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BIO232 Plant Ecology > L8 Biome Concepts > Flashcards

L8 Biome Concepts Flashcards

1
Q

What defines a biome

A

The main vegetation

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2
Q

What is a biome

A

A large scale (regional or continental) distinct community of plant and animas, adapted to the regions physical environment (inc climate, topography and soil)

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3
Q

What determines the regional extent of a biome

A

Climate

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4
Q

How are biomes classified

A

According to structural character if vegetation

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5
Q

How is climate controlled

A

How much solar energy is intercepted by Earth and its atmosphere

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6
Q

What part of earth does solar energy warm up

A

The land
Land then heats up the air

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7
Q

What is denser, cold or warm air

A

Cold air is denser

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8
Q

Explain how air cycles

A

Hot air rises as it is less dense
Once it has risen, it is further away from the hot land, so it cools down and falls again

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9
Q

What causes the Coriolis effect

A

The earths rotation

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10
Q

Which direction do the Northern and Southern hemisoheres deflect to

A

N hemisphere delflects to the right
S hemisphere deflects to the left

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11
Q

What does the Coriolis effect do to an object

A

Deflects an objects intended direction

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12
Q

Where do Hadley cells meet
What is the name for this

A

At the equator - intertopical convergence zone (ITCZ)

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13
Q

What winds meet at the intertropical convergence zone
What climatic events are common here

A

NE and SE trade winds come together
Monsoons and tropical cyclones

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14
Q

As distance from the equator increases, what happens to the duration, amount and reliability of precipitation

A

All decrease

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15
Q

What is the most productive ecosystem

A

Tropical rainforest

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16
Q

What is the growth rate in tropical rainforests

A

Quick

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17
Q

Where is biodiversity highest and why

A

Around the equator
Things grow faster so there is increased speciation

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18
Q

What are some local scale drivers of biomes

A

Human impact
Disturbance
Topography
Microclimates

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19
Q

What are top down processes acting on biomes

A

Climate

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20
Q

What bottom up processes affect biomes

A

Topography, human influence etc.

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21
Q

What is the fourth dimension in 3 dimensional space

22
Q

What can topography affect

A

Airflow
Climate
Soil (run off, erosion)
Drainage
Species adaptation
Species composition

23
Q

How can altitude alter local climate (what changes can be seen as you go up and over a mountain)

A

Prevailing wind
Rising, cooling air
Descending, warming air
Rain shadow

24
Q

What do changes in altitude show a similar relationship do

A

Changes in latitude

25
How can soil affect plant communities
Nitrogen, drainage, sand/clay
26
What produces more mineral rich soil: deciduous forest or evergreen pine forest
Deciduous forest
27
What fcators can influence soil
Climate Organisms Topography Parent materials Time Environmental interactions
28
Define a disturbance
An event in time that disrupts the ecosystem or physical environment
29
In what dimensions can disturbance vary Why is disturbance important
Can vary on scale, frequency and type It can promote succession and diversity
30
Give some examples of disturbance
Fire Disease Drought Human exploitation Wind (that causes trees to fall)
31
How does functional classification split plants
Depending on structure, traits and biochemical processes
32
How does evolutionary classification split plants
Depending on their evolutionary history and how close they are geentically related to eachother Taxonomic grouping is based on generic differences
33
How can plants be split by life cycle What are the 3 life cycles
Annual - lifecycle within 1 year Biennial - every 2 years Perennial - 3 years or more
34
How does the Raunkiaer system classify plants What are groups based off
Plant life form classification Groups based on the place of the plants bud growth form
35
When was the Raunkiaer system proposed
1904
36
Where does bud growth occur in phanerophytes and give an example plant
From main stem into air above 50cm from ground trees
37
Where does bud growth occur in chsmaephytes and give an example plant
Persistent shoots near ground, no more than 50cm above soil Small woody shrubs, herbaceous
38
Where does bud growth occur in hemicryptophytes and give an example plant
At or near soil durface Single stemmed herbs - Aperacae
39
Where does bud growth occur in cryptophytes give an example plant What 2 groups are they split into
Below ground, buds lie beneath surface Bluebells, wild garlic, daffodils Geophyte - rhizomes and bulbs Helophyte - under water
40
What is the growth form of attached hydrophytes and give an example plant
Shoot system entirely underwater, leaves underwater or floar on surface, influorescence may emerge above water surface Water lily
41
What is the growth form of free-floating hydrophytes and give an example plant
Entire plant can exist in water column or on surface, no connection to secument Water cabbage
42
What is the growth form of epiphytes and give an example plant
Plants grow on one another, depending on other plants for mechanical support, can exist entirely above ground Ferns, mosses and lichens
43
Are epiphytes parasitic
No, but sometimes so many can grow on one plant that they kill it
44
What does Raunkiaers system not show
Adaptations and evolutionary histories
45
What is Raunkiers classification good for
Observing differences in functional diversity
46
How can plants be classified in terms of large general plant characteristics (what groups are they split into) What is this method useful for
Evergreen - tropical Evergreen - temperate Deciduous - tropical Deciduous - temperate Tree or shrub Grasses or herbaceous plants Global climate and carbon models
47
What are the 3 photosynthetic pathways and when are they used
C3 - most common C4 - shade intollerent CAMs - hot and arid desert regions
48
What is used in biological classification of plants
Grouping species with shared characteristics Revised to reflect evolutionary theories of common descent
49
What does a predominantelty C4 system tell you about the environment
Evolved in an area of low carbon dioxide e.g. Tropical grassland
50
What does a high prescence of bryophytes tel lyou about the environment
Wet and moist
51
What are some ways of classifying plants
Family groups Biological (linked to Linnaeus) Photosynthetic pathways General plant characteristics Raunkiaer system Life cycle

BIO232 Plant Ecology (15 decks)

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