Lecture 12 - The Biosphere

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their enviornment

Question 2

Biotic Factors

Answer 2

Organisms

Mates, offsrpings, competitors, predators, prey

Question 3

Abiotic Factors

Answer 3

Non-living physical characteristics

Temperature, pressure, light, water, oxygen, chemistry, nutrients

Question 4

Energy

Answer 4

The amount of energy determines the types and number of species we find in a biome

Question 5

Temperature

Answer 5

A key abiotic factor due to its effect on metabolism

Question 6

Nutrients

Answer 6

Nitrogen and Phosphorus

Question 7

Oxygen

Answer 7

High Oxygen (moving water) and Low Oxygen (still water)

Question 8

Wind

Answer 8

• Increases water loss
• Lowers temperatures

Question 9

Disturbance

Answer 9

A temporary change in enviornmental conditions that cause a pronounced change in an ecosystem

Wildlife, natural disasters

Question 10

Biomes

Answer 10

Major type of ecological association that occupies a broad geographic area

Question 11

Primary productivity

Answer 11

Rate of plant production of biomass

Amount of plant growth in an area over a given period of time

Question 12

Biodiversity

Answer 12

Number of species

Question 13

Weather

Answer 13

Temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity at a specific place in a specific amount of time

Question 14

Climate

Answer 14

The revailing temperature and precipitation conditions over a long period of time in a specific region

Question 15

Latitude

Answer 15

Distance from the equator

1 degree = 69 miles

Question 16

Altitude

Answer 16

Distance above sea level

Temperature goes down 3 degrees for every 1000 feet in elevation

Question 17

Terrain

Answer 17

Higher temps, lower rainfall
Cooler temps, higher rainfall

Question 18

Ocean currents

Answer 18

Created by winds, Earth’s rotation, solar energy, shapes of continents

Question 19

Tropical Forests

Answer 19

• Location: Near Equator
• Temperature: Warm
• Precipitation: Wet
• Disturbances: Tree Fall
• Highest diversity
• Canopy structures

Question 20

Savannas

Answer 20

• Location: Near Equator
• Temp: Warm
• Precipitation: Dry (one rainy season)
• Disturbances: Fire

Question 21

Deserts

Answer 21

• Location: 30N and 30S Latitude
• Temp: Hot or Cold
• Precipitatioin: Dry (less than 12 inches a year)
• Disturbances: none

Question 22

Chapparal

Mediterranean

Answer 22

• Location: West coasts
• Temp: hot summers, cool winters
• Precipitation: dry summers, wet winters
• Disturbance: Fire

Question 23

Temperate Grasslands

Answer 23

• Location: Grasslands
• Temp: Hot summers, cold winters
• Precipitation: most in spring and summer
• Disturbances: fire

Question 24

Temperate forests

Answer 24

• Location: Mid latitudes
• Temp: very hot summer, very cold winter
• Precipitation: 30-60 inches a year
• Disturbances: none

Question 25

Coniferous Forests

Answer 25

* Location: In the north * Temperature: Cool * Precipitation: short, wet summers * Disturbances: fire * Biodiversity: cone bearing trees

Question 26

Tundra

Answer 26

* Location: Far north * Temp: cold, short, warm summers * Precipitation: low, mostly snow * Disturbances: none * No trees

Question 27

Polar ice

Answer 27

Location: poles Temp: very cold Disturbances: none

Question 28

Intertidal zones

Answer 28

* Location: where ocean and land meet * Organisms must be able to tolerate a wide variety of conditions

Question 29

Pelagic Zones

Answer 29

* Open ocean * Epipelagic: photic zone * Mesopelagic: twilight * Bathypelagic: no light * Abyssopelagic: 4000m to bottom of ocean * Hadopelagic: ocean trenches

Question 30

Coral Reefs

Answer 30

Most diverse aquatic biomes

Question 31

Wetlands

Answer 31

Can be either fresh or saltwater