Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

BIOL 366 > Lecture 2- The physical environment of the north > Flashcards

Lecture 2- The physical environment of the north Flashcards

1
Q

Why look at geology?

A
  • It forms the basis of the topography
  • Provides soil materials and drainage patterns
  • Influences species occurrence
  • Can influence socio-economics of the north
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What can the rock type influence?

A

How the rocks form, where they exist, their chemical composition can provide context for patterns observed (like why there are hills)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the three types of rocks in the north?

A
  1. Igneous rock
  2. Sedimentary rock
  3. Metamorphic rock
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How are igneous rocks formed?

A

Formed by cooling and solidification of molten rock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are igneous rocks comprised of?

A

Composed primarily of silicate materials (silicon and oxygen)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are some common types of igneous rocks?

A

Granite, basalt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Igneous rock is the most common ______ material

A

Parent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What type of plants grow on igneous rocks?

A

Most plants grow on derived soils

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

True or False? Igneous rocks are limiting to plant growth

A

False (Not limiting and most plants will grow on it)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How are sedimentary rocks formed?

A
  • Accumulation of sediment
  • Hardening of chemical solutes (iron, phosphate)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are some common types of sedimentary rocks?

A

Limestone, sandstone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Landscapes formed by sedimentary rocks can easily be ______ and can ______ around

A
  • Weathered
  • Shift
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Sedimentary rocks form ______ soils

A

Calcareous (high in calcium carbonate)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What type of vegetation grows on sedimentary rocks?

A

Favours specialists, calciphyte plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

True or False? Sedimentary rocks can limit plant growth and plant diversity

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How are metamorphic rocks formed?

A

Modifying existing rocks with heat, pressure, mechanical stress (could be modified igneous, sedimentary or other metamorphics)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are some common types of metamorphic rocks?

A

Gneiss, slate

18
Q

Metamorphic rocks can be favorable for plant growth but depends on ______

A

The properties of the original rock

19
Q

The type of parent material impacts what?

A

Can impact the type of soils (textures, draining patterns, chemical leaching) and can impact distribution of plants and animals

20
Q

What is the Canadian Shield?

A

Refers to large area of exposed precambrian bed rock

21
Q

Describe properties of the Canadian Shield

A
  • Originally large, tall mountains with high volcanic activity
  • Now it is relatively flat
  • Can be exposed rock with thin soil layer (poor sustainability for agriculture)
  • Can be overlain by younger rock and sedimentary
  • Very mineral rich
  • Rolling topography (has lakes, lots of water on it)
22
Q

What is the interior platform?

A

Areas that are overlain with younger rocks (giant inland sea deposit)

23
Q

How was the interior platform created?

A

As the seas receded, it deposited sediments, sealife in weird places

24
Q

Describe properties of the interior platform

A
  • Typically flat lying so flatter topography
  • Less lakes cause less/no rolling topography
  • More interactions with ground water (peatlands)
  • Hydrologic patterns are interrupted
  • Vegetation adapted to wetter conditions
25
Q

Where are diamonds most common?

A

Where basement rock is 1500+ million years old (in areas of exposed bedrock)

26
Q

Oil and gas deposits are deposits of ______

A

Devonian era fossils

27
Q

What are some ecological impacts of mining?

A
  • Huge rates of habitat loss
  • Contamination by spills
  • Disruption to hydrology
  • Create seismic lines, effects species distribution and how they move around (some trees never grow back)
28
Q

What are some socio-economic impacts of mining?

A
  • Alterations of traditional lands (hunting, sacred land)
  • Can provide income (often promised jobs, but dont deliver)
  • Some hunters use the seismic lines to get around
  • When they leave, they take the economic activity with them
29
Q

Why is everything where it is?

A

Because of glaciers

30
Q

When was the last glacial maximum?

A

18,000 years ago

31
Q

What do glaciers change?

A

Create massive changes in soil, topography, hydrology and species distribution

32
Q

Describe the last glacial maximum (LGM)

A
  • Huge ice sheets
  • Similar configuration of vegetation zones
  • Tundra like band south of ice sheets
  • Conifer forests below tundra
  • Dry grassland pushed south
  • Tropics remained stable
33
Q

Describe the glaciers 13,000 years ago

A
  • Ice sheets retreat and separate
  • Some migration through corridor between ice sheets
  • Ecozones move back north following the retreating ice
  • Still cold, harsh, moves back north
  • Allow species to move between two regions
34
Q

Describe the glaciers 11,000 years ago

A
  • Ice sheets continue to retreat
  • Huge lakes of melt water pool up against the ice
  • Laurentide ice sheets scours soil and rock away to expose bedrock (Canadian Shield Pattern)
35
Q

What did proglacial lakes allow?

A
  • Allowed for migration of fish and other aquatic biota
  • Many populations now separated by dried drainage divides
  • Facilitated movement of species, development of new species because became isolated
36
Q

What did the proglacial lakes do?

A

Fed river systems and led to formation of many large lakes (water pooled up against ice)

37
Q

Describe present day glaciers

A
  • Ice sheets restricted to high arctic and high alpine
  • Vegetation zones are where we are now familiar with them
  • Continued warming will keep shifting zones north
38
Q

What evidence is there for glaciation?

A
  • Glacial fluting, near borrow Alaska
  • Glacial moraines
  • Raised beaches, isostatic rebound
  • Eskers
39
Q

What is a glacial refugia?

A

Refers to un-glaciated refuges where species could persist

40
Q

What is the largest glacial refugia in North America?

A

Beringia

41
Q

What did Beringia allow?

A

Facilitated movement from Siberia across land bridge

BIOL 366 (33 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions