Lecture 13 - Week 8 - Environments & Life Flashcards
(38 cards)
What the study of “ecology” is the study of factors that govern what?
The study of factors that govern the distribution and abundance of organisms.
What is a “niche” species?
A species that inhabits a specific niche in an ecosystem.
What differentiates an animals niche within a single ecosystem?
What they eat (food resources), where they live, whether diurnal/nocturnal, etc.
What is a “population”?
A group of individuals belonging to a single species.
What is a “community”?
Several populations coexisting in one environment.
Flora and fauna interact (like pac man) within a…
Food chain
An interaction of food chains is linked together into…
A food web
What defines the environment an animal can live within?
The climate, including temperature and moisture levels.
Most habitats are either…
Terrestrial or aquatic
How does the atmosphere contribute to ability to live on Earth?
Protection from meteors, UV light, and the vacuum of space. It regulates temperature, and acts as a reservoir for chemicals of life.
What would the average temperature of Earth be without the atmosphere?
-18
Why do we get seasonal temperature variation?
Because of the tilt of the Earth. (Depending on which hemisphere is closer to the Sun and recieves more heat/light.)
What is the Coriolis effect?
The effect caused by the Earth rotating on its axis. Air circulates right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere.
What is a rainshadow?
An area of low precipitation in the shadow of the mountain.
What cause tropical rain forest conditions?
Moist and warm conditions around the equator.
What are savannahs/grasslands? Noted for what characteristics in their inhabitants?
Areas between the equator and deserts where not enough rain falls to sustain forests. Large grassland animals.
What is the characteristics of deserts?
Less than 25 cm of rain, low biodiversity, and most animals are nocturnal.
What are the characteristics of temperate regions?
Further north, slightly cooler summers. Deciduous trees are abundant. Diverse animal life.
How would you describe Mediterranean climates?
Coastlines around 40 latitude. Dry summers and wet winters. Eg. California, Australia, Meditteranean.
Monsoon climates?
Cool, dense air pushes seasward
Boreal forests
Dominated by conifer trees (evergreens), and few deciduous trees. Roughly 8 different varieties of boreal forest.
How would you describe tundra?
A subarctic ecosystem adjacent to Polar environment. Soil remains frozen throughout the year (permafrost). Water is never abundant. Low diversity.
What are the characteristics of Polar environments?
Fucking cold.
What is the North Atlantic Gyre
