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From Organisms to Ecosystems - Lectures > Lecture 33. Terrestrial Ecosystems: Deserts, Tundra and Peatlands > Flashcards

Lecture 33. Terrestrial Ecosystems: Deserts, Tundra and Peatlands Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two types of tundra ?

A
  1. Alpine

2. Arctic

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2
Q

What does descending dry air absorb ?

A

Moisture

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3
Q

What does descending air cretae ?

A

Arid conditions

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4
Q

What is desert location determined by ?

A
  1. Global atmospheric circulation
  2. Rain shadows
  3. Continental interiors
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5
Q

What are the two types of desert ?

A
  1. Hot deserts

2. Cold deserts

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6
Q

What are the physical characteristics of rainfall ?

A
  1. Low and unpredictable rainfall - water lost quickly
  2. High evaporation
  3. Hot or cold temperature
  4. Large diurnal variation in temperature
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7
Q

In the desert how is water lost quickly ?

A

Evaporation and drainage

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8
Q

What are some plant adaptations to desert ?

A
  1. avoid drought by carefully timed phenology
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9
Q

How can drought be tolerated ?

A
  1. Intensification of water absorption

2. Reduce transpiration

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10
Q

How may plants intensify water absorption ?

A
  1. Shallow spreading roots - succulents
  2. Deep roots-tap roots
  3. Dew/fog traps
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11
Q

How can transpiration be reduced ?

A
  1. Sunken stomata
  2. Reduced stomatal aperture
  3. Scaly/hairy leaves
  4. Folding/ rolling leaves
  5. Retain dead leaves around stem
  6. Deciduous- shed leaves/branches
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12
Q

What percentage of water is absorbed by roots and is lost via stomata ?

A

95%

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13
Q

What does CAM stand for ?

A

Crassulacean acid metabolism photosynthesis

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14
Q

How does CAM work ?

A

Stomata are closed during day. Opened during night and organic acids are stored. During the day they are converted to carbon dioxide.

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15
Q

What is the advantage of CAM ?

A

Increases photosynthesis and decreases transpiration

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16
Q

What are the physical characteristics of tundra ?

A
  1. Cold
  2. Low precipitation
  3. Permafrost
  4. Short growing season
17
Q

What are the botanical characteristics of tundra ?

A
  1. Diversity is low
  2. Perennials with vegatative reproduction
  3. Low in stature- no trees
  4. Shallow rooting
18
Q

What are some examples of tundra plants ?

A

Grasses, mosses, heathers, lichens

19
Q

Why is tundra a low nutrient system ?

A
  1. Low temperature and precipitation because of slow weathering and nitrogen fixation
  2. Permafrost reduces depth of biologically active soil
  3. Minimal input of nutrients from precipitation
  4. Slow nutrient cycling
20
Q

What biome has the lowest nutrient cycling rates ?

A

Arctic

21
Q

What is peat ?

A

Partially decayed organic matter of plant origin formed under wet anaerobic conditions

22
Q

Where is peat distributed ?

A

Areas of high rainfall and impeded drainage

23
Q

Why are peatlands growing ?

A

The rate oof production of organic matter is greater than the decomposition carried out by detrovores

24
Q

What are the layers of a peatlands ?

A
  1. Acrotetm
  2. Water table
  3. Catotelm
25
Q

How is hydrosere peatland formed ?

A
  1. Lake
  2. Reedswamp
  3. Fen (minerotrophic)
  4. Raised bog (ombotrophic)
26
Q

Other than hydrosere, how may a peatland form ?

A
  1. Forest
  2. Pasture arable - minerotrophic
  3. Heath
  4. Blanket bog - ombrotrophic
27
Q

What are the two types of bog ?

A
  1. Raised bog

2. Blanket bog

28
Q

Where are blanket bogs found ?

A

Regions where there is 1200mm rain and 200 rain days

29
Q

What is a downside to rain ?

A

Low dilute nutrient solution

30
Q

What is an ombotrophic bog system low in ?

A
  1. Nutrients

2. Bases

31
Q

What is the pH of fen ?

A

7

32
Q

What is the pH of bog ?

A

Less than 4

33
Q

What are the characteristics of ombotrophic bogs ?

A
  1. Low in nutrients
  2. Waterlogged
  3. Acidic
34
Q

What are plant strategies for ombrotrophic bogs ?

A
  1. Mycorrihaze
  2. Efficient recycling
  3. Xeromorphs
  4. Carnivorous habitat
  5. Effective ion exchange
35
Q

What can peatlands be exploited for ?

A
  1. Fuel
  2. Horticulture
  3. Waste water treatment
  4. Forestry
  5. Agriculture
36
Q

What are the advantages of peatlands ?

A
  1. Wildlife habitat
  2. Regional water table
  3. Landscape/tourism
  4. Archives
  5. Carbon sink
37
Q

What is permafrost ?

A

Permafrost is any ground that remains completely frozen—32°F (0°C) or colder—for at least two years straight.

From Organisms to Ecosystems - Lectures (37 decks)

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