Lecture 3: Ecosystems on Land

Question 1

is the part of the Earth that supports life

Answer 1

Biosphere

Question 2

Spread around the biosphere are ___.

Answer 2

Biomes

Question 3

land-based ecosystems with unique biotic and abiotic factors.

Answer 3

Biomes

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Abiotic Factors

Question 5

The two most significant abiotic factors in biomes are _______ and _______.

Answer 5

Temperature and Precipitation

Question 6

The Temperature and Precipitation are influenced by:

Answer 6

Latitude, altitude, prevailing winds, nearby mountains

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Latitude

Question 8

As latitude ______, temperature and primary productivity tend to _____ __ __ __ _____ ___ ___.

Answer 8

• Increase
• decrease due to the changing sun angle

Question 9

is the elevation above sea level.

Answer 9

Altitude

Question 10

As altitude _____, average temperature and primary productivity ______.

Answer 10

increases, decrease

Question 11

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

Answer 11

ocean conveyor

Question 12

Biomes located near bodies of water have ____ precipitation______.

Answer 12

greater, levels

Question 13

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

Answer 13

El-Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle

Question 14

ENSO cycle: Normal Year

Answer 14

The warmest waters gather in the western Pacific, fueling rainfall throughout southeast Asia.

Question 15

ENSO cycle: during an El Niño year

Answer 15

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

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Rainshadow Effect

Question 17

Faces winds, receives more precipitation.

Answer 17

Windward slope

Question 18

Reduced precipitation. Opposite of Windward slop

Answer 18

Leeward slope

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Climatographs

Question 20

What does climatographs show?

Answer 20

Precipiation and Temperature

Question 21

-Low precipitation, high temperatures.
- Lowest net primary productivity of all
ecosystems

Answer 21

Deserts

Question 22

Types of deserts

Answer 22

• Subtropical deserts
• Rainshadow deserts
• Coastal desserst
• Temperate deserts
• Polar deserts

Question 23

-form between the tropics and temperate latitudes.
- Convection cells deliver dry air
down from the atmosphere at
30°N and 30°S.

Answer 23

Subtropical deserts

Question 24

deserts that are found on the leeward side of mountain ranges

Answer 24

Rainshadow deserts

Question 25

desert that are the result of wind currents that run parallel a coastline.

Answer 25

coastal deserts

Question 26

deserts that have seasonal temperature variations.

Answer 26

Temperate deserts

Question 27

deserts that are consistently cold and dry.

Answer 27

Polar deserts

Question 28

Adaptations of deserts organism:

Answer 28

○ 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

Question 29

Moderate or seasonal precipitation. Warm or seasonal temperatures. Moderate net primary productivity.

Answer 29

Grasslands

Question 30

Types of grasslands

Answer 30

- Savannas or tropical grasslands - Prairies or temperate grasslands - Tundras or polar grasslands

Question 31

are located near the equator between tropical forests and subtropical deserts ○ Temperature: Consistent ○ Precipitation: Seasonal

Answer 31

Savannas or tropical grasslands

Question 32

are found in midlatitudes. ○ Temperature: Seasonal ○ Precipitation: Moderate

Answer 32

Prairies or temperate grasslands

Question 33

short growing seasons and permanently frozen soil called permafrost. ○ Temperature: Consistently cold ○ Precipitation: Moderate

Answer 33

Tundras or polar grasslands

Question 34

permanently frozen soil

Answer 34

Permafrost

Question 35

Adaptations of grassland plants

Answer 35

◍Prairie plants have deep and complex root structures that allow them to recover from drought, wildfire, cold winters, and grazing animals. ◍Tundra plants are lowlying due to permafrost and mature rapidly in the short growing season

Question 36

- Consistent moderate-to-high precipitation that supports tree growth. -Warm or seasonal temperatures. -High net primary productivity across multiple layers.

Answer 36

Forests

Question 37

Layers of forest (from top to bottom)

Answer 37

- Emergent layer - Canopy - Understory - Forest floor

Question 38

- is the uppermost layer in a forest - Receives the most direct sunlight. Few plants reach this high.

Answer 38

Emergent layer

Question 39

- 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.

