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General Ecology > Lecture 3: Land Ecosystems and Ecological Succession > Flashcards

Lecture 3: Land Ecosystems and Ecological Succession Flashcards

1
Q
  • The __ is the part of the Earth that supports life.
  • Spread around this are __ ; land-based ecosystems with unique biotic and abiotic factors.
A
  • biosphere
  • biomes
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2
Q

Nonliving conditions that influence the type of biome found in a geographic area

A

Abiotic Factors

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3
Q

The two most significant abiotic
factors in biomes are __ and __ which are influenced by: __, __, __, __

A
  • temperature and precipitation
    ○ Latitude
    ○ Altitude
    ○ Prevailing winds
    ○ Nearby mountains
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4
Q

the distance from the equator, measured in degrees north or south.

A

Latitude

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5
Q

Day length is __ near the equator, then becomes __ towards the poles.

A
  • highly consistent
  • more seasonal
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6
Q

As latitude increases, __ and __ tends to decrease due to the __.

A
  • temperature
  • primary productivity
  • hanging sun angle
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7
Q

the elevation above sea level.

A

altitude

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8
Q

As altitude increases, average temperature and primary productivity __

A

decrease

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9
Q

Hot air at the equator rises, moves across the
atmosphere, cools, then sinks at about __, creating __

A
  • 30°N or S
  • prevailing winds
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10
Q

Prevailing wind: From the tropics southwest or northwest towards the equator are __
From the subtropics west towards the midlatitudes.

A
  • Trade winds
  • Westerlies
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11
Q

a moving system of deep ocean currents that circulate warmth across the globe.

A

ocean conveyor

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12
Q

Biomes located near bodies of water have __.
○ __ from the water fuels storm systems.

A
  • greater precipitation levels
  • Evaporation
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13
Q

a periodic warming and cooling of the central/eastern Pacific Ocean caused by shifts in trade winds.

A

El-Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle

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14
Q
  • During a normal year, the warmest waters gather in the __, fueling rainfall throughout __.
  • During an El Niño year, warm waters shift to the coast of __, fueling more rainfall in the __.
A
  • western Pacific
  • southeast Asia
  • South America
  • Western U.S
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15
Q
  • a decrease in precipitation on the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing winds.
    ○ __: Faces winds and receives more precipitation.
    ○ __: Reduced precipitation.
A

rainshadow effect
- Windward slope
- Leeward slope

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16
Q

The distribution of biomes is the result of

A
  • latitude
  • altitude
  • prevailing winds
  • ocean currents
  • landforms
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17
Q

__ are combination line/bar graphs that show trends in temperature and precipitation over a typical year in a biome.
Average monthly __ : Bar graph
○ Average monthly __: Line graph

A
  • climatographs
  • precipitation
  • temperature
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18
Q

Climatographs tell you:

A

○ If temperatures are seasonal or consistent.
○ If precipitation is seasonal or consistent.
○ If the climate is below freezing for part of the year.

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19
Q

Climatographs can infer:

A

○ Latitude and geography of the ecosystem.
○ Northern or southern hemisphere.
○ What type of ecosystem is present.

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20
Q

Low precipitation, high temperatures.
Lowest net primary productivity of all
ecosystems

A

Desert

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21
Q

Kinds of desert:

A
  • subtropical desert
  • rainshadow desert
  • Coastal desert
  • Temperate desert
  • Polar desert
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22
Q

Type of desert
- form between the tropics and temperate latitudes.
○ Convection cells deliver __ down from the atmosphere at __ and __.

A
  • subtropical desert
  • dry air
  • 30°N and 30°S
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23
Q

are found on the leeward side of mountain ranges.

A

rainshadow desert

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24
Q
  • the result of wind currents that run parallel to a coastline.
    ○ May bring __, but __.
A
  • coastal desert
  • fog
  • no measurable precipitation
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25
Q

A type of dessert that have seasonal temperature variations

A

Temperate deserts

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26
Q

Type of desert
consistently cold and dry

A

polar deserts

27
Q

Adaptations of desert organisms:

A

○ Ability to store water (e.g. succulents) or fat (e.g. camels).
○ Reduced growth rate and/or herd size.
○ Spikes and camouflage for defense.
○ Energy conservation (dormancy, cold-blooded)
○ Deep taproots

28
Q

What kind of biome
Moderate or seasonal precipitation.
Warm or seasonal temperatures.
Moderate net primary productivity.

