Lecture 4: The Terrestrial Environment Flashcards
There are ___ variability in the microclimates of terrestrial environments compared to aquatic
High
Animals and plants are subjected to large gravitational forces which has led to what
Animals: Advanced skeletons
Plants: Cellulose
All terrestrial life depends on what
Soil
Soil is formed by
the weathering of rocks and the actions of living organisms
Soil does what 4 things
breaks down waste products
releases nutrients
severs as a habitat for a community of animals
maintains water balance
Grassland tend to have ___ soil with
deep soil with low decomposition rate and large amounts of materials being added from roots
Forests tend to have ___ soil with
think soil with high decomposition rate and large amounts of materials being added on the surface
Texture is partially inherited from the type of
parent material
types of weathering processes
What are the 4 types of soils we learnt about
Gravel
sand
silt
clay
Soil texture determines
Soil fertility
The size of soil pores
Describe the two types of soil pores
Large: Rapid water infiltration and drainage but low holding capacity
Small: Slow water infiltration and drainage but high holding capacity
What is the best soil texture for plants
A mixture
Describe the soil profile
Consists of four layers which are (in order from surface to the bottom)
- O horizon - Organic layer made up of debris
- A horizon - Topsoil composed of both mineral and organic materials
- B Horizon - Subsoil containing less organic and more mineral components relative to the A horizon
C Horizon - Layer of unconsolidated material,
What are the 5 variations that cause differences in the moisture-holding capacity of soil
Climate Type of parent material/texture Topography Aspect Presence/Absences and type of vegetation
