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From Organisms to Ecosystems - Lectures > Lecture 31. Terrestrial Ecosystems: Forests and Grasslands > Flashcards

Lecture 31. Terrestrial Ecosystems: Forests and Grasslands Flashcards

1
Q

What is the climograph ?

A

Relationship of climate to biomes

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2
Q

What plants grow in 100-200mm ?

A

Only grasses can survive

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3
Q

What plants grow at 300mm ?

A

Shrubs

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4
Q

What plants grow at 400mm ?

A

Solitary trees

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5
Q

What plants can grow over 400mm ?

A

Dense trees/forests

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6
Q

Where is a tropical forest found ?

A

23.5 latitiude of equator

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7
Q

How much rain in a tropical forets per year ?

A

2500m/year

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8
Q

What is a tropical deciduous forest ?

A

Areas with distinct wet and dry season

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9
Q

How much of forests in the tropics does the tropical deciduous forest represent ?

A

32%

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10
Q

How much of forests in the tropics does the tropical rainforest represent ?

A

25%

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11
Q

What is a tropical dry forest /

A

Lowland area with prolonged dry season and scarce rainfall

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12
Q

What is the tropical dry forest characterised by ?

A

Thorny shrubs and trees and succulents

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13
Q

How much of forests in the tropics does the tropical dry forest represent ?

A

43%

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14
Q

What type of plants is there in a tropical deciduous forest ?

A

Trees and shrubs deciduous

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15
Q

What is a tropical rainforest chracterised by ?

A

Tall, slender trees

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16
Q

What perecntage of all plant species in tropical rainforests are trees ?

A

70%

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17
Q

Why is there 70% trees in tropical rainforests ?

A

Lots of plants and animals species which need trees

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18
Q

What are epiphytes ?

A

Plants that lives on other plants

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19
Q

Are epiphytes parasites ?

A

No

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20
Q

What results in rapid nutrient cycling ?

A

High temperature and rainfall throughout the year

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21
Q

How can recycling occur ?

A

Leaf littering

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22
Q

What are the types of temperate and boreal forests ?

A
  1. Temperate deciduous forest

2. Coniferous forest

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23
Q

What breaks down litter ?

A

Detrivores

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24
Q

What type of roots do tropical forests have and why?

A
  1. Root mats

2. Prevent washing away by heavy rain

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25
Q

What does leaching result in ?

A

Poor soil development

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26
Q

What can deforestation result in soilwise ?

A

Leaching

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27
Q

Where are temperate and boreal forests found ?

A

Mid latitudes to artic circle

28
Q

What is one key thing about temperate and boreal forests /

A

Seasonality

29
Q

What is an adaptation to seasonality ?

A

Perenating bud

30
Q

Describe the seasons of a boreal forest ?

A

Winter: long and cold
Summer: Short and wet (warm)

31
Q

What type of soil is in boreal forest ?

A

Thin, nutrient poor and acidic

32
Q

What are the principle trees in boreal forests ?

A

Conifers

33
Q

Why are conifers the principal trees in the boreal forest ?

A

Can withstand cold, drought and snow

34
Q

What percentage of the worlds forests are temperate?

A

16%

35
Q

What are two examples of conifer trees ?

A
  1. Spruce

2. Pine

36
Q

How is spruce adapted to snow ?

A

Falls of branches

37
Q

What is a common occurence of boreal forests ?

A

Forest fire

38
Q

How is pine adapted to fire ?

A

Has tough bark and less resin

39
Q

Where are temperate forests found ?

A

Mid latitudes where sufficient moisture to support trees

40
Q

What are the seasons in the temperate forest ?

A

Summer: Warm
Winter: Cold

41
Q

What is the growing season in temperate forest ?

A

6-9 months

42
Q

What is the precipitation in temperate forests ?

A

Relatively high and throughout year

43
Q

What type of soil do temperate forests have ?

A

Deep and fertile, thick litter layer

44
Q

What is involved in deciduous habit ?

A
  1. Tree growth
  2. Light penetration
  3. Hydrological cycle
  4. Litter production
  5. Soil fertility
45
Q

What is grassland characterised by ?

A

Long seasonal drought

46
Q

What is the annual rainfall in grassland /

A

250-750mm/year

47
Q

What is the problem with grasslands ?

A
  1. Too dry for dense woodland

2. Too wet for desert

48
Q

What are the two types of grassland ?

A
  1. Temperate grassland

2. Tropical grassland

49
Q

Where does temperate grassland occur ?

A

Where rainfall is intermediate between desert and temperate forest biomes

50
Q

What type of seasons does temperate grassland have ?

A
  1. Long dry season

2. Col winters - dormant

51
Q

What are two things that occurs in temperate grasslands ?

A
  1. Grazing

2. Occasional fires

52
Q

Describe the fertility of temperate grasslands ?

A

Low rainfall - low leaching - fertile soils

53
Q

What can temperate grasslands be converted to ?

A

Tillage for corn and wheat crops

54
Q

Where are tropical grasslands ?

A

Savanna

55
Q

What is the climate of a tropical grassland ?

A

Warm

56
Q

What is the seasons in the tropical grasslands ?

A
  1. Long dry season - dormant
57
Q

What often happens in tropical grasslands ?

A

Regular fires

58
Q

What is the difference between tropical and temperate grasslands ?

A

Tropical have lower nutrient status

59
Q

What are fire and grazing important elements in ?

A
  1. Nutrient cycling

2. Preventing tree growth

60
Q

How is savanna distribution determined ?

A

Soil moisture

61
Q

What do savanna soils have ?

A

High porosity and little mulch

62
Q

What does the high porosity and little mulch of the savanna result in ?

A

Rapid drainage with loss of nutrients

63
Q

What is savanna tree regeneration determined by ?

A

Fire and grazing

64
Q

What are some adaptations to grazing ?

A
  1. Basal meristem
  2. Tillering
  3. Rhizomes
  4. Secondary chemical compounds
  5. Spines
65
Q

What adaptations to grazing are particularly useful for fire ?

A
  1. Basal meristem
  2. Tillering
  3. Rhizomes
66
Q

What are agricultural uses of land in ireland ?

A
  1. Pasture
  2. Rough grazing
  3. Hay/silage
  4. Tillage

From Organisms to Ecosystems - Lectures (37 decks)

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