A

Grasslands

29
Q

Kinds of grasslands:

A
  • savanna (tropical grasslands)
  • Prairies (temperate grasslands)
  • tundra (polar grasslands)
30
Q

Type of grassland
located near the equator between tropical forests and subtropical deserts.
○ Temperature: __
○ Precipitation: __

A
  • savanna (tropical grasslands)
  • Consistent
  • Seasonal
31
Q

Type of grassland
found in midlatitudes
○ Temperature: __
○ Precipitation: __

A
  • prairies (temperate grasslands)
  • Seasonal
  • Moderate
32
Q

Type of grassland
have short growing seasons and permanently frozen soil called __.
○ Temperature: __
○ Precipitation: __

A
  • tundra (polar grasslands)
  • permafrost
  • Consistently cold
  • Moderate
33
Q

Adaptations of Grassland Plants: Prairie

A
  • have deep and complex root structures that allow them to recover from drought, wildfire, cold winters, and grazing animals.
34
Q

Adaptations of Grassland Plants: Tundra

A
  • low lying due to permafrost and mature rapidly in the short growing season.
35
Q

What kind of biome
- Consistent moderate-to-high precipitation that
supports tree growth.
- Warm or seasonal temperatures.
- High net primary productivity across multiple layers.

A

Forests

36
Q
  • the uppermost layer in a forest.
    ○ Receives the most direct sunlight. Few plants reach this high.
A

emergent layer

37
Q

the highest layer that most trees reach, and contains most of the plant and animal life.
○ Highest net primary productivity area of any forest.

A

canopy

38
Q

the layer of vegetation below the canopy, where only 5% of the sunlight reaches.

A

understory

39
Q

the bottommost layer of the forest, and has a community centered around decomposition

A

forest floor

40
Q

characteristics of Broadleaf Trees

A
  • Wide, flat leaves that maximize sun absorption.
  • Prone to moisture loss via transpiration.
  • Shed in winters or prolonged dry seasons.
41
Q

characteristics of Coniferous Trees

A
  • Narrow, wax-coated leaves.
  • Absorb less sunlight but transpire less water.
  • Not shed during cold or dry seasons.
42
Q

receive high rainfall and are consistently warm.
○ Broadleaf trees only.
○ Highest net primary productivity of all land based ecosystems.

A

Tropical rainforests

43
Q

receive high rainfall but have seasonal temperature changes.
○ Broadleaf or coniferous trees

A

Temperate rainforests

44
Q

have moderate precipitation and significant seasonal temperature changes.
○ Mostly broadleaf trees that shed their leaves each winter.

A

Deciduous forests

45
Q

are the coldest and driest of all the forest biomes.
○ Coniferous trees only.

A

boreal forest (taiga)

46
Q

have highly seasonal rainfall that mostly falls during the winter months.
○ Small coniferous trees and shrubs.

A

Mediterranean forests (chaparral)

47
Q

Subcontinental land masses surrounded by water

A

island

48
Q

__ have many species that are __, or not found anywhere else in the world.
○ Evolved due to the __.

A
  • Islands
  • endemic
  • founder effect
49
Q

Islands are __ due to the number of endemic species present.

A

biodiversity hotspots

50
Q

predicts that the species richness or biodiversity of an island depends on two factors:
○ As island size increases, species richness also
increases. (Positive correlation)
○ As distance from the mainland increases, species richness decreases. (Inverse correlation)

A

theory of island biogeography

51
Q
  • Many small or distant islands lack __ due to the limited food.
  • Increases risk of extinction from introduced species.
A
  • apex predators
52
Q

Land converted for human development.

A

Urban Ecosystems

53
Q

Urban development causes __ by dividing natural areas up into smaller pieces.

A

habitat fragmentation

54
Q

Large buildings block wind flow, causing
updrafts and downdrafts.

A

downdraught effect

55
Q

The __ causes cities to be warmer due to the absorptive properties of asphalt and pavement and reduced airflow due to blocked winds.

A

urban heat island effect

56
Q

connect fragmented ecosystems, restoring gene flow

A

land bridges

57
Q

Classifying organisms based on their niche

A

Specialists and Generalists

58
Q

characteristics of a generalist:

A

◍ Variety of food sources.
◍ Wide range of environmental conditions.
◍ Highly adaptable to many niches.
◍ Tend to be an invasive species.
◍ Dominate edge habitats and urban areas

59
Q

characteristics of specialists:

A

◍ Specific food source.
◍ Narrow range of environmental conditions.
◍ Highly adapted to one niche.
◍ Tend to be an endangered species.
◍ Dominate islands and interior habitats.

60
Q

Process of change in the abiotic and biotic factors of an ecosystem over time.

A

succession

61
Q

occurs when a new ecosystem is created
– no prior life exists.
○ Example:

A

primary succession
- Volcanic island

62
Q

◍ The first stage of primary succession requires __.
○ Wind and water
○ Acidic rainfall
○ Growth of lichens and mosses
◍ Lichens and mosses are __ because they are the first to appear in the new ecosystem.

A
  • rock to be weathered into the soil
  • pioneer species
63
Q
A

General Ecology (6 decks)

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