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Z BIO104 - GENERAL ECOLOGY > Land Ecosystems and Ecological Succession > Flashcards

Land Ecosystems and Ecological Succession Flashcards

1
Q

“There is a ____ ______ of all life on earth, from the tiniest organisms, to the largest ecosystems.”
- Bryant McGill

A

deep interconnectedness

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2
Q

It is a part of the Earth that supports life

A

Biosphere

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3
Q
  • it spreads around the biosphere
  • land-based ecosystems with unique biotic and abiotic factors
A

Biomes

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4
Q

Nonliving conditions that influence the type of biome found in a geographic area

A

Abiotic Factors

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5
Q

What are the two most significant abiotic factors in biomes?

A
  1. Temperature
  2. Precipitation
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6
Q

The two most significant abiotic factors in biomes are influenced by?

A

Latitude
Altitude
Prevailing Winds
Nearby mountains

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7
Q

It is the distance from the equator, measured in degrees north or south

A

Latitude

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8
Q

Latitudes near the equator receive __ ___ ____ and a ___ amount of ____

A
  • more direct sunlight
  • greater amount of warming
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9
Q

What causes seasonal changes?

A

The tilt of the Earth as it rotates around the Sun

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10
Q

Day length is ____ _____ near the equator, then becomes ___ _____ towards the poles

A
  • highly consistent
  • more seasonal
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11
Q

As latitude _____, temperature and primary productivity tend to _____ due to the ____ __ ____

A
  • increase
  • decrease
  • changing sun angle
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12
Q

It is the elevation above sea level

A

Altitude

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13
Q

As altitude ____, average temperature and primary productivity ____

A
  • increases
  • decreases
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14
Q

It is a winds that blow from a single direction over a specific area of the Earth

A

Prevailing winds

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15
Q

How does the prevailing winds created?

A

Hot air at the equator rises, moves across the atmosphere, cools, then sinks at about 30°N or S

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16
Q

From the tropics southwest or northwest towards the equator

A

Trade Winds

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17
Q

From the subtropics west towards the midlatitudes

A

Westerlies

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18
Q

It is a moving system of deep ocean currents that circulate warmth across the globe

A

Ocean Conveyor

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19
Q

Biomes located near bodies of water have ___ precipitation levels

A

Greater

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20
Q

What fuels storm system?

A

Evaporation from the water

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21
Q

It is a periodic warming and cooling of the central/eastern Pacific Ocean caused by shifts in trade winds

A

El-Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle

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22
Q

During a normal year, the ____ ___ gather in the western Pacific, fueling ____ throughout southeast Asia

A
  • warmest waters
  • rainfall
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23
Q

Warm waters shift to the coast of South America, fueling more rainfall in the Western U.S.

A

El Niño year

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24
Q

It is a decrease in precipitation on the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing winds

A

Rainshadow effect

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25
Q

Faces winds, receives more precipitation

A

Windward slope

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26
Q

Reduced precipitation

A

Leeward slope

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27
Q

The ____ __ ____ is the result of latitude, altitude, prevailing winds, ocean currents, and landforms.

A

Distribution of Biomes

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28
Q

A combination line/bar graphs that show trends in temperature and precipitation over a typical year in a biome

A

Climatographs

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29
Q

Average monthly precipitation

A

Bar graph

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30
Q

Average monthly temperature:

A

Line graph

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31
Q

Climatographs tell you:

A
  • If temperatures are seasonal or consistent
  • If precipitation is seasonal or consistent
  • If the climate is below freezing part of the year
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32
Q

Climatograph
You can infer:

A
  • Latitude and geography of the ecosystem
  • Northern or southern hemisphere
  • What type of ecosystem is present
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33
Q
  • low precipitation, high temperatures
  • lowest net primary productivity of all ecosystems
A

Deserts

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34
Q

It forms between the tropics and temperate latitudes

A

Subtropical deserts

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35
Q

_____ ___ deliver __ __ down from the atmosphere at ___ and ___

A
  • convection cells
  • dry air
  • 30°N and 30°S
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36
Q

It is found on the Leeward side of mountain ranges

A

Rainshadow deserts

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37
Q

It is a result of wind currents that run parallel a coastline

A

Coastal deserts

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38
Q

May bring ___, but no measurable _________.