Answer 39

Canopy

Question 40

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

Answer 40

Understory

Question 41

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

Answer 41

Forest Floor

Question 42

- Wide, flat leaves that maximize sun absorption. - Prone to moisture loss via transpiration. - Shed in winters or prolonged dry seasons.

Answer 42

Broadleaf trees

Question 43

- Narrow, wax-coated leaves. - Absorb less sunlight but transpire less water. - Not shed during cold or dry seasons

Answer 43

Coniferous Trees

Question 44

Types of forest

Answer 44

- Tropical rainforests - Temperate rainforests - Deciduos forests - Boreal forest (also called taiga) - Mediterrannean forests (also called chaparral)

Question 45

- receive high rainfall and are consistently warm. ○ Broadleaf trees only. ○ Highest net primary productivity of all land-based ecosystems.

Answer 45

Tropical Rainforests

Question 46

- also receive high rainfall but have seasonal temperature changes. ○ Broadleaf or coniferous trees.

Answer 46

Temperate rainforests

Question 47

- have moderate precipitation and significant seasonal temperature changes. ○ Mostly broadleaf trees that shed their leaves each winter.

Answer 47

Deciduos forests

Question 48

are the coldest and driest of all the forest biomes. ○ Coniferous trees only. - Also called taiga

Answer 48

Boreal forests

Question 49

have highly seasonal rainfall that mostly falls during the winter months. ○ Small coniferous trees and shrubs. - Also called chaparral

Answer 49

Mediterrannean forests

Question 50

Subcontinental land masses surrounded by water.

Answer 50

Islands

Question 51

Islands have many species that are ____, or not found anywhere else in the world. Evolved due to the ________ effect

Answer 51

-Endemic -Founder effect

Question 52

the reduced genetic diversity which results when a population is descended from a small number of colonizing ancestors.

Answer 52

-Founder effect

Question 53

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

Answer 53

-Biodiversity hotspots

Question 54

predicts that the species richness or biodiversity of an island depends on two factors: Island size and Distance from mainland

Answer 54

-Theory of island biogeography

Question 55

What are the two factors that depends on theory of biogeography?

Answer 55

-Island size -Distance from mainland.

Question 56

As island size ____, species richness also _____ (____ ___).

Answer 56

-Increase, increase (positive correlation)

Question 57

As distance from the mainland ____, species richness ____. (___ ___ )

Answer 57

-Increase, decrease (Inverse correlation)

Question 58

Land converted for human development

Answer 58

-Urban ecosystems

Question 59

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

Answer 59

- Habitat fragmentation

Question 60

- Cause when an individual building redirects the wind head on spreading in all direction. - Large Buildings block wind flow, causing updrafts and downdrafts

Answer 60

- The Downdraught Effect

Question 61

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

Answer 61

- The urban heat island effect

Question 62

connect fragmented ecosystems, restoring gene flow

Answer 62

- Land bridges

Question 63

Classifying organisms based on their niche

Answer 63

- Specialist and Generalists

Question 64

Properties of Generalists

Answer 64

◍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

Question 65

Properties of Specialists

Answer 65

◍Specific food source. ◍Narrow range of environmental conditions. ◍Highly adapted to one niche. ◍Tend to be endangered species. ◍Dominate islands and interior habitats.

Question 66

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

Answer 66

- Succession

Question 67

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

Answer 67

- Primary succession

Question 68

Example of primary succession

Answer 68

- Volcanic Island

Question 69

The first stage of primary succession requires rock to be ___ __ __.

Answer 69

- weathered into soil.

Question 70

Pioneer species of primary succession are __, __ because they are first to appear in the new ecosystem.

Answer 70

- Lichens and Mosses

Question 71

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

Answer 71

- Intermediate species

Question 72

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

Answer 72

- Climax community

Question 73

Dominated by niche specialists that are slow-growing but long-lived.

Answer 73

- Late stages

Question 74

Primary succession process

Answer 74

- First Stage (weathering of soil, mosses, and lichens) - Intermediate stage (grass and wildflowers - Late stages (formation of climax community)

Question 75

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

Answer 75

- Secondary succession

Question 76

Occurs faster than primary succession because soil is already present.

Answer 76

- Secondary succession

Question 77

Secondary succession process

Answer 77

- Disruption to existing ecosystem – Soil is intact - Rapid transition to intermediate species – Climax community takes decades.