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Biology 112 > Chapter 52 - Ecology > Flashcards

Chapter 52 - Ecology Flashcards

(112 cards)

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1
Q

Ecology

A

oikos - home

logos - study

the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment

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2
Q

Global Ecology

A

the biosphere is the global ecosystem, the sum of all the planet’s ecosystems

examines the influence of energy and materials on organisms across the biosphere

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3
Q

Landscape ecology

A

a landscape or seascape is a mosaic of connected ecosystems

landscape ecology focuses on the factors controlling exhanges of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystems

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4
Q

Ecosystem Ecology

A

an ecosystem is the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which those organisms interact

emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and the enviroment

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5
Q

Community Ecology

A

a community is a group of populations of different species in an area

community ecology examines how interactions between species, such as predation and competition, affect community strucutre and organization

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6
Q

Population Ecology

A

a population is a group of individuals of the same species living in an area

analyzes factors that affect population size and how and why it changes through time

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7
Q

Organismal Ecology

A

studies how an organism’s structure, physiology, and (for animals) behavior meet environmental challenges

includes physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology

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8
Q

Influences on Ecology:

Climate

A

long-term, prevailing weather conditions in an area

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9
Q

4 major abiotic components of climate

A

temperature, prescipitation, sunlight, wind

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10
Q

Macroclimate

A

consits of patterns on the globabl, regional, and landscape level

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11
Q

Microclimate

A

consists of very fine patterns, such as those encountered by the community of organisms underneath a fallen log

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12
Q

Large impact on global climate patterns

A

solar energy and planet’s movement in space

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13
Q

Warming effect of the sun

A

causes temperature variations, which drive evaporation and the circulation of air and water

this causes latitudinal variations in climate

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14
Q

These patterns play major roles in determining climate patterns

A

global air circulation and precipitation

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15
Q

rising air masses

A

release moisture (cause high precipitation)

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16
Q

descending air masses

A

absorb moisture (create arid climates, especially near 30 degrees N and S)

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17
Q

Creates predictable global wind pattern

A

Air flowing close to the Earth’s surface

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18
Q

Wind Patterns

A

Cooling trade winds blow from E to W in the tropics

prevailing westerlies blow from W to E in temperate zones

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19
Q

Causes seasonality at high latitudes

A

tlit of the Earth’s axis of rotation and its annual passage around the sun

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20
Q

moderate climates of nearby terrestrial environments

A

oceans, their currents, and large lakes

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21
Q

Current of Gulf Stream

A

the Gulf Stream carries warm water from the equator to the North Atlantic

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22
Q

Water Currents

A

North of the equator - water currents clockwise

South of the equator - water currents counterclockwise

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23
Q

Ocean Cooling/Warming the Land

A

During the day, air rises over the warm land and draws a cool breeze from the water across the land

As the land cools at night, air rises over the warmer water and draws cooler air from the land back over the water, which is replaced by warm air from offshore

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24
Q

Air over a mountain

A

Rising air reduces moisture on the windward side of a peak and creates a “rain shadow” as it absorbs moisture on the leeward side

