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BIO232 Plant Ecology > L11 Temperate Biomes > Flashcards

L11 Temperate Biomes Flashcards

1
Q

What is the climax community in the UK

A

Temperate deciduous forests

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2
Q

Where are temperate deciduous forests found
Are there more in the Northern or Southern hemisphere

A

Above and below Capricorn and Cancer
More in Northern hemisphere

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3
Q

What are the characteristics of a deciduous forest climate

A

Cold and wet winters
Warm, slightly drier summers

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4
Q

What is the minimum annual rainfall in a deciduous forest

A

500-750mm

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5
Q

When did the soils of temperate deciduous forests form

A

Since last glaciation

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6
Q

Where would Welsh temperate rainforests have dominated

A

West coast

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7
Q

What trees could you expect to find in temperate deciduous forests

A

Oak, maple, beech, chesnut, elm, linden, walnut

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8
Q

Why do temperate deciduous forests have species from the dry tropical forest lineage

A

Frost tolerant bark

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9
Q

What trees are from the dry tropical forest lineage, what is the name for the group

A

Furgails
Oak, maple and beech

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10
Q

What is the soil of temperate deciduous forests like

A

Mull soils
High level of organic matter from leaf litter
High decomposition rates

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11
Q

What tree would dominate on shallow chalk soil

A

European beech (Fagus sylvatica)

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12
Q

What tree would dominate on deeper clay soils

A

Oak

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13
Q

How does the structural layering of temperate deciduous forests compare to dry tropical, boreal and rainforests

A

More structural layers than dry tropical and boreal
Less than rainforests

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14
Q

What are the vertical layers of temperate deciduous forests

A

Canopy layer
Shrub layer / subcanopy
Herbaceous / field layer
Ground layer

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15
Q

What effects can seasonality have

A

Changes in light availability, resources (food, shelter)

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16
Q

What happens to leaves in autumn

A

Chlorophyll is broken down
Nutrients are withdrawn

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17
Q

Are yellow and red leaves still photosynthesising

A

Yes, just using pigments other than chlorophyll

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18
Q

What causes leaves to fall

A

A change in structure of the petiole

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19
Q

Are the pigments of yellow and red leaves added after chlorophyll breaks down

A

No, the pigments are already present, but with the chlorophyll green pigment removed, they are now visible

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20
Q

What causes yellow pigment

A

Carotenoids and flavonoids

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21
Q

What causes orange pigment

A

Carotenoids - B-carotene

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22
Q

What causes red pigments

A

Anthocyanins and carotenoids

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23
Q

When is anthocyanin synthesised

A

Onset of autumn, not actually present the whole time like the carotenoids that produce yellow and orange

