Intro to Ecology Flashcards
ecology
study of how organisms react with biotic (other org) and abiotic (physical) environments
organismal ecology
physiological- abiotic challenges
behavioral- how org interact w eachother
population ecology
examines group level biology in one species
- factors increasing or decreasing over time
- why one species prod low vs high survival offspring
community ecology
relationships between all species in an environ.
- predator vs prey
- competition
ecosystems ecology
biotic and abiotic environments relationships
- how nutrients & energy move in ecosystems
- how changes affect diversity & extinction
topography
natural and artificial physical features of an environment
tropical wet forests
constant high temp
low v
high rainfall
high v
subtropical deserts
average high temp
mod v
low rainfall
low v
temperate grasslands
mod temp
mod v
mod rainfall
mof variation
boreal forests
average low temp
high v
low rainfall
low v
actic tundra (no trees)
average low temp
high v
low rainfall
low v
marine salt water biomes
oceans
estuaries (river+ocean)
freshwater biomes
lakes and ponds
rivers and streams
wetlands
estuaries
mix of fresh and salt water where rivers meet oceans
rivers and streams
higher elevations= colder, more oxygenated
lower elevations= warmer, less oxygenated
wetlands
shallow with plants grown in
moving water
marshes= grass
swamps= trees
bogs= stagnant water, poor oxygenation
higher/lower the latitude
lower the average temp
how is rainfall determined
air gets filled w moisture as it approaches the equator, air goes upwards and cools down
cool air = more moisture =water falls out as rain
as air comes down, it warms due to compression and picks up more moisture as air moves down
why are temps warmer near the equator and colder at the poles
as you go more north or south from equator, angle of earths surface from the sun changes
- decreased solar radiation, less total energy hitting each m2
what causes seasons
earth is slightly tilted, as it rotates
- longer days in summer
- shorter days in winter
at what latitudes is rainfall generally greater or lesser, and what causes this pattern?
higher/lower latitudes= lower the average temp
increased latitudes colder bc increased angle to sunrays
rainshadow effect
patch of land forced to become a desert bc mountain ranges blocked all plant-growing, rainy weather.
windward side- more moisture, cool air
leeward side- desert, dry air
water depth affect light levels
- seawater absorbs light rapidly
- light decreases w/ increasing water depth
- wave length of light absorbed first
ocean zones
photic zone (surface water)- photosynthesis
aphotic zone (deep)- too dark
littoral zone (shallow)
limnetic zone (deeper)
benthic zone- ocean floor
nutrients and oxygen in lakes
- dense cold water w nutrients at bottom (photic)
- oxygenated water floats at top (aphotic)
nutrients in ocean waters
driven by winds -> surface waters away from shore -> upwelling brings nutrient water from deep down
