Chapter 49 -Ecology & Climate

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

study of how organisms interact with their environment and each other

Question 2

Organismal Ecology

Answer 2

how adaptations of shape, physiology, and behavior allow individual organisms to live in a particular area

Question 3

Population

Answer 3

group of individuals of the same species that live in an area

Question 4

Population Ecology

Answer 4

how and why the numbers of individuals in a population change over time

Question 5

biological community

Answer 5

species that live and interact with one another in an area

Question 6

Community Ecology

Answer 6

focus on consequences of the interactions between species and ask questions about predation, parasitism, and competition, and how groups of species respond to fires, floods, and other disturbances

Question 7

ecosystem

Answer 7

all the organisms in a particular region, along with nonliving, or abiotic, components

Question 8

Ecosystem Ecology

Answer 8

focuses on
–how nutrients and energy move among organisms
–the surrounding atmosphere, soil or water
–what keeps the whole system stable

Question 9

biosphere

Answer 9

thin zone surrounding the Earth where all life exists

Question 10

Global Ecology

Answer 10

focus on the effects of human impacts on the biosphere

Question 11

EX: Salmon migration in a warming world

Answer 11

Each year, salmon migrate up Fraser River to spawn in their natal streams.
Temperatures in the Fraser River have increased ~ 2°C since 1960 (will continue to rise with climate change)
In hot years, 70 % of fish may die before they spawn

Question 12

Salmon Migration Experiment

Answer 12

5 m ‘fish treadmill’ – a tunnel forcing fish to swim in that direction using 8 different stocks
Hypothesis: stocks exposed to higher temperatures in nature will be better adapted

Question 13

Conservation biology

Answer 13

aims to preserve, and restore threatened populations, communities, and ecosystems

Question 14

Biogeography

Answer 14

study of how organisms are distributed geographically

Question 15

Range

Answer 15

geographic distribution of species

Question 16

niche

Answer 16

suite of conditions a species can tolerate

Question 17

Niche Models

Answer 17

summary of conditions a species can live under

Question 18

Biotic Factors

Answer 18

an limit or expand species range
Competition, reproductive needs (nursery, food), parasitism, and other interactions, such as mutual benefits, can affect a species’ range

Question 19

EX: Tsetse flies limit the distribution of cattle

Answer 19

• carry Trypanosoma, deadly to cattle

- cause sleeping sickness

Question 20

Continental Drift

Answer 20

Causes a radical change in the shapes and positions of continents and oceans over time
Pop may have to travel to new enviros

Question 21

invasive species

Answer 21

An exotic species that is introduced into a new area and spreads rapidly and eliminates native species

Question 22

EX: Argentine ant

Answer 22

Argentine antnative to S.America expands
When they invade a new habitat, often eliminate native ants
However, they need moisture; in dry areas, they fail to spread. Native ants survive in dry areas

Question 23

Climate

Answer 23

prevailing long-term weather conditions found in an area

Question 24

Weather

Answer 24

specific short-term atmospheric conditions of temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind

Question 25

Why are the tropics warm and areas far from the equator cold?

Answer 25

farther distance from light source

hits at an angle

Question 26

Why are the equatorial tropics wet?

Answer 26

Major cycle in global air circulation, called a Hadley cell, is responsible for this pattern

• Warm air rise and cools, dropping rain
• cool air pushed poleward
• dense dry air descends, warms, and absorbs mositure at poles and returns to equator where fall as precipation

Question 27

Why do we have summer and winter?

Answer 27

Tilt of Earth towards/away from sun

Question 28

How do mountains and oceans affect climate?

Answer 28

rain shadow

• on the west of a mountain, the Pacific blows moist air up
• it rise and cools over mountain, rain falls
• on the other side of the mountain, air is dry, so desert conditions

Question 29

Do oceans affect climate?

Answer 29

ocean has high heat cap
Water absorbs heat in the summer and releases it in winter
-If you are close to the ocean, you will be warmer
-If you are in the ocean, you will be cooler