Exam Review Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is the focus of the climate change question on the exam?
It relates to Week 6 Friday’s class and will be a short-answer question.
What do climographs illustrate?
Climographs display temperature and precipitation patterns for specific locations.
How many multiple-choice questions about climographs will be on the exam?
1–2 questions.
What are the main constituents of soil?
Parent material and organic matter.
What are the major soil horizons, and what are their characteristics?
- A Horizon: Topsoil, rich in organic material.
- B Horizon: Subsoil, accumulation of leached materials.
- C Horizon: Parent material, minimally affected by soil-forming processes.
What is the ‘Ae’ layer in soils?
It denotes an eluviated layer at the bottom of the A horizon, common in humid, acidic soils.
Name and describe five key soil orders.
- Cryosols: Frozen soils with shallow active layers and permafrost beneath.
- Organic Soils: Found in peatlands, swamps, and marshes.
- Podzols: Acidic soils in cool, wet regions under conifers.
- Oxisols: Highly weathered tropical soils.
- Chernozems: Fertile grassland soils with deep, dark A layers and little leaching.
How are soil types linked to climates and biomes?
Soil types correspond to specific climates and ecosystems due to similar influencing factors.
What does NPP stand for, and what does it measure?
Net Primary Productivity; it measures the rate of energy storage by plants minus the energy used in respiration.
What are trophic levels?
Hierarchical levels in a food web, representing energy flow from producers to consumers.
Name two key biogeochemical cycles.
The Carbon (C) and Nitrogen (N) cycles.
What factors influence ecological biogeography?
Physical factors (e.g., climate, soil) and biotic factors (e.g., species interactions, competition).
Provide an example of how ecological factors influence species distribution.
Vegetation types are determined by soil nutrients and climate conditions.
What is a species?
A group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
What is the difference between active and passive dispersal?
- Active Dispersal: Organisms move using their own energy (e.g., animals).
- Passive Dispersal: Organisms rely on external forces (e.g., wind, water) for movement.
What is the ‘6th Extinction’?
The ongoing modern extinction event caused by human activity.
List the major forest biomes covered in Weeks 12–13.
- Tropical Rainforest.
- Midlatitude Mixed Deciduous Forests.
- BC Coastal and Interior Needleleaf Forests.
- Boreal Forests.
What adaptations are found in tundra vegetation?
Low-growing plants adapted to cold climates and short growing seasons.
What characterizes midlatitude grasslands?
Grasses dominate, with fertile soils (Chernozems) and moderate precipitation.
How do subtropical deserts adapt to their climate?
Vegetation is sparse, adapted to low precipitation and high evaporation rates.
