Lecture 3

Question 1

The _______________ ultimately
determines where organisms can live, and
the resources that are available to them.

Answer 1

The PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ultimately
determines where organisms can live, and
the resources that are available to them.

Thus, understanding the physical environment
is key to understanding ecological
phenomena.

Question 2

Long-term description of
weather, based on averages and
variation measured over decades.

Often measured as averages but extremes influence
distributions

Determines the geographic
distribution of organisms

Answer 2

Climate

Question 3

Even long-lived
organisms are
subject to long-term
variability in ________

Answer 3

climate

Question 4

______ and _____ result from uneven distribution of solar radiation (energy) across Earth’s surface

Answer 4

Winds and currents result from uneven distribution of solar radiation (energy) across Earth’s surface

Question 5

Latitudinal Differences in Solar Radiation

Answer 5

Slanted, larger SA (at poles) are less intense compared to perpendicular, smaller SA

Question 6

moisture lost

Answer 6

subsidence

Question 7

Three cells result in three major climatic zones in each hemisphere:

Answer 7

Tropical, temperate, and polar zones

Question 8

Generally, it is _____ at the poles than the area around the _____

Answer 8

Generally, it is cold at the poles and hot near the equator

Question 9

Generally, it is cold at the poles and hot near the equator

What are the exceptions?

Answer 9

Elevation and oceanic circulation

Question 10

Oceanic Circulation

Answer 10

higher heat capacity in oceans resulting in less variability in temperatures (i.e. Russia and Alaska)

Question 11

can be affected by topography (mountains) and water bodies

Answer 11

regional climate

Question 12

mountain ranges that run N and S

______ runs E to W

Answer 12

rain shadow

The Rain Shadow Effect

Question 13

Regional Climate Influences:

Answer 13

evapotranspiration

vegetation

Question 14

sum of water loss through transpiration by plants and evaporation from the soil

transfers energy (as latent heat) and water into the atmosphere, thereby affecting air and temperature and moisture

Answer 14

evapotranspiration

Question 15

Effects of Deforestation: (3)

Answer 15

Albedo - reflected radiation from surface
Sensible heat loss - direct heat loss (i.e. heating air)
Latent heat loss - via change in state (i.e. water to gas)

Question 16

zone of life on Earth

It lies between the lithosphere—Earth’s surface crust and upper mantle, and the troposphere—the lowest layer of the atmosphere.

Answer 16

biosphere

Question 17

large biological communities shaped by physical environment, particularly climate

Answer 17

biomes

Question 18

biomes characterized by the dominant growth forms of vegetation; most abundant in plants

Answer 18

terrestrial biomes

Question 19

are based on similarities in morphological responses of organisms to the physical enviroment

Answer 19

biomes

Question 20

Terrestrial Biomes:

Characteristics of leaves may be used (3)

Answer 20

*Duh, That Sucks

Deciduousness - seasonal shedding of leaves

Thickness

Succulence - development of fleshy water storage tissues