A
  • fog
  • precipitation
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39
Q

Have a seasonal temperature variation

A

Temperate deserts

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40
Q

A desert that s consistently cold and dry

A

Polar deserts

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41
Q

What are the adaptations of the organisms in desert?

A
  • Ability to store water (e.g. succulents) or fat (e.g. camels)
  • Reduced growth rate and/or herd size
  • Spikes and camouflage for defense
  • Energy conservation (dormancy, cold-blooded)
  • Deep taproots
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42
Q
  • moderate or seasonal precipitation
  • warm or seasonal temperatures
  • moderate net primary productivity
A

Grasslands

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43
Q
  • or tropical grasslands
  • are located near the equator between tropical forests and subtropical deserts
A

Savannas

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44
Q

Temperature in Savannas

A

Consistent

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45
Q

Precipitation in Savannas

A

Seasonal

46
Q
  • or temperate grasslands
  • are found in midlatitudes
A

Prairies

47
Q

Temperature in Prairies

A

Seasonal

48
Q

Precipitation in Prairies

A

Moderate

49
Q
  • or polar grasslands
  • have short growing seasons and permanently frozen soil called permafrost.
A

Tundras

50
Q

Permanently forzen soil

A

Permafrost

51
Q

Temperature in Tundras

A

Consistently cold

52
Q

Precipitation in Tundras

A

Moderate

53
Q

Adaptations of Grassland Plants:
Prairie plants

A

have deep and complex root structures that allow them to recover from drought, wildfire, cold winters, and grazing animals.

54
Q

Adaptations of Grassland Plants:
Tundra plants

A
  • low-lying due to permafrost
  • mature rapidly in the short growing season
55
Q
  • consistent moderate-to-high precipitation that supports tree growth
  • warm or seasonal temperatures
  • high net primary productivity across multiple layers
A

Forests

56
Q
  • it is the uppermost layer in forest
  • receives the most direct sunlight
  • few plants reach this high
A

Emergent layer

57
Q
  • it is the highest layer that most trees reach, and contains most of the plant and animal life
  • highest net primary productivity area of any forest.
A

Canopy

58
Q

It is the layer of vegetation below the canopy, where only 5% of the sunlight reaches

A

Understory

59
Q

It is the bottommost layer of the forest, and has a community centered around decomposition.

A

Forest floor

60
Q
  • Wide, flat leaves that maximize sun absorption
  • Prone to moisture loss via transpiration
  • Shed in winters or prolonged dry seasons
A

Broadleaf Trees

61
Q
  • Narrow, wax-coated leaves
  • Absorb less sunlight but transpire less water
  • Not shed during cold or dry seasons
A

Coniferous Trees

62
Q
  • It receives high rainfall and are consistently warm
  • Broadleaf trees only
  • Highest net primary productivity of all land-based ecosystems
A

Tropical Rainforests

63
Q
  • It also receives high rainfall but have seasonal temperature changes
  • Broadleaf or coniferous trees
A

Temperate Rainforests

64
Q
  • have moderate precipitation and significant seasonal temperature changes
  • mostly broadleaf trees that shed their leaves each winter
A

Deciduos forests

65
Q
  • also called taiga
  • are the coldest and driest of all the forest biomes
  • Coniferous trees only
A

Boreal forests

66
Q
  • also called chaparral
  • have highly seasonal rainfall that mostly falls during the winter months
  • small coniferous trees and shrubs
A

Mediterranean forests

67
Q
  • seasonal temperatures
  • moderate rainfall
A

Temperate Grassland
(Prairie)

68
Q
  • seasonal temperatures
  • moderate precipitation
A

Polar Grassland
(Tundra)

69
Q
  • warm temperatures
  • seasonal precipitation
A

Tropical Grassland
(Savanna)

70
Q
  • warm temperatures
  • seasonal precipitation
A

Mediterranean forest

71
Q
  • seasonal temperatures
  • moderate precipitation
A

Deciduous Forest

72
Q
  • seasonal/cold temperature
  • seasonal precipitation
A

Boreal Forest (Taiga)

73
Q
  • warm temperatures
  • high precipitation
A

Tropical Rainforest

74
Q

Subcontinental land masses surrounded by water

A

Islands

75
Q

Islands have many species that
are ____

A

Endemic

76
Q

What is Endemic?