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25
the distribution of organisms and their abundance
Ecology
26
the biosphere is the global ecosystem, the sum of all the planet's ecosystems examines the influence of energy and materials on organisms across the biosphere
Global Ecology
27
a landscape or seascape is a mosaic of connected ecosystems landscape ecology focuses on the factors controlling exhanges of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystems
Landscape ecology
28
an ecosystem is the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which those organisms interact emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and the enviroment
Ecosystem Ecology
29
a community is a group of populations of different species in an area community ecology examines how interactions between species, such as predation and competition, affect community strucutre and organization
Community Ecology
30
a population is a group of individuals of the same species living in an area analyzes factors that affect population size and how and why it changes through time
Population Ecology
31
studies how an organism's structure, physiology, and (for animals) behavior meet environmental challenges includes physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology
Organismal Ecology
32
long-term, prevailing weather conditions in an area
Influences on Ecology: Climate
33
temperature, prescipitation, sunlight, wind
4 major abiotic components
34
consits of patterns on the globabl, regional, and landscape level
Macroclimate
35
consists of very fine patterns, such as those encountered by the community of organisms underneath a fallen log
Microclimate
36
solar energy and planet's movement in space
Large impact on global climate patterns
37
causes temperature variations, which drive evaporation and the circulation of air and water this causes latitudinal variations in climate
Warming effect of the sun
38
global air circulation and precipitation
These patterns play major roles in determining climate patterns
39
release moisture (cause high precipitation)
rising air masses
40
absorb moisture (create arid climates, especially near 30 degrees N and S)
descending air masses
41
Air flowing close to the Earth's surface
Creates predictable global wind pattern
42
Cooling trade winds blow from E to W in the tropics prevailing westerlies blow from W to E in temperate zones
Wind Patterns
43
tlit of the Earth's axis of rotation and its annual passage around the sun
Causes seasonality at high latitudes
44
oceans, their currents, and large lakes
moderate climates of nearby terrestrial environments
45
the Gulf Stream carries warm water from the equator to the North Atlantic
Current of Gulf Stream
46
North of the equator - water currents clockwise South of the equator - water currents counterclockwise
Water Currents
47
During the day, air rises over the warm land and draws a cool breeze from the water across the land As the land cools at night, air rises over the warmer water and draws cooler air from the land back over the water, which is replaced by warm air from offshore
Ocean Cooling/Warming the Land
48
Rising air reduces moisture on the windward side of a peak and creates a "rain shadow" as it absorbs moisture on the leeward side
Air over a mountain
49
Why might species have smaller ranges or become extinct as the climate changes?
human barriers (cities) other abiotic factors not supportive for that species (too rainy/snowy/windy)
50
What is very important in determining why terrestrial biomes are found in certain areas?
climate
51
Biomes
major life zones characterized by vegetation type (terrestrial biomes) or physical environment (aquatic biomes) are dynamic and usually exhibit extensive patchiness
52
climograph
temperature vs. precipitation (annual averages)
53
Terrestrial Biomes
often named for major physical or climatic factors and for vegetation
54
Tropical Rain Forest
equatorial warm year round wet competition for sunlight
55
Temperate Broadleaf Forest
significant precipitation year round all 4 seasons
56
Grasslands
precipiation is highly seasonal winters cold and dry summers hot and wet
57
Deserts
occur in bands near 30 degrees north and south of the equator precipitation is low and highly variable
58
Northern Coniferous Forest
largest terrestrial biome on earth precipitation varies winters are cold
59
Tundra
precipitation low winters are cold
60
Aquatic Biomes
most organisms occur in the relatively shallow **photic zone** the **aphotic zone** in oceans is extensive, but harbors ittle life determinants: light and substrates zones defined by light penetration, temperature, and depth
61
detritus
dead, organic matter falls from the productive surface water and is an important source of food
62
most lakes
in summer - the warmer upper layer from the cold deeper water many lakes undergo a semiannual mixing of their waters called **turnover** turnover mixes oxygenated water from the surface with nutrient-rich water from the bottom
63
communities in aquatic biomes
vary with depth, light penetration, distance from shore, and position in the pelagic or benthic zone
64
oligotrophic lakes
nutrient-poor and generally oxygen-rich (lakes around here, clean, smell fine)
65
Eutrophic lakes
nutrient-rich and often depleted of oxygen if ice covered in winter (smell bad, southern)
66
littoral zone
rooted and floating aquatic plants well-lit shallow close to shore
67
limnetic zone
water too deep to support rooted aquatic plants small drifiting animals called zooplankton graze on the phytoplankton
68
human barriers (cities) other abiotic factors not supportive for that species (too rainy/snowy/windy)
Why might species have smaller ranges or become extinct as the climate changes?
69
climate
What is very important in determining why terrestrial biomes are found in certain areas?
70
