Midterm Review Flashcards
Pattern
Observation of natural phenomena (Darwin->Finches)
Ecology
Scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment
Process
Mechanism explaining a pattern (Finches->Natural selection)
Climate
Long term trends in temp and precipitaion
Weather
Current temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, ect.
Hadley Cell
current cycle between the equator and 30 degrees south or north. Air goes up at the equator and travels south or north and subside around 30 and head back to the equator. High pressure at the 30 degrees north and south.
Thermal Stability
local environmental variation
Biosphere
all organisms on earth plus the environment in which they live
Tropical Rainforest
-between 10N and 10S
-intense competition for light
~little weather variation
-Precipitation above temp all the time
-poor soil
Tropical forests and savanna
~10-23.5 N and S
~Seasonality of water
~ June- August precipitation under temp
Hot and Cold Deserts
~30 N and S
~Low water availability
~ Hot: Temp always above precipitation
~ More sensitive biome
Temperate grasslands
~30-50 N and S
~fire and grazing maintain grasslands
~high soil fertility
Temperate shrublands and woodlands
30-40 Nand S
winter precipitation
Temperate seasonal forest
30-50 N
A least 50 cm of precipitation per year
Temperate evergreen forests
30-50 N and S
evergreen trees
Often high soil acidity
Boreal forests (Taiga)
above 50 N
Severe winters (subfreezing in some cases)
Composed primarily of conifers
Tundra
above 65 N
Cold temperature and low precipitation
Green house effect
gasses trapping solar radiation
Evolution
Change in allele frequency over time (decent with Modification)
Natural selection
process by which individuals with certain heritable characteristics survive and reproduce more successfully
Adaptation
a genetically determined trait which enhances the survival and reproduction of its bearers
acclimatization
physiological, morphological, or behavioral changes to minimize stress from an environmental change
Tolerance
capacity of an organism to withstand exposure to an evironmental factor
Avoidance
the ability of an organism to prevent damage caused by an environmental factor