Lecture 2: Climate and other niche axes Flashcards
The Hutchinson niche
An “n dimensional hyper volume” where each dimension or axes are environmental condition important to the species being considered
The niche
A species place in the world according to what climate it prefers resources etc
Combination of physiological tolerance
(body tolerance) and resource requirements
of a species
Why temperature and seasonality vary with latitude
Temperature is a function of latitude
Essentially the closer you are to the equator the warmer the temperature will be
What is temperature and seasonality like at lower latitudes?
Temperature warmer
Seasonality a function of rainfall (wet dry climate)
What is temperature and seasonality like at higher latitudes?
Temperature colder
Seasonality a function of temperature (summer and winter)
Atmospheric circulation
A pattern of winds where warm air moves poleward and sinks as cold air then warm up as it moves equatorward
ITCZ appearance
Shows up as a line of rainclouds across the pacific
ITCZ job
Shifts seasonality
Produces rain and dry season in some parts of the tropics
What influences temperature more land or water? Why
Land because it absorbs the temperatures faster
What are continental climates like?
Extreme temperatures
Temperatures not moderately by oceans
Occur Within large landmass where prevailing winds blow and bring precipitation (rain)
What are maritime climates like?
More moderate because weathers like this are beside water bodies which absorb heat slowly
Orthographic precipitation
Air is forced up a mountain side, cools as it rises, and falls as precipitation on upper windward slopes
Where are Rainshadows located? Why do they look they way they do?
Created on the leeward side of mountains
No plants are there because the mountain is blocking area from getting rain so it’s looks dry
Biomes
Regions with distinct combinations of temperature and plants and moistures
Eg rainforest
Ecological niche modelling
Uses data from present distribution to predict where species will live
What is ecological niche modelling useful for? (3)
Modelling invasions
How specie ranges shift due to climate change
Spread of vector born disease
What does ecological niche modelling rely on
Climate data
What is change in the distribution of species due to?
change in the distribution of species due to climate change
How do object appear to be moving as they move away from the equator?
Eastwards
How do object appear to be moving as they move toward the equator?
Westward
Where are the westerly winds located?
Between 30 and 60 degrees latitude
Which hemisphere do temperatures vary more?
Northern hemisphere
