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Historical Geology > Historical Geology - Environmental Diversity > Flashcards

Historical Geology - Environmental Diversity Flashcards

1
Q

What is ecology?

A

The study of the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical environment.

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2
Q

What is a Niche?

A

The way an organism related to its environment.

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3
Q

What is a population?

A

A group of individuals that live in an area and reproduce.

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4
Q

What is a community?

A

A group of populations of different species.

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5
Q

What is Fauna?

A

All animals in an ecosystem.

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6
Q

What is Flora?

A

All plants in an ecosystem.

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7
Q

What is Biota?

A

The combination of fauna and flora in an ecosystem.

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8
Q

What is Diversity?

A

The number of different taxa in an ecosystem or area.

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9
Q

What is an autotroph?

A

An organism that can synthesize food from inorganic matter usually through photosynthesis.

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10
Q

What is an herbivore?

A

Organism that feeds on primary producers (autotrophs).

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11
Q

What is a carnivore?

A

Organism that feeds on other organisms (consumer/heterotroph).

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12
Q

What is biogeography?

A

The study of the distribution and abundance of life across the planet, and how it responds to stimuli .

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13
Q

What is latitudinal diversity gradient? What causes it?

A

The pattern of having lots of species at the equator with diversity dwindling off towards the poles. Temperature is related to latitude and altitude. Both effect diversity. Warmer temperatures and lower altitudes = more diversity.

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14
Q

What are the effects of altitude on diversity?

A
  • The higher the altitude the lower the temperature. Similar effect as latitude. Higher altitude = colder temperatures = less diversity.
  • Altitude can also affect the distribution of moisture. eg mountains cause
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15
Q

What are the effects of altitude on diversity?

A
  • The higher the altitude the lower the temperature. Similar effect as latitude. Higher altitude = colder temperatures = less diversity.
  • Altitude can also affect the distribution of moisture. eg mountains cause rain shadows.
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16
Q

What are the seven Terrestrial environments? Explain each.

A
  • Rain forests
    • extreme moisture and biodiversity
  • Savannahs/grasslands
    • sufficient moisture for moderate biodiversity
    • mid-latitudes
    • seasonally wet, high temperature ranges
  • Tundra
    • low temperatures
    • high altitudes
    • short growing season
  • Evergreen forests
    • high to mid-latitudes
    • relatively short growing season
    • dominated by coniferous vegetation
  • Temperate forest
    • somewhat longer summers
    • dominated by deciduous vegetation
  • Desert
    • Arid (dry) variable temperatures
    • low biodiversity
  • Mediterranean
    • hot, arid summers and cool, wet winters
    • primarily shrubs for vegetation
17
Q

What is Planktonic environment?

A

Organisms that drift in water column

18
Q

What is Pelogic environment?

A

organisms that live in the watercolumn (includes planktonic and swimmers).

19
Q

What is Benthic environment?

A

organisms that live on or in the sea floor

20
Q

What is a suspension feeder?

A

Organism that strains food out of the water.

21
Q

What is a deposit feeder?

A

Organism that ingests sediments and digests associated organic matter.

22
Q

What is a suspension feeder?

A

Organism that strains food out of the water. eg. corals and crinoids

23
Q

What is a deposit feeder?

A

Organism that ingests sediments and digests associated organic matter. eg some worms

24
Q

What are the two key variables in a marine enviroment?

A

water depth and temperature.

25
Q

What is upwelling?

A
  • Transport of cold, nutrient-rich water to shallower depths.
  • Results in an increase in growth.
  • Occurs in coastal regions and as a result of ocean currents.
26
Q

What do ocean currents do?

A

They distribute heat and nutrients.

27
Q

How are marine environments differentiated?

A

By water depth.

28
Q

Name 4 marine environments and explain each.

A
  • Continental Shelf
    • Submerged edge of the continents
  • Shelf Break / Shelf Slope
    • Edge of the continental plate
    • Change to steeper slope
    • Typically start around 200m water depth
  • Continental Rise
    • Collection of continental sediments at the base of the shelf slope
  • Abyssal Plain
    • Deep ocean floor (typically 3-6 km deep)
29
Q

Name 4 coastal environments and describe each.

A
  • Marshes
    • Areas of low-growing intertidal plant life, accumulates as peat.
    • Source materials for coal
  • Reefs
    • Formed by successive generations of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) producing invertebrates (e.g., corals)
    • Shallow, within the photic zone (otherwise you get drowned reefs)
  • Beaches
    • Intertidal zones composed of extremely well-sorted sediments
  • Barrier Islands
    • Sand deposits parallel to shoreline (built by wave action)
30
Q

What is an intertidal zone?

A

The area subaerially exposed at low tide and submerged during hightide
-The area between the low tide and high tide marks

31
Q

What is a subtidal zone?

A

The area that is not subaerially exposed during low tide

32
Q

What is wave base?

A

The depth at which sediments are not affected by wave action.

33
Q

What is salinity?

A

The amount of salt in the water.

34
Q

Is the distribution of life around the planet random?

A

no

35
Q

What are the primary factors affecting the distribution of life on earth?

A
  • Temperature
  • water availability (on land)
  • light availability
  • nutrient availability
36
Q

Why are altitude/depth and latitude very important in the distribution of life on earth?

A

They determine they types and numbers of organisms that grow in different parts of the world.

Historical Geology (17 decks)

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