Week 3a Flashcards
What is the main source of energy for Earth?
The Sun.
What is in the atmosphere that help to regulate the Earth’s temperature?
Greenhouse gases.
What are the 3 main greenhouse gases?
CO2, CH4, H2O
What are 3 fossil fuels?
Oil, Coal, Gas
What about human use of carbon is causing global warming?
Humans dig up carbon stores and we burn them, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. This off-sets the carbon cycle and traps too much heat in the atmosphere.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is short term pattern in temperature, precipitation, wind, etc. Climate is long term patterns (over 30 years or more).
Name 3 factors that affect climate, GO!
- Latitude: (N & S on the Earth)
- Topography natural features (altitude, water body, etc.)
- Heat moved by wind and ocean currents.
Explain Latitude and Longitude (And what are their “0” lines?)
Latitude is north to south (0 is the Equator), Longitude is east to west (from the Meridian)
What 3 latitude zones is the Earth divided into, and what affects their temperature?
Tropic Zone (23.5 degrees N to S of Equator), Temperate Zone (23.5 - 66.5 degrees N to S of Equator) Polar Zone (Beyond 66.5 degrees to the N & S poles) Affected by the angle of the sun’s rays hitting the Earth.
What causes the swirling of wind and oceans ?
Earth’s rotation
What is the difference between a Community and Ecosystem?
Community is all the populations in a certain area. Ecosystem are all the communities (biotic) plus the abiotic factors (rocks, water, wind, temperature, etc.)
Explain how a habitat fits into an ecosystem.
A habitat is where a specific animal lives within an ecosystem (Example: bird lives in a tree in the forest ecosystem, alligator lives in the water in a swamp ecosystem)
What is a creature’s “niche” ?
The role a creature has within the ecosystem (it’s habitat, the food it eats, interaction with other creatures)
Explain the Competitive Exclusion Principle
The fact each creature has it’s own ecological niche.
What are 3 ways communities interact within an ecosystem?
- Competition: fighting over food or evolving over time
- Predation: how one consumer captures and feeds on another
- Symbiosis: 2 species living together
Give at least 2 examples of resources creatures need.
Things that animals need to survive: water, nutrients, sunlight, space
What is symbiosis?
Relationship between 2 species that benefits at least one of those species.
Describe the 3 types of symbiosis.
- Mutualism: both benefit
- Commensualism: one benefits, other unaffected
- Parasitism: one benefits, one harmed
Tell me more about Ecological Succession.
When an ecosystem is altered by a man-made or natural disturbance, the ecosystem goes through a series of changes.
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession? (in Ecological Succession)
In primary succession, no soil/dirt remains (ex: volcanic eruption vs. forest fire)
What is the definition of biome? Give at least 2 examples.
A group of ecosystems across the planet with similar climate, soil, and communities. (Rainforest, desert, temperate, tundra)
What is an adaption? Give an example…or die!!!!
adaptation: species characteristic passed genetically that allow for better survival. Ex: polar bears are white.
What biome has the most biodiversity? (greatest amount of species)
Tropical rainforest
What is one similarity and one difference between a tropical rainforest and tropical dry forest?
Same: ZONE near equator
Difference: one is more dry with less amount covering Earth
What is the difference between an evergreen tree and a deciduous tree?
Evergreen trees keep their leaves year-round, deciduous drop their leaves (as a way to conserve water).
What is estivation?
Similar to hibernation, when creatures are inactive for long periods of time to conserve energy.
Tropical savannahs and tropical rainforests are both near the equator and have rainy seasons. What is a difference between them?
Savannah is dominated by grasses, rainforest has more trees.
How are deserts defined as a unique biome? And what areas are they found?
Deserts receive <10 inches of rainfall a year. They are found at all latitudes.
What are 2 characteristics of the biome temperate grasslands?
Temperate = seasons
Grasslands = a lot of grasses (nutrient rich soil)
What is a coniferous tree?
Trees that grow seeds in cones.
Where are boreal forest biomes (AKA: tiaga) found?
Northern hemisphere between the temperate and polar zones.
What biome is permafrost found?
The tundra (permanently frozen earth)
The 3 aquatic ecosystems are freshwater, estuary, and ocean. What is the primary difference between them?
Salinity or amount of salt.
In FRESH water wetlands, describe the different: Marshes, Swamps, Bogs?
Marshes: near lakes/rivers, mostly grass, high nutrient
Swamps: deeper than marshes, mostly trees, high nutrient
Bogs: depressed land, mostly rain water, low nutrient
What does this mean: Estuaries support a huge amount of biomass, even though biodiversity is low.
In areas where fresh water meets salt water, there is a LOT of living things, but a limited amount of species.
In Estuaries, describe the different types: Salt Marshes, Mangrove Forests
Salt Marshes: estuary mostly made of grasses
Mangrove Forests: estuary with trees adapted to salty water
What are some abiotic factors that would influence ocean/marine ecosystems?
Amount of sunlight, temperature, water flow…
Explain the photic zone (in the ocean)
portion of water where light can penetrate. BONUS POINT: What is the area of the ocean that doesn’t get light called?
If light can’t penetrate deep parts of the oceans, what are the primary producers?
Chemotrophs
What are the ocean depth zones?
intertidal zone: between high and low tides
neritic zone: from low tide to edge of continental shelf (this is a photic zone)
oceanic zone: beyond the continental shelf (has both photic & aphotic zones), only producers are phytoplankton
benthic zone: the ocean floor (from low tide to deepest part of the ocean)
What are 2 ecosystems in the neritic zone (HINT: neither swim!)
Coral reefs (grows in warm tropical water) & kelp forests (grows in cold temperate water)
