Lec X

Question 1

in tropical forest ______

Answer 1

light and nutrients are in high demand

Question 2

The thick canopy in rain forests blocks +++++

Answer 2

light to bottom strata, in response many trees are covered by epiphytes, or, can survive with low light

Question 3

rain forest fun facts

Answer 3

species richeness is extremely hih

• tree species > 100/km^2
• large mammals are less common though birds and ectotherms abound

Question 4

taiga

Answer 4

borreal forest, is one of the largest terrestrial biomes on earth
moderate moisture and long cold winteres
- species richess is realatively low but varies season to season
ectotherm diversity such as amphibians and reptiles are low

Question 5

grasslands

Answer 5

occur where the moisture is too low to support forests
inter-continental climate (cold winters, hot summers)
Marked by seasonal drought and fires, and grazing by large animals
species richness: plants (fairly high), animals (relatively low)
Soil very rich in nutrients
Considered the most endangered biome worldwide (1% of North American prairie left

Question 6

Tundra or permafrost (Permanent frozen ground)

Answer 6

are bitterly cold, have high winds, low moisture, no trees, short growing season
- Covers 20% of land surface on earth
- Low species richness (animals and plants)
Fauna much richer in summer (migratory birds)

Question 7

Deserts

Answer 7

defined by lack of moisture
- plants and animals have adapted for water storage and conservation
very hot or very cold
- moderate to very low species richness

Question 8

Aquatic biome fun facts

Answer 8

cover 75% of the earth’s surface and contain the majority of living space (>90%)

Question 9

freshwater in northern climates go through

Answer 9

annual cycles

• in early spring water is 4˚C from top to bottom
• Density of water is uniform from top to bottom as is the oxygen distribution

Question 10

thermocline

Answer 10

Zone between warm and cold water

Question 11

as atmospheric temperatures warm

Answer 11

thermal stratification sets in form heating of the surface waters

Question 12

temperature differences in water column create ____

Answer 12

create different water densities

Question 13

as fall sets in

Answer 13

heat delcines, surface waters cool, density gradients are lost
- water column mixes top to bottom again as in spring
barriers are eroded and deeper waters become re-oxygenated
- water column reaches a uniform temp of 4˚C again
- Ice forms at surface as water cools to 0˚C

Question 14

In winter a unique property of water emerges

Answer 14

which is to become very dense at 4˚C, an inverted temperature profile is established

• Less dense ice forms at the surface as water continues to cool
• ice insulates and further cooling and ice formation stops
• water column again becomes thermally stratified

Question 15

Freshwater lakes can be divided in two type

Answer 15

Oligotrophic lakes and eutrophic lakes

Question 16

Oligotrophic lakes

Answer 16

are nutrient poor, water is clear, cool and oxygen rich; little productivity by algae, often have high diversity of fish

Question 17

Eutrophic lakes:

Answer 17

are nutrient rich, lots of algal productivity, oxygen poor at times, high algal diversity, but low diversity of fish (winter/summer kill likely)

Question 18

Rivers

Answer 18

heavily affected by human activites; most large rivers are now dammed at multiple points along their length

• Benthic (bottom dwelling) algae and aquatic insects are a highly diverse group in rivers but senstivie to changes in turbidity, temp and nutrient loading
• currently the WWF is conducitng a health assessment of all of canadian rivers to determine threats and neutralize as many as possible in the coming decade

Question 19

wetlands

Answer 19

includes marshes bogs, swamps and seasonal ponds

• these are habitats of high biodiversity and productivity
• Many wetlands ahve been lost (>70% on Plains)
• the result of lost wetlands is incraesed flooding; wetlands act a natural reservoir capturing heavy rains and snow melt
• in their absence flooding as beomce a significant issue across the praireis

Question 20

estuary

Answer 20

where freshwater stream or river merges with the ocean

• highly productive biome; with many euryhaline species
• Given their proximity to the coast (and our own dependence on the coast) the sensitive chemical balance of estuaries is at risk
• They depend on a dynamic but predictable salt cycle which is easily disrupted by human activites

Question 21

near shore baitats at risk from

Answer 21

human activity

Question 22

pelagic zone

Answer 22

at risk from overfishing and pollution

Question 23

near pristine regions

Answer 23

abyssal zones which are currently out of our reach

Question 24

oceans ______

Answer 24

offer the most stable conditions for life, unfortunately this has resulted in life forms that have minimal abiliteis to adapt and even small changes in temperature can change distributions and disrupt communities

Question 25

Mangroves

Answer 25

kinda like estuaries

• very frost sensitive, and only found between latitueds 25˚S and 25˚N where wave action is minor
• they cover 60%-70% of tropical coastlines
• support a rich fauna of birds in tree tops. and snails barnacles, oysters, and crabs below
• shltered waters around roots provide nursery habitat for organisms