Unit B; Kera Flashcards
Studying the objectives of chapter four and five.
What are ecotones?
The area that is an “in between” stage bordering ecosystems.
What are Canada’s 4 Terrestrial biomes?
- Tundra
- Taiga
- Temperate Deciduous
- Grasslands
What are 4 factors that affect a terrestrial ecosystem?
- Soil
- Temperature
- Available Water
- Sunlight
Out of the following forest-clearing practices, which one is best for the environment and why?
- slash and burn
- clear cutting
- selective cutting
Selective cutting, because it doesn’t remove an entire plot of forest like slash and burn would. Nor does it clear an ecosystem like clear cutting.
What is a biome?
A large geographic region with specific characteristics.
What are the two types of aquatic biomes?
- Fresh water
2. Marine or Salt water
What are the main types of trees included in the Taiga biome?
Coniferous trees
What are the main types of trees included in the Grassland biome?
Deciduous trees
List and describe the three levels of an aquatic ecosystem.
- Littoral zone - allows sunlight to pass through, therefore, allowing photosynthesis and plants to grow, shallow, warm.
- Limnetic zone - Allows light penetration; not enough to allow photosynthesis, deep and colder than littoral.
- Profundal zone - on light penetrates these waters,no photosynthesis, very deep and colder than both the littoral and limnetic zones. Home to larger animals.
Between the Taiga and grassland biome, which one has better soil and why?
The grassland biome, because there are more plants and organic matter to make up the litter and top soil. it also allows for circulation and drainage, whereas the Taiga biome has more acidic and not as easily-drained soils.
Compare a coniferous forest to a deciduous forest. Which one gets the most rain?
The deciduous forest.
What are the four factors affecting aquatic ecosystems?
- Chemical enviroment
- Temperature and Sunlight
- Water pressure
- Seasonal variations
What are the four factors that limit populations and communities?
- Biotic Potential
- Limiting factors
- Carrying capacity
- Limits of tolerance
What is meant by a prescribed burn?
A controlled fire set intentionally in a designated area.
Explain eutrophication
The process of decreasing the depth and diversity of organisms in a body of water over time.
Define Binomial nomenclature
It is a common language, used by all scentists, to classify organisms using two words.
What are the levels of classification?
- Kingdom
- Phyla
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
What are the six kingdoms?
- Eubacteria
- Archebateria
- Protista
- Fungi
- Plantae
- Animalia
What is Phylogeny?
The study of the history of evolution in species.
Define Paleontology
The study of fossils.
Describe how scientists have come to know how old a specific specimen is.
Radiometic dating is used to tell how old something is by studying the characteristics of the elements contained in the specimen! by calculating how much of the original radioactive material is left,the scientists can figure out from there how old it is. This process includes the predictions of a “half life” of the mother element.
What is Biogeography?
Biogeography is the study of the history of how things came to be the way they are today, including the distrubution of life and land mass.
If a species is declared endemic, what does this mean?
It means that that species is only found in one geographic reigon in the world. They could be dwinling populations or booming populations, however, they will only be found in one place on earth.
There are specific “features” organisms have evolved or adapted. Name the three main ones and describe them.
- Homologous - features that have a similar origins and structures, but are used for different things.
- Analogous - Features that have different origins, but similar structures and functions.
- Vestigial - Features that have changed almost completly or are no longer needed.
