Lecture 1- Introduction to Northern Ecology

Question 1

What does northern mean?

Answer 1

• Above 66 degree lattitude
• Cold, dark, long winters, ice
• Has permafrost

Question 2

What is continuous permafrost?

Answer 2

Complete continuous sheet of ice frozen soil, extends to under all soil surfaces except large bodies of water (>100m deep)

Question 3

What is discontinuous permafrost?

Answer 3

Broken up patches, frozen in patches

Question 4

What causes discontinuous permafrost?

Answer 4

Broken up by things like water bodies, open meadows, shaded regions stay frozen

Question 5

What is isolated permafrost?

Answer 5

Tiny pockets that occur here and there, mostly shaded areas (forest canopy)

Question 6

What are the four types of northern regions?

Answer 6

1. High arctic
2. Low arctic
3. Subarctic
4. Boreal forest

Question 7

What type of area/vegetation is in the high arctic?

Answer 7

Area that is covered by rocks and ice, sparse vegetation (moss and lichens)

Question 8

What type of area/vegetation is in the low arctic?

Answer 8

A little more vegetation then high arctic but still low lying plants (shrubs, mosses and lichens), also too cold for trees to grow

Question 9

What type of area/vegetation is in the subarctic?

Answer 9

Some tree development but very short and stunted. This is where the tree-line starts

Question 10

What type of area/vegetation is in the boreal forest?

Answer 10

Wet, peatlands, coniferous forests

Question 11

What are the three main definitions of the Arctic?

Answer 11

1. Geographic
2. Thermal properties
3. Floristic properties

Question 12

Describe the geographic definition of the arctic

Answer 12

• 24 hour daylight
• 24 hour darkness
• Above 66 degree equator

Question 13

Describe the thermal properties definition of the arctic

Answer 13

• Anything less than 10 degree celcius for July (isotherm)
• Places that experience the same average throughout the year

Question 14

What is an isotherm?

Answer 14

A line on a climactic map that connects points of an equal average

Question 15

Describe the floristic properties definition of the arctic

Answer 15

• Tree-line roughly corresponds to the July isotherm but not exactly
• Climate and conditions can alter the boundary

Question 16

What does climate change do to the tree-line?

Answer 16

Allows for tree-line to move further and further north, impacts the vegetation

Question 17

Why would you not want to use the geographic definition of the arctic?

Answer 17

Because its not ecologically relavent

Question 18

Describe what the northern climate is like

Answer 18

• Winters are long and cold with temperatures below 6 degrees for 6-9 months
• Short summers, temperatures averaging <10 degrees and 24 hours of light