proteaceae:

  • silver tree
  • suikerbossie
  • protea
  • mimetes
  • leucospermum
  • Serruria florida
53
Q

the other fynbos plant

A

erica
restios
renoster bos
afromontane forest

54
Q

two things that fynbos is adapted to

A

environ

fire

55
Q

describe fynbos adaptation to environ

A
  • nutrient-poor, shallow soils
  • summer aridity and windiness
  • fire (frequency, timing, intensity)
56
Q

describe adaptations to fire and other methods used for seed dispersal

A
  • fire kills most fynbos plants therefore adaptation is through recruitment of the next generation by seed dispersal, germination and seedling establishment
  • seed (often canopy-stored) released by fire - serotiny)
  • seed dispersal by ants and rodents (myrmecochory)
  • other adaptations include fire survival by ‘resprouting’
  • geophytes with bulbs/rhizomes
57
Q

fynbos adaptations for summer aridity

A

Leaf (foliar) adaptations

  • designed to reduce transpirational moisture loss through stomata
  • reduced leaf area
  • stomata protected or ‘buried’
  • folded leaf structure
58
Q

human influence on fynbos biome

A
  • agriculture
  • commercial forestry in mountain catchments
  • alien vegetation - austrailian species
  • urbaisation
  • conservation
59
Q

name the major culprits of alien invasion

A 
Rooikranz
port jackson willow
black wattle
silky hakea
pine

GEO1009F (16 decks)

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