U5: Case Studies Flashcards
Kelp Forest Features
Mostly kelp with little fish and a few predators like sharks
What eats kelp?
Sea Urchins
What eats sea urchins?
Otters
“Warm Blob”
A sudden increase in ocean temperature
Effects of warm blob on kelp
Ocean water was too hot for the kelp so it died
How did sea urchins respond to the warm blob?
Increased cellular respiration
–> Needed more food as a result and ate the little kelp left that had survived the warm blob
Urchin Barrens
Community dominated by urchins with little kelp
How did the kelp forests change due to the warm blob?
They turned into urchin barrens
–> = Loss of vital habitats
Alpine Tundras
Occurs at high altitudes, vegetation mainly consists of grasses and low shrubs
–> Longer winters
What happened to the grasses in the alpine tundras during colder years?
Grasses experienced a greater decrease in mass
What happened to the bison in the alpine tundras during colder years?
Bison increased cellular respiration –> Therefore, their food requirements increased
Mismatch Between Bison and Grasses in the Alpine Tundra
Bison had increased food requirements due to greater respiration to maintain body temp
BUT
Plants were decreasing in mass due to less photosynthesis because of the cold
–>Caused a mismatch between bison needs and plant products
