Intro to Ecology

Question 1

ecology

Answer 1

study of how organisms react with biotic (other org) and abiotic (physical) environments

Question 2

organismal ecology

Answer 2

physiological- abiotic challenges
behavioral- how org interact w eachother

Question 3

population ecology

Answer 3

examines group level biology in one species
- factors increasing or decreasing over time
- why one species prod low vs high survival offspring

Question 4

community ecology

Answer 4

relationships between all species in an environ.
- predator vs prey
- competition

Question 5

ecosystems ecology

Answer 5

biotic and abiotic environments relationships
- how nutrients & energy move in ecosystems
- how changes affect diversity & extinction

Question 6

topography

Answer 6

natural and artificial physical features of an environment

Question 7

tropical wet forests

Answer 7

constant high temp
low v
high rainfall
high v

Question 8

subtropical deserts

Answer 8

average high temp
mod v
low rainfall
low v

Question 9

temperate grasslands

Answer 9

mod temp
mod v
mod rainfall
mof variation

Question 10

boreal forests

Answer 10

average low temp
high v
low rainfall
low v

Question 11

actic tundra (no trees)

Answer 11

average low temp
high v
low rainfall
low v

Question 12

marine salt water biomes

Answer 12

oceans
estuaries (river+ocean)

Question 13

freshwater biomes

Answer 13

lakes and ponds
rivers and streams
wetlands

Question 14

estuaries

Answer 14

mix of fresh and salt water where rivers meet oceans

Question 15

rivers and streams

Answer 15

higher elevations= colder, more oxygenated
lower elevations= warmer, less oxygenated

Question 16

wetlands

Answer 16

shallow with plants grown in
moving water
marshes= grass
swamps= trees
bogs= stagnant water, poor oxygenation

Question 17

higher/lower the latitude

Answer 17

lower the average temp

Question 18

how is rainfall determined

Answer 18

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

Question 19

why are temps warmer near the equator and colder at the poles

Answer 19

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

Question 20

what causes seasons

Answer 20

earth is slightly tilted, as it rotates
- longer days in summer
- shorter days in winter

Question 21

at what latitudes is rainfall generally greater or lesser, and what causes this pattern?

Answer 21

higher/lower latitudes= lower the average temp

increased latitudes colder bc increased angle to sunrays

Question 22

rainshadow effect

Answer 22

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

Question 23

water depth affect light levels

Answer 23

• seawater absorbs light rapidly
• light decreases w/ increasing water depth
• wave length of light absorbed first

Question 24

ocean zones

Answer 24

photic zone (surface water)- photosynthesis
aphotic zone (deep)- too dark

littoral zone (shallow)
limnetic zone (deeper)
benthic zone- ocean floor

Question 25

nutrients and oxygen in lakes

Answer 25

• dense cold water w nutrients at bottom (photic)
• oxygenated water floats at top (aphotic)

Question 26

nutrients in ocean waters

Answer 26

driven by winds -> surface waters away from shore -> upwelling brings nutrient water from deep down