Land Ecosystems and Ecological Succession Flashcards
“There is a ____ ______ of all life on earth, from the tiniest organisms, to the largest ecosystems.”
- Bryant McGill
deep interconnectedness
It is a part of the Earth that supports life
Biosphere
- it spreads around the biosphere
- land-based ecosystems with unique biotic and abiotic factors
Biomes
Nonliving conditions that influence the type of biome found in a geographic area
Abiotic Factors
What are the two most significant abiotic factors in biomes?
- Temperature
- Precipitation
The two most significant abiotic factors in biomes are influenced by?
Latitude
Altitude
Prevailing Winds
Nearby mountains
It is the distance from the equator, measured in degrees north or south
Latitude
Latitudes near the equator receive __ ___ ____ and a ___ amount of ____
- more direct sunlight
- greater amount of warming
What causes seasonal changes?
The tilt of the Earth as it rotates around the Sun
Day length is ____ _____ near the equator, then becomes ___ _____ towards the poles
- highly consistent
- more seasonal
As latitude _____, temperature and primary productivity tend to _____ due to the ____ __ ____
- increase
- decrease
- changing sun angle
It is the elevation above sea level
Altitude
As altitude ____, average temperature and primary productivity ____
- increases
- decreases
It is a winds that blow from a single direction over a specific area of the Earth
Prevailing winds
How does the prevailing winds created?
Hot air at the equator rises, moves across the atmosphere, cools, then sinks at about 30°N or S
From the tropics southwest or northwest towards the equator
Trade Winds
From the subtropics west towards the midlatitudes
Westerlies
It is a moving system of deep ocean currents that circulate warmth across the globe
Ocean Conveyor
Biomes located near bodies of water have ___ precipitation levels
Greater
What fuels storm system?
Evaporation from the water
It is a periodic warming and cooling of the central/eastern Pacific Ocean caused by shifts in trade winds
El-Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle
During a normal year, the ____ ___ gather in the western Pacific, fueling ____ throughout southeast Asia
- warmest waters
- rainfall
Warm waters shift to the coast of South America, fueling more rainfall in the Western U.S.
El Niño year
It is a decrease in precipitation on the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing winds
Rainshadow effect
Faces winds, receives more precipitation
Windward slope
Reduced precipitation
Leeward slope
The ____ __ ____ is the result of latitude, altitude, prevailing winds, ocean currents, and landforms.
Distribution of Biomes
A combination line/bar graphs that show trends in temperature and precipitation over a typical year in a biome
Climatographs
Average monthly precipitation
Bar graph
Average monthly temperature:
Line graph
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
Climatograph
You can infer:
- Latitude and geography of the ecosystem
- Northern or southern hemisphere
- What type of ecosystem is present
- low precipitation, high temperatures
- lowest net primary productivity of all ecosystems
Deserts
It forms between the tropics and temperate latitudes
Subtropical deserts
_____ ___ deliver __ __ down from the atmosphere at ___ and ___
- convection cells
- dry air
- 30°N and 30°S
It is found on the Leeward side of mountain ranges
Rainshadow deserts
It is a result of wind currents that run parallel a coastline
Coastal deserts
May bring ___, but no measurable _________.
- fog
- precipitation
Have a seasonal temperature variation
Temperate deserts
A desert that s consistently cold and dry
Polar deserts
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
- moderate or seasonal precipitation
- warm or seasonal temperatures
- moderate net primary productivity
Grasslands
- or tropical grasslands
- are located near the equator between tropical forests and subtropical deserts
Savannas
Temperature in Savannas
Consistent
Precipitation in Savannas
Seasonal
- or temperate grasslands
- are found in midlatitudes
Prairies
Temperature in Prairies
Seasonal
Precipitation in Prairies
Moderate
- or polar grasslands
- have short growing seasons and permanently frozen soil called permafrost.
Tundras
Permanently forzen soil
Permafrost
Temperature in Tundras
Consistently cold
Precipitation in Tundras
Moderate
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.
Adaptations of Grassland Plants:
Tundra plants
- low-lying due to permafrost
- mature rapidly in the short growing season
- consistent moderate-to-high precipitation that supports tree growth
- warm or seasonal temperatures
- high net primary productivity across multiple layers
Forests
- it is the uppermost layer in forest
- receives the most direct sunlight
- few plants reach this high
Emergent layer
- 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
It is the layer of vegetation below the canopy, where only 5% of the sunlight reaches
Understory
It is the bottommost layer of the forest, and has a community centered around decomposition.
