Land Ecosystems and Ecological Succession Flashcards
1
Q
“There is a ____ ______ of all life on earth, from the tiniest organisms, to the largest ecosystems.”
- Bryant McGill
A
deep interconnectedness
2
Q
It is a part of the Earth that supports life
A
Biosphere
3
Q
- it spreads around the biosphere
- land-based ecosystems with unique biotic and abiotic factors
A
Biomes
4
Q
Nonliving conditions that influence the type of biome found in a geographic area
A
Abiotic Factors
5
Q
What are the two most significant abiotic factors in biomes?
A
- Temperature
- Precipitation
6
Q
The two most significant abiotic factors in biomes are influenced by?
A
Latitude
Altitude
Prevailing Winds
Nearby mountains
7
Q
It is the distance from the equator, measured in degrees north or south
A
Latitude
8
Q
Latitudes near the equator receive __ ___ ____ and a ___ amount of ____
A
- more direct sunlight
- greater amount of warming
9
Q
What causes seasonal changes?
A
The tilt of the Earth as it rotates around the Sun
10
Q
Day length is ____ _____ near the equator, then becomes ___ _____ towards the poles
A
- highly consistent
- more seasonal
11
Q
As latitude _____, temperature and primary productivity tend to _____ due to the ____ __ ____
A
- increase
- decrease
- changing sun angle
12
Q
It is the elevation above sea level
A
Altitude
13
Q
As altitude ____, average temperature and primary productivity ____
A
- increases
- decreases
14
Q
It is a winds that blow from a single direction over a specific area of the Earth
A
Prevailing winds
15
Q
How does the prevailing winds created?
A
Hot air at the equator rises, moves across the atmosphere, cools, then sinks at about 30°N or S
16
Q
From the tropics southwest or northwest towards the equator
A
Trade Winds
17
Q
From the subtropics west towards the midlatitudes
A
Westerlies
18
Q
It is a moving system of deep ocean currents that circulate warmth across the globe
A
Ocean Conveyor
19
Q
Biomes located near bodies of water have ___ precipitation levels
A
Greater
20
Q
What fuels storm system?
A
Evaporation from the water
21
Q
It is a periodic warming and cooling of the central/eastern Pacific Ocean caused by shifts in trade winds
A
El-Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle
22
Q
During a normal year, the ____ ___ gather in the western Pacific, fueling ____ throughout southeast Asia
A
- warmest waters
- rainfall
23
Q
Warm waters shift to the coast of South America, fueling more rainfall in the Western U.S.
A
El Niño year
24
Q
It is a decrease in precipitation on the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing winds
A
Rainshadow effect
25
Faces winds, receives more precipitation
Windward slope
26
Reduced precipitation
Leeward slope
27
The ____ __ ____ is the result of latitude, altitude, prevailing winds, ocean currents, and landforms.
Distribution of Biomes
28
A combination line/bar graphs that show trends in temperature and precipitation over a typical year in a biome
Climatographs
29
Average monthly precipitation
Bar graph
30
Average monthly temperature:
Line graph
31
Climatographs tell you:
- If temperatures are seasonal or consistent
- If precipitation is seasonal or consistent
- If the climate is below freezing part of the year
32
Climatograph
You can infer:
- Latitude and geography of the ecosystem
- Northern or southern hemisphere
- What type of ecosystem is present
33
- low precipitation, high temperatures
- lowest net primary productivity of all ecosystems
Deserts
34
It forms between the tropics and temperate latitudes
Subtropical deserts
35
_____ ___ deliver __ __ down from the atmosphere at ___ and ___
- convection cells
- dry air
- 30°N and 30°S
36
It is found on the Leeward side of mountain ranges
Rainshadow deserts
37
It is a result of wind currents that run parallel a coastline
Coastal deserts
38
May bring ___, but no measurable _________.
- fog
- precipitation
39
Have a seasonal temperature variation
Temperate deserts
40
A desert that s consistently cold and dry
Polar deserts
41
What are the adaptations of the organisms in desert?
- Ability to store water (e.g. succulents) or fat (e.g. camels)
- Reduced growth rate and/or herd size
- Spikes and camouflage for defense
- Energy conservation (dormancy, cold-blooded)
- Deep taproots
42
- moderate or seasonal precipitation
- warm or seasonal temperatures
- moderate net primary productivity
Grasslands
43
- or tropical grasslands
- are located near the equator between tropical forests and subtropical deserts
Savannas
44
Temperature in Savannas
Consistent
45
Precipitation in Savannas
Seasonal
46
- or temperate grasslands
- are found in midlatitudes
Prairies
47
Temperature in Prairies
Seasonal
48
Precipitation in Prairies
Moderate
49
- or polar grasslands
- have short growing seasons and permanently frozen soil called permafrost.
Tundras
50
Permanently forzen soil
Permafrost
51
Temperature in Tundras
Consistently cold
52
Precipitation in Tundras
Moderate
53
Adaptations of Grassland Plants:
Prairie plants
have deep and complex root structures that allow them to recover from drought, wildfire, cold winters, and grazing animals.
54
Adaptations of Grassland Plants:
Tundra plants
- low-lying due to permafrost
- mature rapidly in the short growing season
55
- consistent moderate-to-high precipitation that supports tree growth
- warm or seasonal temperatures
- high net primary productivity across multiple layers
Forests
56
- it is the uppermost layer in forest
- receives the most direct sunlight
- few plants reach this high
Emergent layer
57
- it is the highest layer that most trees reach, and contains most of the plant and animal life
- highest net primary productivity area of any forest.