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24
Q

What is the season of dormacy

A

Winter

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25
Why does the herbaceous layer form in Spring
The canopy is open (light availability) and temperatures are warm
26
What occurs in trees during spring
Sap rises from roots to branches Some trees flower before leaf flush e.g. Maple, hazel, hawthron
27
What nutrients are found in young leaves
High in phosphorous and nitrogen
28
Why do insects appear in spring
Hatching of larvae is coordinated with nutrient rich time of leaves
29
Explain phenological mismatch in deciduous woodlands
Some plants change their phenology to bloom sooner (plasticity) as a result of climate change Insects are less plastic so can’t adapt and miss out on nutrient rich period of herbaceous plants
30
What kind of mismatch is the phenological mismatch occuring in deciduous woodlands as a result of climate change
Temporal
31
What may arise as a result of this temporal mismatch
Increase in invasive species which then have resource not previously available
32
What changes occur in summer
Canopy layer becomes denser
33
What is the negative implication of being a seasonal cyclic tree Why does it still occur
Expends large amounts of energy Proccess only beneficial in regions with long growing seasons
34
Name some animals of temperate forests
Badgers Bats Squirrel Owls Bears Birds
35
Where are boreal forests found
North of temperate deciduous forests None in Southern hemisphere
36
What proportion of the Earths surface is covered by boreal forest
8%
37
What proportion of the Earths surface is covered by boreal forest
8%
38
What are the climatic conditions in boreal forests
Long cold winters Short warm summers Low precipitation
39
What is species diversity like in boreal forests
Low
40
What trees are found in boreal forests Why do they have lower diversity
Coniferous spruce, fir, pine, larch Gymnosperms - lower diversity than angiosperms due to shorter radiation period Sometimes an understory of broad-leaved Alder, birch and aspen
41
What is prodocutivity like in boreal forests and why
Low productivity and slow decomposition as it is cold and dry
42
What type of soils are in boreal forests What can accumulate
Acidic soil Peat accumulation (carbon sinks)
43
What are the threats to boreal forests
Logging Oil and gas extraction Mining
44
What is the soil in boreal forests like
Young and shallow Leaf litter composed of conifer needles
45
What is the mineral content of boreal forest soil like and why What forms as a result and what can this be called
Acidic water washes away major mineral components Leaves powdery layer of silicon oxide soils - podzol or spodosol
46
What colour is the B horizon of boreal forest soil and why
Reddish colour due to iron and lack of humus
47
What is the fertility of boreal forest soils like and why
Low fertility Due to leaching from acidic soils and low decomposition rates from leaf litter
48
What is the vegetation structure in boreal forests
A single layer - the tree canopy Ground layer of lichen or moss Can be low shrubs and scattered herbs depending on disturbance regime or successional process
49
How does succession work in boreal forests
No classic succession Shifting mosaic of plant comunities existing in response to fire, soil moisture, permafrost depth, organic layer and nutrient depletion
50
Fires and carbon dioxide in boreal forest
Boreal forests exist as a carbon sink Fire releases large amounts of carbon dioxide through biomass burning Charred soils have decreased reflectivity, absorb more solar energy, increase soil temp, depth of thaw and decompostion rate Regrowth varies, deciduous species may dominate where the organic layer burned Gradually, evergreen species insulate surface and thaw layer decreases
51
Fires and carbon dioxide in boreal forest
Boreal forests exist as a carbon sink Fire releases large amounts of carbon dioxide through biomass burning Charred soils have decreased reflectivity, absorb more solar energy, increase soil temp, depth of thaw and decompostion rate Regrowth varies, deciduous species may dominate where the organic layer burned Gradually, evergreen species insulate surface and thaw layer decreases
52
What is paludification What occurs in boreal forests following this
Succession in the abscence of life Eventually ocygen in the soil becomes too low and the roots starve, killing the trees Area becomes covered in moss or peat bog
53
How does evergreen growth benefit boreal trees
Photosynthesis can occur all year, takes advantage of anytime when growing is possible
54
Adaptations of evergreen plants
Needles are very dark green for maximum absorption of solar radiation And increases leaf temperature in microclimate which increases photosynthesis rates Narrow shape and size of lead reduces surface area, minimising water loss Somata is sunken within leaf - sheltered
55
What is the drawback of the evergreen stratergy
Constant exposure increases risk of being damaged
56
Animals found in boreal forests
Wolves Grazers Cross-hatch
57
What are 2 types of tundra
Arctic Alpine - above 60˚ latitude
58
What is the climate in tundra biomes
Lack summer warmth entirely Growth only occurs during breif cool summer Months of bitter cold
59
Are there trees, why
Cold temperatures restrict woody growth so treeless
60
What is the diversity like in tundras
Low
61
What plants can be found in tundras
Highly specialised, endemics Grasses and sedges Shrubs where there is snow Mosses and lichens
62
Which tundra has highest diversity
Alpine tundra (mountains)
63
What is the climate in Arctic tundras
2-6 months of complete darkness Average winter temperature of -35˚C
64
What is the climate like in alpine tundra
More variable than Arctic Intense radiation on mountain tops -12˚C to 10˚C Cold and dry Temperature fluctuations between day and night Precipitation 300mm per year (low)
65
What are soils like in alpine tundra
Course, rocky, well drained Deep moist peats remain wet in summer as drainage is impeded by permafrost = tundra bog
66
What are the dominant vascular plants in tundras
Perennial herbs and dwarf shrubs Many semi-evergreen No pterophytes as they may not get the temperature for germination
67
What are some adaptations of tundra plants
Grow close to surface in dense mats and cushions Pubescent (hairy) Vegetative
68
What name is given to the wat flowers move in tundras and why is this beneficial
Heliotrophic flower movement Favours seed maturation
69
Why are many tundra species vegetative
High metabolic cost of seed production and uncertainty of seedline recruitment
70
What type of root growth do tundra plants have and why
Lateral root growth due to low soil temperatures and undeveloped soil
71
Animal life in tundras
Many vertebrates - small rodents, hares, caribou, musk oxen, mountain goats, migratory birds Alpine marmots, pika and ungulates

BIO232 Plant Ecology (15 decks)

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