Unit 3 - Sonoran Intro, Water Transport & RGR/WUE Flashcards
What are examples of structure and function in this unit?
structure: leaves/plants/communities/ecosystems
function: photosynthesis, energy allocation, biodiversity
Where is water the most stressful in the US?
Southwest
In what two main ways does the distribution of precipitation change?
(1) spatially - WHERE
(2) temporally - WHEN
Does rain become more/less frequent & more/less intense with climate change?
less frequent; more intense
What happens with rain storms with climate change?
more floods and droughts
Is there more or less snow with climate change?
less
What is the difference between global average and flat areas with regards to species migration?
flat areas tend to be higher because animals/plants have to move way further than if mountains were available; its harder to move poleward than up
For every 1 degree C increase in average temperature, how far must a tree migrate upward compared to poleward?
upward: 175 m
poleward: 103 to 145 km (much larger distance)
What is the relationship between RCP and migration speed?
direct; higher RCP = higher migration to keep up with envelopes
Under which RCP emissions scenario would most plants be fine?
RCP 2.6
What are two options to help species that can’t keep up with their envelopes?
(1) let “nature” take its course - some species will migrate fast & others won’t
(2) step in to help plants and animals move faster - ASSISTED MIGRATION
definition: move plants and animals to places where we think they will be able to survive in the future to “speed up” their migration
assisted migration
What is currently happening with climate change (temperature) in the Sonoran Desert?
temperature is going UP
What is currently happening with climate change (rainfall) in the Sonoran Desert?
rainfall is going DOWN
What are some pros of assisted migration?
-increase/maintain biodiversity
-prevents extinction of species
-prevent negative ripple effects to a food chain
-ecosystem services
What are some cons of assisted migration?
-may put organism in the wrong spot
-genetic/bottleneck effect
-organism may not have proper resources in new location
-competition
-invasive species
-proper timing of move
What is the baseline for converting degrees C to F?
25 C = 75 F
How do temperature and rainfall change throughout the year in the Sonoran desert?
both fluctuate
high temps: may-september
high rainfall: jan-mar, July-august
What are the wettest months in the Sonoran Desert?
march and august
What are the driest months in the Sonoran Desert?
June
What is the problem with growing plants in the summer and spring?
summer: although it might be wet enough, it is too hot 95 degrees F and will evaporate immediately
spring: too dry/little rainfall
When is the best growing season for plants in the SD, especially annuals?
winter
What is the type of plant that grows, sets seed, and dies in a single growing season?
annual
What are the 3 main species we study that survive extremes in the SD?
(1) saguaro cactus (perennial)
(2) wildflower (annual)
(3) mesquite shrub (perennial)
How much of the Earth’s biomass do plants make up? Bacteria? Fungus? Animals? Archae?
plants: 80%
bacteria: 13%
fungus: 2%
animals: 0.36%
Archaea: 1.3%
How much of the Earth’s biomass do humans make up?
0.01%
What molecule (not atom) makes up most of a plant’s biomass?
cellulose
What is the molecule that makes up cell walls, is a carbohydrate, & made from the sugar that is a product of photosynthesis?
cellulose
Where does the C in cellulose in a plant come from, air or soil?
air
What can prove that plants get their C from the air?
Van Helmont’s Experiment (1600s)
Describe the basics of Van Helmont’s experiment.
(1) weighed out 200 lbs of dirt & planted a 5 lb tree in it for 5 years
(2) What happened to the soil? BARELY changed; 200 lbs–>199lbs
(3) What happened to the weight of willow tree? grew massively; 5 lbs–> 169 lbs (but it didn’t get its biomass from the soil so must have gotten it some other way – air!)
What makes up the shoot system of a plant? Root system?
shoot: flower, leaf, fruit, stem
root: root
What plant organ obtains water?
roots
What plant organ creates or obtains Carbon/sugar?
leaf
What plant organ collects light?
leaf
If you want to be able to grow fast (cellulose needed), where should you allocate all of your resources?
LEAVES
If its dry, where do you want to allocate your resources?
roots (need water to be absorbed from soil)
Why is water important for plants? (2 reasons)
(1) photosynthesis reactant
(2) plant structure
definition: created when the vacuole, full of water, exerts outward pressure on the cell wall
turgor pressure
When vacuoles are full of water, what is turgor pressure like?
very high
When vacuoles are lacking water, what is turgor pressure like?
very low
A rigid plant is described as _____ and wilted plant as ______.
turgid; flaccid
In a ____ cell, water flows into cell by osmosis and makes the vacuole swell & push against the cell wall.
turgid
What is the concentration of solute and solvent like INSIDE a turgid cell?
solute: high
solvent (H2O): low
In a ____ cell, water flows out of the cell & the vacuole shrinks, making the cell lose shape.
flaccid
What is the basic reaction for photosynthesis?
CO2 + water + light/ATP –> Glucose (sugar) + O2
What two characteristics of water help a plant to stand up?
(1) turgor pressure
(2) osmosis
What is the concentration of solute and solvent like INSIDE a flaccid cell?
solute: low
solvent: high
______: the diffusion of water
osmosis
_____: the passive movement of molecules from high to low concentration to establish an equilibrium
diffusion
OSMOSIS-movement of WATER molecules from _____ to ______ water concentration.
high to low
What type of membrane does osmosis take place across?
semipermeable (only water moves)
What are similarities between diffusion and osmosis?
movement from high to low concentration
What is unique to diffusion?
-BOTH solute and solvent move
-movement of molecules
-doesn’t involve energy/ATP
What is unique to osmosis?
-ONLY solvent moves (most likely water)
-semipermeable membrane involved
-focuses on concentration of water
definition: a process by which water molecules pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution (more dilute) into a more concentrated one, thus equalizing concentration on each side of the membrane
osmosis
Water concentration moves from high to low or from ____ to highly _____ solutions.
dilute; concentrated
Where does water enter a plant? Where does it leave?
enter: roots
leave: leaves (stomata)
How does a redwood move thousands of gallons of water up to its leaves EVERYDAY?
by using its transport system containing the vascular tissues Xylem and Phloem
Why do leaves need water?
for photosynthesis