Biomes and adaptations Flashcards
(54 cards)
1
Q
what processes can lead to genetic variation?
A
- mutation
- recombination
- sexual reproduction (chromosome assortment)
2
Q
what random processes give change in evolution?
A
- mutation
- genetic drift
- bottlenecks
- founder effects
3
Q
what non-random processes give change?
A
- natural selection
- sexual selection
4
Q
what three things does natural selection require?
A
- genetic variation amoung individuals
- Differential fitness among individuals that leads to differential lifetime reproductive success
- Heritability of traits (phenotype influenced by genotype)
5
Q
what is adaptation?
A
Feature (trait) that has evolved by natural selection for a specific function that improves fitness in a given environment.
6
Q
what is a biome?
A
geographic region that contains communities composed of organisms with similar adaptations
7
Q
what may lead to similar adaptations?
A
- common ancestory
-convergent evolution
8
Q
convergent evolution
A
two species descended from unrelated ancestors look similar because they have evolved under similar selective forces
9
Q
what drives climate?
A
- large scale processes
- regional/local scale factors
10
Q
what are large scale processes?
A
- sun radiation
- earth’s roation
- air currents
11
Q
what is a regional/local scale process?
A
Orography (topographic relief of mountains)
Rain shadow
12
Q
what are microclimates?
A
Local conditions that create a distinct set of conditions in one area compared to the surrounding landscape
13
Q
tundra biome
A
- short growth season
- growth limited initially by precipitation, then y temperature
-cold and low precipitation
-Permafrost: permanently frozen soil - - Acidic, thin, nutrient poor soils - Plants are short, no trees
14
Q
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the tundra environment?
A
- small leaves
- dwarf sizes
- thick fur/feathers
-camouflage - migration
- changing camouflage
15
Q
taiga- Boreal forest biome
A
- 7 month growth season
- Growth limited by temperature always
- more rain
-Dense forest of evergreen needle-leave trees - Few species dominate – less biodiverse
- Acidic, low fertility soils
- Large reservoir of organic C
- Major source of timber/paper
16
Q
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the taiga environment?
A
- conical shape trees
- insulation
- hibernation
17
Q
temperate rainforst biome
A
- happens where there are mountain ranges next to the ocean
- 8 months growth season
- Lots of rain (max in
Tundra was 80 mm, 5 times less) - Growth limited by temperature always
- Evergreen trees (Sequoias, redwoods)
- Coastal areas
- Foggy summers
- Mild rainy winters
18
Q
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the temperate rainforest environment?
A
- epiphyte life: a plant that grows on another plant but it is not parasitic
- tree cavity
- leave/moss nests
- decomposing organic matter
19
Q
temperate seasonal forest biome
A
- 9 months growing season
- Growth limited by temperature always
- Mostly deciduous trees (oak, beech)
- Soils slightly acidic with abundant organic matter
- UK forests
20
Q
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the temperate seasonal forest environment?
A
- deciduous leaves
- hibernation and migration
21
Q
“Mediterranean” Woodlands & Shrublands
A
- No limited growth season (year around)
- Hot and dry summers when growth is limited by precipitation
- Mild winters when growth is limited by temperature
- Thick evergreen shrubs
- Mediterranean landscapes
- Fire regulated environments
22
Q
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the “Mediterranean” Woodlands & Shrublands environment?
A
- sclerophyllous leaves
- water conservation and nocturnal habits
23
Q
temperate grasslands biome
A
- 8 months growth season
- Hot and dry summers, harsh winters
- Growth generally limited by temperature (end of summer limited by precipitation)
- Grasslands: Prairies, pampas
-Grasses and drought adapted shrubs- Fire regulated environments
- Rich in organic matter – agriculture
- Cold deserts:
- Poor soils
- Drier
- Grazing pressure
24
Q
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the temperate grasslands environment?