Forest floor
- Wide, flat leaves that maximize sun absorption
- Prone to moisture loss via transpiration
- Shed in winters or prolonged dry seasons
Broadleaf Trees
- Narrow, wax-coated leaves
- Absorb less sunlight but transpire less water
- Not shed during cold or dry seasons
Coniferous Trees
- It receives high rainfall and are consistently warm
- Broadleaf trees only
- Highest net primary productivity of all land-based ecosystems
Tropical Rainforests
- It also receives high rainfall but have seasonal temperature changes
- Broadleaf or coniferous trees
Temperate Rainforests
- have moderate precipitation and significant seasonal temperature changes
- mostly broadleaf trees that shed their leaves each winter
Deciduos forests
- also called taiga
- are the coldest and driest of all the forest biomes
- Coniferous trees only
Boreal forests
- also called chaparral
- have highly seasonal rainfall that mostly falls during the winter months
- small coniferous trees and shrubs
Mediterranean forests
- seasonal temperatures
- moderate rainfall
Temperate Grassland
(Prairie)
- seasonal temperatures
- moderate precipitation
Polar Grassland
(Tundra)
- warm temperatures
- seasonal precipitation
Tropical Grassland
(Savanna)
- warm temperatures
- seasonal precipitation
Mediterranean forest
- seasonal temperatures
- moderate precipitation
Deciduous Forest
- seasonal/cold temperature
- seasonal precipitation
Boreal Forest (Taiga)
- warm temperatures
- high precipitation
Tropical Rainforest
Subcontinental land masses surrounded by water
Islands
Islands have many species that
are ____
Endemic
What is Endemic?
species that are not found anywhere else in the world
Islands have many species that
are endemic because of evolution due to ____ ___
Founder effect
What is the Founder effect?
occurs when a small group of migrants establish another community in a new area
Islands are ____ ____ due to the number of endemic species present
biodiversity hotspots
The theory that predicts that the species richness or biodiversity of an island depends on two factors
The Theory of Island Biogeography
As island size increases,
species richness also
increases
Positive Correlation
What are the two factors in the theory of island biogeography which the richness of species and biodiversity depends on?
- Island size increases
- Distance
As it increases from the mainland, species richness decreases
Distance
As it increases, species richness also increases
Island size increases
As distance from the mainland
increases, species richness
decreases
Inverse Correlation
Many small or distant islands lack __ ___ due to the
___ ___.
- apex predators
- limited food
Increases risk of ____ from introduced species
Extinction
Land converted for human development
Urban Ecosystem
Urban development causes ___ _____ by dividing natural areas up into smaller pieces.
Habitat Fragmentation
What is habitat fragmentation
dividing natural areas up into smaller pieces
Large buildings ___ ___ ___, causing ____ and ____.
- block wind flow
- updrafts and downdrafts
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
Urban areas also have higher amounts of __, __, __, and ___ ____
air, water, noise, and light pollution
___ ___ connect fragmented ecosystems, restoring __ ___
- Land bridges
- gene flow
It is a classification of organisms based in their niche
Specialists and Generalists
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
Specialists
- Specific food source
- Narrow range of environmental conditions
- Highly adapted to one
niche - Tend to be endangered
species - Dominate islands and
interior habitat
A process of change in the abiotic and biotic factors of an ecosystem over time
Succession
It occurs when a new ecosystem is created – no prior life exists
Primary succession
Example of Primary succession
Volcanic island
What is required in the first stage of primary succession?
Requires rock to be weathered into soil
First stage of primary succession
- wind and water
- acidic rainfall
- growth of lichens and mosses
What are the pioneer species?
Lichens and mosses
Why are lichens and mosses the pioneer species?
because they are the first to appear in the new ecosystem
The middle stages of primary succession are dominated by ____ ____ like grasses and wildflowers.
Intermediate species
Examples of intermediate species
Grasses and Wildflowers
What occurs in the middle stages of primary succession
- Seeds carried in by wind and animals
- Rapid growth, short lifespan niche generalists
Late stages result in the formation of a ___ ____ that
is ___ ___ and will remain until a disruption occurs
- climax community
- higly stable
In late stages, it is dominated by
niche specialists that are slow-growing but long-lived
It occurs when an existing ecosystem undergoes a disruption – fire, flood, volcanic eruption, etc.
Secondary succession
What are the possibe disruption in secondary succession?
- Fire
- Flood
- Volcanic eruption
Secondary succession occurs ___ than primary succession because __ is already present
- faster
- soil
