Topic 14 - Learning Objectives Flashcards
1
Q
- Explain the relationship between weather and climate. #understand
A
- Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area, such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind.
- Climate, on the other hand, refers to long-term patterns of weather in a particular region, typically averaged over decades.
- Weather influences climate by contributing to long-term trends and patterns observed in a region’s climate.
2
Q
- Describe the primary causes of seasonal variation. #understand
A
- The tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to its orbit around the Sun causes variations in the intensity and duration of sunlight received at different latitudes throughout the year.
- This tilt results in the changing angle of sunlight, which leads to variations in temperature and daylight hours, causing seasons.
3
Q
- Describe conditions that can produce microclimates. #remember
A
- Microclimates are small-scale variations in climate within a larger area, influenced by factors such as topography, vegetation cover, proximity to water bodies, and human activities.
- For example, areas near bodies of water may experience milder temperatures due to the moderating effect of water bodies, while urban areas may experience higher temperatures due to the urban heat island effect.
4
Q
- Explain how climate and competition limit an organism’s ability to survive in an area. #apply
A
- Climate influences the availability of resources such as food, water, and shelter, which are essential for organism survival.
- Competition for limited resources within an ecosystem can further limit an organism’s ability to survive, as individuals must compete with others of the same or different species for access to resources.
5
Q
- Describe the structural features of populations. #remember
A
6
Q
- a) Diagram population dispersion patterns. #remember
A
- Clumped dispersion: Individuals are grouped together in clusters, often due to resource availability or social behavior.
- Uniform dispersion: Individuals are evenly spaced apart, often due to territoriality or competition for resources.
- Random dispersion: Individuals are distributed randomly throughout the habitat, with no specific pattern.
7
Q
- b) Calculate density given pertinent data. #analyze
A
Density = Number of individuals / Area of habitat
8
Q
- Describe the dynamic features of populations. #remember
A
Populations exhibit dynamic features such as birth rate, death rate, immigration, and emigration, which influence population size and composition over time.
9
Q
- Diagram the hypothetical survivorship curves. #understand
A
- Survivorship curves depict the proportion of individuals surviving at different ages/stages of life.
- Type I: High survivorship until old age, then rapid decline (e.g., humans).
- Type II: Constant survivorship rate regardless of age (e.g., birds).
- Type III: High mortality early in life, with survivors reaching old age (e.g., many fish species).
10
Q
- Compare exponential and logistic population growth. #analyze
A
- Exponential growth occurs when a population increases by a constant proportion over time, leading to a J-shaped curve.
- Logistic growth occurs when a population’s growth rate slows as it approaches carrying capacity, leading to an S-shaped curve.
11
Q
- Summarize the different meanings of biodiversity. #remember
A
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms present in an ecosystem, encompassing species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
12
Q
- Explain competitive exclusion. #evaluate
A
Competitive exclusion occurs when two species with similar ecological niches compete for the same resources, leading to the elimination of one species from the habitat or a shift in resource use.
13
Q
- a) Compare fundamental and realized niches. #understand
A
- Fundamental niche: The full range of environmental conditions under which a species can survive and reproduce.
- Realized niche: The actual range of conditions where a species exists in the presence of competitors or predators.
14
Q
- Explain how predation affects the populations of predators and prey. #evaluate
A
Predation influences the populations of both predators and prey by regulating prey populations through consumption and shaping predator populations through access to food resources.
15
Q
- Summarize the types of symbioses discussed in class and interpret examples of each. #analyze
A
- Mutualism: Both species benefit (e.g., lichens, mycorrhizal fungi).
- Commensalism: One species benefits, and the other is unaffected (e.g., barnacles on whales).
- Parasitism: One species benefits at the expense of the other (e.g., tapeworms in the intestines).
16
Q
- Compare food chains and food webs. #remember
A
- Food chains represent linear pathways of energy transfer from one trophic level to another.
- Food webs depict the complex network of interconnected food chains within an ecosystem, illustrating multiple trophic interactions.
17
Q
- Explain how keystone species influence community structure. #understand
A
- Keystone species exert a disproportionately large influence on community structure and function relative to their abundance.
- Their removal can cause significant changes in community composition and ecosystem dynamics.
18
Q
- Diagram the flow of energy and cycling of nutrients within an ecosystem. #understand
A
- Energy flows through ecosystems in a unidirectional manner, from producers to consumers and decomposers.
- Nutrients are cycled within ecosystems through biogeochemical processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and nutrient uptake by organisms.
19
Q
- a) Compare the trophic efficiency of different animal groups. #understand
A
Trophic efficiency refers to the transfer of energy between trophic levels in an ecosystem, often decreasing with each successive level.
20
Q
- b) Diagram and interpret a trophic pyramid. #understand
A
21
Q
Weather
A
The condition of the atmosphere at a specific place and time, like whether it’s sunny, rainy, windy, or cloudy.
22
Q
Climate
A
The average weather conditions in a particular area over a long period, like years or decades.
