quiz 2 Flashcards
What are biogeochemical cycles
continuous exchanges of materials between organic and inorganic pools
inorganic pools (4)
atmosphere
litosphere
hydrosphere
cryosphere
organic pool
biosphere
what makes up the biosphere
all living organisms still alive or dead, organic molecules and decaying matter
4 biogeochemical cycles
carbon cycle
water cycle
nitrogen cycle
phosphorous cycle
water cycle use
-water cycle causes the transport of nutrients and chemicals in and out of ecosystems
- involved in transporting and transferring heat
main reservoir of water cycle
oceans + most precipitations fall over oceans
main reservoir of carbon cycle
sediments and rocks (inorganic, typically unavailable to living organisms)
main reservoir nitrogen cycle
atmosphere (air=78% N2)
main reservoir of phosphorous cycle
in rocks mostly in the form of PO4^3-
what is a biome
a biotic community of a certain geographical extent with distinctive landscape based on dominant climax species
what are biome determinants
temperature
precipitations
soil
light
humidity/moisture
species interactions
what are the major biomes of canada and qc
temperate deciduous forests
boreal coniferous forests (tanga)
Tundra
what are the minor biomes of canada and qc
temperate rain forests
temperate grassland
aspen parkland ecotone
what is an ecotone
the transitional area between two biomes
what are the seasonality of each major biomes
TDF=warm summers, cool to cold winters
BCF=short mild summers, long cold winters
TUN=long cold winters, cool short summers
what are the growing season of each major biomes
TDF= 125-150 days
BCF=100-120 days
TUN=<100days
precipitations of each major biomes
TDF= fairly high, well distributed
BCF=relatively low, heavy snowfall
TUN=low precipitations
soil of each major biomes
TDF= slightly acidic
BCF=acidic, frozen most of the time. thin top layer so superficial root systems
TUN= permafrost, soil is permanently frozen (contains lots of water)
trees of each major biomes
TDF=large tall deciduous leaves
BCF=mostly conifers
TUN=really short vegetation
why is the BCF mostly conifers
they are more advantageous in the climate
-more resistant to desiccation
-thick cuticule
-needles easily shed snow
-no need to invest energy in growing leaves+early photosynthesis
-more resistant to cold
Why is TUN mostly short vegetation
-the growing season is really short
-low water availability
-“sand blasted” by drifting snow
characteristics temperate rain forest
wet mild winters and warm dry summers
high precipitations
animals and plants similar to boreal forest
