Tema 5 Flashcards
Q: What is wave shock in the intertidal zone?
A: Wave shock refers to the impact of waves hitting the shore, which can be stressful for intertidal organisms.
What are the physical stresses that effect the intertidal zone?
Wave shock, abrasion, pressure resistance, hydrostatic pressure, rock turnover
Q: What is abrasion in the context of the intertidal zone?
A: Abrasion is the physical wear caused by sand, pebbles, and other materials moving with the water.
Q: How does hydrostatic pressure affect organisms in the intertidal zone?
A: Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by the water on organisms at different depths, which organisms in the intertidal zone must withstand.
Q: What is rock turnover and how does it impact organisms in the intertidal zone?
A: Rock turnover is the action of waves or organisms turning over rocks, affecting the organisms that live there.
Q: What factors affect the vertical extension and distribution of organisms in the intertidal zone?
A: Factors include tidal range, exposure to wave action, slope, and the type of substrate (hard or soft).
Q: What environmental challenge do organisms in the intertidal zone face due to exposure to air?
A: Organisms in the intertidal zone experience exposure to air during low tide, which can lead to dehydration.
Q: What are the main problems faced by organisms in the intertidal zone?
A: These include water loss, temperature fluctuations, salinity changes, oxygen supply issues, and limited time for feeding.
Q: What is the primary limitation for organisms in the intertidal zone regarding feeding?
A: The main limitation is the time available for feeding during low tide.
Q: How does space impact organisms in the intertidal zone?
A: Space is limited, especially in high-intertidal areas, and organisms must compete for it.
Q: What are the three main zones in the vertical zonation of the intertidal zone?
A: The supralittoral zone (above the high tide line), the mediolittoral zone (middle intertidal zone), and the infralittoral zone (subtidal zone).
Q: What causes zonation in the intertidal zone?
A: Factors include wave action, desiccation, biological competition, tidal cycles, topography, and environmental conditions like sunlight and temperature.
Q: What is a keystone species and why is it important in the intertidal zone?
A: A keystone species is a predator that plays a critical role in the structure of the ecosystem, affecting other populations in the food web.
Q: What is herbivory in the intertidal zone?
A: Herbivory involves organisms feeding on algae and other plant-like organisms in the intertidal zone.
Q: What is the difference between swash and backwash?
A: Swash is the movement of water up the beach with each incoming wave, while backwash is the flow of water moving back towards the sea after the wave breaks.
Q: How does recruitment influence community structure in the intertidal zone?
A: Recruitment refers to the selection and settlement of larvae, influenced by competition, predation, and herbivory.
Q: How do soft substrates affect organisms in the intertidal zone?
A: Soft substrates, like sand, are less stable and can hinder organisms’ ability to attach, leading to a greater presence of epifaunal organisms compared to infaunal species.
Q: What are dissipative beaches?
A: Dissipative beaches are characterized by a variety of sediment types and are often influenced by strong wave action, leading to less stable conditions.
Q: What are reflective beaches?
A: Reflective beaches have well-sorted sediments and strong wave energy, with a more stable environment compared to dissipative beaches.
Q: How do soft substrates and rocky coasts differ in terms of organism dominance?
A: Rocky coasts tend to support more epifaunal organisms (fixed to surfaces), while soft substrates support more infaunal species (burrowed in sediments).
Q: What are the main physical and chemical factors that influence organisms on soft versus rocky coasts?
A: Differences in wave action, current strength, salinity, and temperature affect the organisms’ distribution and survival on each type of coast.
Q: What is bioturbation?
A: Bioturbation refers to the disturbance of sediment by burrowing organisms, which can affect the stability of the substrate.
Q: How does the infiltration rate affect organisms in exposed beaches?
A: The infiltration rate determines how quickly water penetrates the sediment, influencing the oxygen availability and distribution of organisms.
Q: What is the role of meiofauna in exposed beaches?
A: Meiofauna, which are small organisms, play a crucial role in the detritus food web, recycling organic material in exposed beach environments.
Q: What types of primary producers are found in the intertidal zone?
A: Primary producers include microflora (like bacteria and small algae) and macroalgae, which perform photosynthesis.
Q: How does light penetration affect primary producers in the sediment?
A: Light only penetrates about 5 mm into the sediment, limiting photosynthesis and growth for primary producers.
Q: What are the main feeding strategies of consumers in the intertidal zone?
A: Consumers in the intertidal zone can be non-selective filter feeders, specialized predators, or omnivores, depending on the available resources.
