The Physical Environment

Question 1

Why is productivity important?

Answer 1

It is needed to sustain life - plant biomass and organic matter

Question 2

What is NPP?

Answer 2

Net Primary Production

Question 3

How do you calculate NPP?

Answer 3

Gross Primary Production (GPP) minus Respiration (R)

Question 4

How is energy transferred from producers to consumers?

Answer 4

Through trophic levels. Sun > plant > mouse > hawk > death of hawk > decomposers, etc.

Question 5

What regulates the NPP pattern?

Answer 5

Nutrient availability
climate - temperature
precipitation
solar radiation

Question 6

Where is NPP highest in oceans?

Answer 6

Upwellings - nutrients from dead organisms brought to the surface
Coastlines - runoff, shallow waters give more sun access, higher temperatures

Question 7

Why do tropical regions have poor soils?

Answer 7

The plants hold most of the nutrients. Higher temps and heavy rain expedite decomposition, and established plants quickly take it up.

Question 8

What four spheres are used to classify the World?

Answer 8

Biosphere
Lithosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere

Question 9

What is produced during photosynthesis?

Answer 9

Glucose. Some glucose is used for respiration, and the rest is used to make new material - biomass

Question 10

What determines the structure of ecosystems - how complex they are and how many trophic levels

Answer 10

NPP. High production leads to ecosystems containing many trophic levels.

Question 11

How do humans affect NPP?

Answer 11

We use it for food directly and indirectly
We use it for fuel, housing, clothing, medicine, etc.
About 20% of the world’s NPP is for human use
NPP is reduced by paving over lands with buildings or roads, burning for for agriculture, etc.

Question 12

What are world biomes?

Answer 12

Large terrestrial regions with distinct climate and species adapted to the climate

Question 13

Name some world biomes

Answer 13

Polar Tundra
Boreal
Temperate Forest
Tropical Rainforest
Savanna
Temperate Grassland
Chaparral
Desert

Question 14

Polar Tundra

Answer 14

North of the Arctic Circle
No Trees
Cold climate
Shallow, mostly frozen soil
short growing season

Question 15

Boreal

Answer 15

Located in subarctic
Longer growing season than tundra
Acidic soils
Dominated by few coniferous trees
Fire important - opens pine cones to release seeds

Question 16

Temperate forest

Answer 16

Located in Northern Europe, Eastern China, Eastern North America
Longer growing season than boreal
Dominated by deciduous trees
More nutrients than boreal

Question 17

Tropical Rainforest

Answer 17

High rain and temperature all year
No dormant season
High diversity
Poor diversity
Poor soils

Question 18

Savanna

Answer 18

Located north and south of tropical rainforests in Africa and South Africa.
Warm temps year round, dry season
Dominated by grassland, some trees
Many grazing animals

Question 19

Temperate Grassland

Answer 19

Located in Eurasia, Australia, Central North America, Southern South Africa
Temperature varies seasonally, dry summers
dominated by grassland
Deep soils

Question 20

Chaparral

Answer 20

Located in Mediterranean, California, Chile, SW Australia.
Hot, dry summers, cool, moist winters.
Low shrubs, trees adapted to arid summers, fire.

Question 21

Desert

Answer 21

Located where evaporation exceeds precipitation.
Temperatures vary
Little vegetation
Species adapted to growth during rain periods