Unit 1: The Biosphere Flashcards
how are biomes determined?
by climate and weather forces
what are biomes?
major communities of plants and animals
What can cause convergent evolution
similar enviormental conditions
The 4 or 5 general terrestrial area categories
- snow/polar
- temperate
- equatorial
- arid
Subclasess:
* seasonal precipitation
* overall average temperature
does day length and seasons vary at the equator?
no
biomes are defined by
dominant plant growth forms which are in turn restricted by temperature and water availability
What are the 9 generally recognized terrestrial biomes?
- cold desert
- hot desert
- tundra
- polar ice cap
- taiga
- savanna
- wetlands
- coral reefs
- tropical rainforest
what do climate graphs chart?
annual cycles of rain and temperature that predict growing seasons
when precipitation line is [–] the temperature line, plant growth is limited by [–]
first graph
when precipitation line is above the temperature line, plant growth is limited by temperature
when precipitation line is [–] the temperature line, plant growth is limited by [–]
second graph
when precipitation line is below the temperature line, plant growth is limited by precipitation
climographs allow us to predict
what types of organisms will be found in a given area
what types of cell is more present in colder climates
ferrell cells
what type of cell is more present in warmer climates?
haldley
plants are classified based on
the number of thier adaptations to land
water availbility determines what type of plants will grow in an area
angiosperms currently make up [–] of plant spp.
90%
plant [–] are a trade-off between [–] and [–]
plant growth forms are a trade-off between photosynthesis and desiccation
deciduous forest trees
- broad, flat leaves maximize light absorption
- no protection from desciccation or frost
temperate forests
- trees form closed canopies due to abundant water
Evergreens
- thin, needle-like, decreased surface area
- less PS/day
- more PS/year
why do leaves change color
- chlorophyll reflects green light while absorbing other colors
- plants have secondary pigments that are seen after nutrient flow is shut off and chlorophyll to fall apart
climate graphs for [–] and [–] demonstrate similar patterns but differ in actual water and temperature averages
climate graphs for boreal and temperate forests demonstrate similar patterns but differ in actual water and temperature averages
How many types of biomes may be found in a small area
several
water-based communities are described as
aquatic ecosystems
aquatic systems are categorized by
their proximity to sunlight and nearness to the shore
limnetic
open water
littoral
edge
benthic
sediment
profundal
aphotic
lake turnover
seasonal changes allow mixing to occur in temperate lakes
fall and spring lake turnover is characterized by
wind and nutrient mixing
winter lake turnover is characterized by
ice
summer lake turnover is characterized by
- epilimnion
- hypolimnion
- thermocline