major life zones characterized by vegetation type (terrestrial biomes) or physical environment (aquatic biomes) are dynamic and usually exhibit extensive patchiness
Biomes
71
temperature vs. precipitation (annual averages)
climograph
72
often named for major physical or climatic factors and for vegetation
Terrestrial Biomes
73
equatorial warm year round wet competition for sunlight
Tropical Rain Forest
74
significant precipitation year round all 4 seasons
Temperate Broadleaf Forest
75
precipiation is highly seasonal winters cold and dry summers hot and wet
Grasslands
76
occur in bands near 30 degrees north and south of the equator precipitation is low and highly variable
Deserts
77
largest terrestrial biome on earth precipitation varies winters are cold
Northern Coniferous Forest
78
precipitation low winters are cold
Tundra
79
most organisms occur in the relatively shallow **photic zone** the **aphotic zone** in oceans is extensive, but harbors ittle life determinants: light and substrates zones defined by light penetration, temperature, and depth
Aquatic Biomes
80
dead, organic matter falls from the productive surface water and is an important source of food
detritus
81
in summer - the warmer upper layer from the cold deeper water many lakes undergo a semiannual mixing of their waters called **turnover** turnover mixes oxygenated water from the surface with nutrient-rich water from the bottom
most lakes
82
vary with depth, light penetration, distance from shore, and position in the pelagic or benthic zone
communities in aquatic biomes
83
nutrient-poor and generally oxygen-rich (lakes around here, clean, smell fine)
oligotrophic lakes
84
nutrient-rich and often depleted of oxygen if ice covered in winter (smell bad, southern)
Eutrophic lakes
85
rooted and floating aquatic plants well-lit shallow close to shore
littoral zone
86
water too deep to support rooted aquatic plants small drifiting animals called zooplankton graze on the phytoplankton
limnetic zone
87
Wetlands
high organic production among most productive biomes on earth diverse life humans have destoryed up to 90% of wetlands wetlands purify water and reduce flooding
88
stream
headwaters are generally cold, clear, swift, and oxygen-rich often narrow and rocky
89
rivers
downstream rivers are warmer, wide, meandering, and silty
90
estruary
transition area between river and sea salinity varies with rise and fall of tide nutrient-rich and highly producitve network of tidal channels, mudflats saltmarsh grasses and algae are major producers
91
intertidal zone
periodically submerged and exposed by the tides (2x a day) organisms have variations in temperature, salinity, wave action oxygen and nutrient levels high can be rocky: see structural adaptations for attaching or sandy: sea grass, worms, clams
92
ocean
covers about 70% of Earth's surface in temperate oceans, turnover renews nutrients in the photic zones tropical oceans have year-round stratification - leads to lower nutrient concentrations phytoplankton and zooplankton - dominant organisms
93
coral reef
formed from the calcium carbonate skeletons of corals (cnidarians) photic zone - warm, clear water very deep **benthic zone** organisms are adapted to continuous cold, extremely high water pressure, and darkness substrate is mainly soft sediments
94
deep-sea hydrothermal vents
of folcanic origin on mid-oceanic ridges have unique chemoautotrophic prokaryotes, tube worms, and crabs
95
distribution of species
result of ecological and evolutionary interactions through time
96
ecological time
is the minute-to-minute time frame of interactions between organisms and the environment
97
evolutionary time
spans many generations and captures adaptation through natural selection
98
climate limits indirerectly through biotic factors:
pathogens, prasites, predators, competitors, food availability
99
Successful transplant
indicates that its potential ranges is greater than its actual range
100
high organic production among most productive biomes on earth diverse life humans have destoryed up to 90% of wetlands wetlands purify water and reduce flooding
Wetlands
101
headwaters are generally cold, clear, swift, and oxygen-rich often narrow and rocky
stream
102
downstream rivers are warmer, wide, meandering, and silty
rivers
103
transition area between river and sea salinity varies with rise and fall of tide nutrient-rich and highly producitve network of tidal channels, mudflats saltmarsh grasses and algae are major producers
estruary
104
periodically submerged and exposed by the tides (2x a day) organisms have variations in temperature, salinity, wave action oxygen and nutrient levels high can be rocky: see structural adaptations for attaching or sandy: sea grass, worms, clams
intertidal zone
105
covers about 70% of Earth's surface in temperate oceans, turnover renews nutrients in the photic zones tropical oceans have year-round stratification - leads to lower nutrient concentrations phytoplankton and zooplankton - dominant organisms
ocean
106
formed from the calcium carbonate skeletons of corals (cnidarians) photic zone - warm, clear water very deep **benthic zone** organisms are adapted to continuous cold, extremely high water pressure, and darkness substrate is mainly soft sediments
coral reef
107
of folcanic origin on mid-oceanic ridges have unique chemoautotrophic prokaryotes, tube worms, and crabs
deep-sea hydrothermal vents
108
result of ecological and evolutionary interactions through time
distribution of species
109
is the minute-to-minute time frame of interactions between organisms and the environment
ecological time
110
spans many generations and captures adaptation through natural selection
evolutionary time
111
pathogens, prasites, predators, competitors, food availability
climate limits indirerectly through biotic factors:
112
indicates that its potential ranges is greater than its actual range
Successful transplant

Biology 112 (17 decks)

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