Lecture 30. Global Climates and Biomes Flashcards
What is ecology ?
The study of interactions between organisms and their environment
What is the biosphere ?
The entire proportion of Earth that is inhabited by life
What are the abiotic factors that determine the distribution of organisms ?
- Temperature
- Water
- Sunlight
- Wind
- Rocks and soil
- Periodic disturbance
What are the soil horizons ?
- O layer
- A layer
- B layer
- C layer
What is the O layer ?
Litter layer
What is the A layer ?
Mineral soil mixed with organic matter
What is the B layer ?
Depositional horizon containing materials leached from A horizon
What is the C layer ?
Weathered parent material
What affects soil ?
- Parent material
- Climate
- Biotic factors
- Topography
- Time
What is a biome ?
A characteristic assemblage of plants and animals that develops upon a defined climatic template that is typical of broad geographic regions
What are the biomes ?
- Tropical forest
- Desert
- Grassland
- Temperate forest
- Coniferous forest
- Tundra
What is climograph ?
Relationship of climate to biomes
What is global climate determined by ?
Mainly the input of solar energy
What does global climate vary with ?
Latitude
What are the two reasons why global climate varies with latitude ?
- Spherical shape of the earth results in an uneven distribution of solar energy with respect to latitude
- Pattern of movement of air masses
What does the movement of heated air create ?
Three major air circulation cells on either side of the equator
What does rising air release ?
Moisture as precipitation
What does descending air absorb ?
Moisture creating arid conditions
What happens in low pressure areas ?
Air rises and releases moisture as precipitation
What happens in high pressure areas ?
Air descends absorbing moisture creating arid conditions
What is primary productivity ?
Rate at which biomass is produced per unit area by plants
What is net primary productivity ?
What is left after some primary productivity has been respires away by plants themselves
What does net primary productivity represent ?
The actual rate of production of the new biomass
What is Raunkiaer plant life forms ?
A diagram showing how five categories of plants grow in thriving conditions and the black represents how a plant grows under stress
What are the five categories of Raunkiaer plant life forms ?
- Phanerophytes
- Chamaephytes
- Hemicryptophytes
- Cryptophytes
- Thermophytes
What are phanerophytes ?
Trees
What are chamaephytes ?
Small plants/bushes
What are hemicryptophytes ?
Contain stolons and rhizones
What are crytophytes ?
Not visible when dormant
What are thermophytes ?
Seeds
