INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY Flashcards
What is ecology?
Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment
How do we determine organism distribution and abundance?
Through how organisms interact with their environment
What 3 types of factors govern accessibility?
- Abiotic factors
- Biotic factors
- Behavioral factors
What are abiotic factors?
Abiotic factors are physical factors such as climate and chemical factors like nutriente and soil
What are examples of abiotic factors?
- Temperature
- Precipitation (water)
- Sunlight
- Wind
- Rocks and soil
What are biotic factors?
Biotic factors are interactions with other species
What is climate?
Climate is the long-term prevailing weather conditions in a given area which have the most significant influence on organism distribution
What are the major abiotic components of climate?
- Temperature
- Water
- Sunlight
- Wind
Which 2 abiotic factors are the most common climatic factors determining organism distribution?
- Temperature
- Water
What are global climate patterns largely determined by?
The input of solar energy and Earth’s movement through space
What is responsible for seasonal variation of the Earth?
The 23.5 degree tilt of its axis
Which areas of the Earth receive the greatest input and least seasonal variation in solar radiation?
The tropics which lie between 23.5 degrees N and 23.5 degrees S
What initiates a global circulation of air, creating precipitation and winds?
Intense solar radiation near the equator
Diagrams of wind patterns and air circulation and precipitation:
Does the land or water change more quickly in temperature?
The land
Describe the flow of water in terms of temperature:
Warm water from the equator slows N and S to the poles, where it cools before moving back to the equator
What is a biome?
A biome is a major life zone characterized by vegetation type in terrestrial biomes or by physical environment in aquatic biomes
What determines the makeup of biomes?
Climate
What is a climograph?
A climograph is a plot of annual mean temperature against precipitation in a particular region
What is an example of a climograph for terrestrial biomes?
What is an ecotone?
An ecotone is the wide or narrow area of intergradation of biomes (‘overlap’), as they usually grade into each other without sharp boundaries
What is the photic zone?
The photic zone is the upper region where there is sufficient light for photosynthesis
What is the aphotic zone?
The aphotic zone is the lower region where little light penetrates
What is the pelagic zone?
The pelagic zone is the photic zone and the aphotic zone combined
What is the abyssal zone?
The abyssal zone is the deepest region
What is the benthic zone?
The benthic zome is compused of sand and organic and inorganic sediments
What is turnover?
Ponds and lakes are sensitive to seasonal temperature changes, so turnove brings oxygenated water from the surface to the bottom and nutrient-rich water to the top
During which seasons does turnover occur?
Spring and autumn
What is a thermocline?
A thermocline is a narrow layer of abrupt temperature change which separates the more uniformly warm water from the uniformly cold deeper waters
During which seasons is a thermocline present?
Summer and winter
What is the “rain shadow” effect?
The creation of a dry climate on the leeward (downward) side compared to the windward (upward) side