Canopy
58
It is the layer of vegetation below the canopy, where only 5% of the sunlight reaches
Understory
59
It is the bottommost layer of the forest, and has a community centered around decomposition.
Forest floor
60
- Wide, flat leaves that maximize sun absorption
- Prone to moisture loss via transpiration
- Shed in winters or prolonged dry seasons
Broadleaf Trees
61
- Narrow, wax-coated leaves
- Absorb less sunlight but transpire less water
- Not shed during cold or dry seasons
Coniferous Trees
62
- It receives high rainfall and are consistently warm
- Broadleaf trees only
- Highest net primary productivity of all land-based ecosystems
Tropical Rainforests
63
- It also receives high rainfall but have seasonal temperature changes
- Broadleaf or coniferous trees
Temperate Rainforests
64
- have moderate precipitation and significant seasonal temperature changes
- mostly broadleaf trees that shed their leaves each winter
Deciduos forests
65
- also called taiga
- are the coldest and driest of all the forest biomes
- Coniferous trees only
Boreal forests
66
- also called chaparral
- have highly seasonal rainfall that mostly falls during the winter months
- small coniferous trees and shrubs
Mediterranean forests
67
- seasonal temperatures
- moderate rainfall
Temperate Grassland
(Prairie)
68
- seasonal temperatures
- moderate precipitation
Polar Grassland
(Tundra)
69
- warm temperatures
- seasonal precipitation
Tropical Grassland
(Savanna)
70
- warm temperatures
- seasonal precipitation
Mediterranean forest
71
- seasonal temperatures
- moderate precipitation
Deciduous Forest
72
- seasonal/cold temperature
- seasonal precipitation
Boreal Forest (Taiga)
73
- warm temperatures
- high precipitation
Tropical Rainforest
74
Subcontinental land masses surrounded by water
Islands
75
Islands have many species that
are ____
Endemic
76
What is Endemic?
species that are not found anywhere else in the world
77
Islands have many species that
are endemic because of evolution due to ____ ___
Founder effect
78
What is the Founder effect?
occurs when a small group of migrants establish another community in a new area
79
Islands are ____ ____ due to the number of endemic species present
biodiversity hotspots
80
The theory that predicts that the species richness or biodiversity of an island depends on two factors
The Theory of Island Biogeography
81
As island size increases,
species richness also
increases
Positive Correlation
81
What are the two factors in the theory of island biogeography which the richness of species and biodiversity depends on?
1. Island size increases
2. Distance
82
As it increases from the mainland, species richness decreases
Distance
82
As it increases, species richness also increases
Island size increases
83
As distance from the mainland
increases, species richness
decreases
Inverse Correlation
84
Many small or distant islands lack __ ___ due to the
___ ___.
- apex predators
- limited food
85
Increases risk of ____ from introduced species
Extinction
86
Land converted for human development
Urban Ecosystem
87
Urban development causes ___ _____ by dividing natural areas up into smaller pieces.
Habitat Fragmentation
88
What is habitat fragmentation
dividing natural areas up into smaller pieces
89
Large buildings ___ ___ ___, causing ____ and ____.
- block wind flow
- updrafts and downdrafts
90
It causes cities to be warmer due to the absorptive properties of asphalt and pavement, and reduced air flow due to blocked winds.
Urban heat island effect
91
Urban areas also have higher amounts of __, __, __, and ___ ____
air, water, noise, and light pollution
92
___ ___ connect fragmented ecosystems, restoring __ ___
- Land bridges
- gene flow
93
It is a classification of organisms based in their niche
Specialists and Generalists
94
Generalists
- Variety of food sources
- Wide range of environmental conditions
- Highly adaptable to many
niches
- Tend to be invasive
species
- Dominate edge habitats
and urban areas
95
Specialists
- Specific food source
- Narrow range of environmental conditions
- Highly adapted to one
niche
- Tend to be endangered
species
- Dominate islands and
interior habitat
96
A process of change in the abiotic and biotic factors of an ecosystem over time
Succession
97
It occurs when a new ecosystem is created – no prior life exists
Primary succession
98
Example of Primary succession
Volcanic island
99
What is required in the first stage of primary succession?
Requires rock to be weathered into soil
100
First stage of primary succession
- wind and water
- acidic rainfall
- growth of lichens and mosses
101
What are the pioneer species?
Lichens and mosses
102
Why are lichens and mosses the pioneer species?
because they are the first to appear in the new ecosystem
103
The middle stages of primary succession are dominated by ____ ____ like grasses and wildflowers.
Intermediate species
104
Examples of intermediate species
Grasses and Wildflowers
105
What occurs in the middle stages of primary succession
- Seeds carried in by wind and animals
- Rapid growth, short lifespan niche generalists
106
Late stages result in the formation of a ___ ____ that
is ___ ___ and will remain until a disruption occurs
- climax community
- higly stable
107
In late stages, it is dominated by
niche specialists that are slow-growing but long-lived
108
It occurs when an existing ecosystem undergoes a disruption – fire, flood, volcanic eruption, etc.
Secondary succession
109
What are the possibe disruption in secondary succession?
- Fire
- Flood
- Volcanic eruption
110
Secondary succession occurs ___ than primary succession because __ is already present
- faster
- soil