A
- xerophytes and extensive root systems
- digestive system to feed on grasses and burrowing behaviour to avoid predators
25
tropical rainforest biome
- Year long growth season
- Warm and rainy
- Growth always limited by temperature
-Multiple layers of vegetation, with dense understory
- Epiphytes and vines (lianas)
- Very high biodiversity
- Old and deeply weathered soils
- Very vulnerable to disturbance
26
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the tropical rainforest environment?
- buttresses and aerial roots
- camouflage and nocturnal habits
27
tropical seasonal forest
Savannah biome
- Year around growth
- Growth limited by precipitation AND by temperature at different times
- Seasonal rains (the timing varies by location) - Tropical forest during rainy season similar to rainforest, dries in the dry season. Richer soils than rainforest.
- Savannah: trees (Acacias, baobabs) and grasslands, shaped by fires and grazing. Poorer soils
- Agriculture conversion in America
28
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the Savannah environment?
- drought and grazing resistance
- migration, feeding adaptations
29
subtropical deserts
- Growth happens all year
- Hot temperature and little rain
- Growth always limited by precipitation
- Little organic matter (variation among regions)
- Shallow soils
- Extreme environments often with lots of endemisms
30
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the subtropical deserts environment?
- water storage
- nocturnal, camouflage, burrowing
31
what are aquatic biomes characterised by?
- water depth
- salinity
- water flow
32
streams and rivers
- Lotic systems (flowing water)
- Transports sediments AND pollutants!
- Ecologically important riparian zone (band of terrestrial vegetation by a stream, affected by flooding and exchanges nutrients)
33
external inputs of organic matter
Allochthonous (riparian tre leaves into water)
34
internal inputs of organic matter
Autochthonous (algae and aquatic plants)
35
Environmental problems in rivers:
- Pollution
- Dessication (use of water)
- Dams
- Overfishing
- Stocking on non-native fish for recreation
36
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the streams and river environment?
- morphology to fight current
37
ponds and lakes
- Lentic systems (not flowing water)
- Many formed as glaciers retreat
- Oxbow lakes
- Stratification: no mixing of waters, warms surface water flows on top of cooler denser water
- Important process can lead to fish die-off, rapid plankton growth
38
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the ponds and lakes environment?
webbed feet, air bubbles
39
freshwater wetlands
- Standing water or water-saturated soils
- Swamps, marshes and bogs
- Very important “natural water filters”
- Peat bogs: carbon storage
- Problem when disturbed (CO2 release)
40
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the wetlands environment?
aerenchyma
41
salt marshes and estuaries
- Some water flow
- Mix fresh and salt water
- Estuaries receive sediments from rivers
- Tidal marshes are among the most productive habitats
- Rapidly degraded with coastal development
42
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the salt marshes and estuaries environment?
euryhalinity (Ability to cope with varying salinity conditions, like oysters and mussels in estuaries)
43
mangrove swamps
- Salt water areas with salt-tolerant trees
- Key marine “nurseries”
- Very important to prevent coastal erosion
44
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the mangrove swamps environment?
aerial roots
45
Intertidal zones
- Band of land under the influence of ocean/sea tides
- Species adapted to these changing condition (flooded and dry)
- Shorebirds specialized in feeding there
46
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the intertidal zones environment?
shells and anchors against wave action
47
coral reefs
- Marine biome in warm, shallow waters
- Coral + algae mutualism
- High biodiversity
- Rising temperatures = coral bleaching
48
what adaptations do organisms have to live in the coral reef environment?
maneuverability:Laterally compressed bodies with fins that aid in rapid moves and changes of direction
49
open ocean neritic zone
from range of the lowest tidal level to depths of about 200 m; generally a region of high productivity.
50
open ocean oceanic zone
beyond the neritic zone; nutrients are sparse and production is limited.
51
open ocean photic zone
top area, contains sufficient light for photosynthesis by algae
52
open ocean aphotic zone
neritic and oceanic zones where water is so deep that sunlight cannot penetrate; less productive
53
open ocean benthic zone
seafloor
54
open ocean adaptations
bioluminescence
