lecture 30 - global climates and biomes Flashcards
what is ecology
the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment
whats the biosphere
the entire proportion of the earth that’s inhabited by life
Abiotic factors that affect the distribution of organisms
temp, water, sunlight, wind, rocks and soil, disturbances
soil layers
litter layer
mineral soil
depositional horizon
weathered parent material
what effects soil
parental material
climate
biotic factors
topography
time
what is a biome
characteristics assemblage of plants and animals that develops upon a defined climatic template that is typical of broad geographic regions
what is global climate determined by
input of solar energy
why does global climate vary by latitude
the spherical shape of the earth effects the angle at which the sun hits the earth
pattern of moving air masses
how many air circulation cells are on each side of the equator
3
what does rising air do
releases moisture as precipitation
what does descending air do
absorbs 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 respired away by the plants themselves
three strategies categories have evolved in plants
competitors
stress-tolerators
ruderals