A

species that are not found anywhere else in the world

77
Q

Islands have many species that
are endemic because of evolution due to ____ ___

A

Founder effect

78
Q

What is the Founder effect?

A

occurs when a small group of migrants establish another community in a new area

79
Q

Islands are ____ ____ due to the number of endemic species present

A

biodiversity hotspots

80
Q

The theory that predicts that the species richness or biodiversity of an island depends on two factors

A

The Theory of Island Biogeography

81
Q

As island size increases,
species richness also
increases

A

Positive Correlation

81
Q

What are the two factors in the theory of island biogeography which the richness of species and biodiversity depends on?

A
  1. Island size increases
  2. Distance
82
Q

As it increases from the mainland, species richness decreases

A

Distance

82
Q

As it increases, species richness also increases

A

Island size increases

83
Q

As distance from the mainland
increases, species richness
decreases

A

Inverse Correlation

84
Q

Many small or distant islands lack __ ___ due to the
___ ___.

A
  • apex predators
  • limited food
85
Q

Increases risk of ____ from introduced species

A

Extinction

86
Q

Land converted for human development

A

Urban Ecosystem

87
Q

Urban development causes ___ _____ by dividing natural areas up into smaller pieces.

A

Habitat Fragmentation

88
Q

What is habitat fragmentation

A

dividing natural areas up into smaller pieces

89
Q

Large buildings ___ ___ ___, causing ____ and ____.

A
  • block wind flow
  • updrafts and downdrafts
90
Q

It causes cities to be warmer due to the absorptive properties of asphalt and pavement, and reduced air flow due to blocked winds.

A

Urban heat island effect

91
Q

Urban areas also have higher amounts of __, __, __, and ___ ____

A

air, water, noise, and light pollution

92
Q

___ ___ connect fragmented ecosystems, restoring __ ___

A
  • Land bridges
  • gene flow
93
Q

It is a classification of organisms based in their niche

A

Specialists and Generalists

94
Q

Generalists

A
  • Variety of food sources
  • Wide range of environmental conditions
  • Highly adaptable to many
    niches
  • Tend to be invasive
    species
  • Dominate edge habitats
    and urban areas
95
Q

Specialists

A
  • Specific food source
  • Narrow range of environmental conditions
  • Highly adapted to one
    niche
  • Tend to be endangered
    species
  • Dominate islands and
    interior habitat
96
Q

A process of change in the abiotic and biotic factors of an ecosystem over time

A

Succession

97
Q

It occurs when a new ecosystem is created – no prior life exists

A

Primary succession

98
Q

Example of Primary succession

A

Volcanic island

99
Q

What is required in the first stage of primary succession?

A

Requires rock to be weathered into soil

100
Q

First stage of primary succession

A
  • wind and water
  • acidic rainfall
  • growth of lichens and mosses
101
Q

What are the pioneer species?

A

Lichens and mosses

102
Q

Why are lichens and mosses the pioneer species?

A

because they are the first to appear in the new ecosystem

103
Q

The middle stages of primary succession are dominated by ____ ____ like grasses and wildflowers.

A

Intermediate species

104
Q

Examples of intermediate species

A

Grasses and Wildflowers

105
Q

What occurs in the middle stages of primary succession

A
  • Seeds carried in by wind and animals
  • Rapid growth, short lifespan niche generalists
106
Q

Late stages result in the formation of a ___ ____ that
is ___ ___ and will remain until a disruption occurs

A
  • climax community
  • higly stable
107
Q

In late stages, it is dominated by

A

niche specialists that are slow-growing but long-lived

108
Q

It occurs when an existing ecosystem undergoes a disruption – fire, flood, volcanic eruption, etc.

A

Secondary succession

109
Q

What are the possibe disruption in secondary succession?

A
  • Fire
  • Flood
  • Volcanic eruption
110
Q

Secondary succession occurs ___ than primary succession because __ is already present

A
  • faster
  • soil

Z BIO104 - GENERAL ECOLOGY (8 decks)

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