Lecture 30: Ecology I

Question 1

What does ecology translate to?

Answer 1

home study

Question 2

What is ecology?

Answer 2

It is the study or interactions between organisms and their environment

Question 3

What are the levels of organization in ecology?

Answer 3

1. organism
2. population
3. community
4. ecosystem
5. landscape
6. biosphere

Question 4

What is an organism?

Answer 4

An individual living system

Question 5

What is a population?

Answer 5

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area

Question 6

What is a community?

Answer 6

Populations of different species living in the same area

Question 7

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 7

A community of organisms and physical factors in the area

Question 8

What is a landscape?

Answer 8

A mosaic of connected ecosystems

Question 9

What is a biosphere?

Answer 9

All ecosystems and landscapes on the planet

Question 10

What is biotic?

Answer 10

Living components

Question 11

What is abiotic?

Answer 11

Non-living components

Question 12

What is climate?

Answer 12

Long term prevailing weather conditions in an area

Question 13

What is climate considered?

Answer 13

Abiotic

Question 14

What is weather?

Answer 14

Short term atmospheric conditions

Question 15

What is climate?

Answer 15

An average atmospheric conditions over time

Question 16

What is pressure?

Answer 16

Pressure exerted by weight of air molecules

Question 17

What happens due to air pressure?

Answer 17

The sun warms the land and the hot air expands. Additionally, air accumulates high in the atmosphere and there is high pressure above the land. Also, the oceans cool and the cold air condenses and sinks. In addition, the air molecules lose form high atmosphere and there is low pressure above the ocean.

Question 18

What are some factors that are a part of climate?

Answer 18

1. weather
2. climate
3. air pressure
4. wind
5. zonal precipitation patterns

Question 19

What is wind?

Answer 19

Horizontal movement of air. Air flows from area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.

Question 20

What are zonal precipitation values?

Answer 20

1. 0 degrees lat.= very wet
2. 30 degrees lat.=dry
3. 60 degrees lat.=wet
4. 90 degrees lat(poles)=very dry

Question 21

What are biomes?

Answer 21

major life zones

Question 22

What are some features of tropical rainforests?

Answer 22

1. equatorial, subequatorial
2. high temp
3. high precipitation

Question 23

What are some features of savanna’s?

Answer 23

1. equatorial, subequatorial
2. grassland
3. warm temp
4. moderate precipitation

Question 24

What are some features of deserts?

Answer 24

1. 30 degree lat
2. high temp
3. low precipitation

Question 25

What are some features of chaparral?

Answer 25

1. ~30 degree lat
2. shrubland
3. warm temp
4. moderate precipitation

Question 26

What are some features of temperate broadleaf forest?

Answer 26

1. ~30-60 degree lat
2. temperate deciduous forest
3. warm temperature
4. high precipitation

Question 27

What are some features of temperate grasslands?

Answer 27

1. ~60 degree lat
2. cold temp
3. moderate precipitation

Question 28

What are some features of coniferous forest?

Answer 28

1. ~60 degree lat
2. taiga
3. cold temp
4. high precipitation

Question 29

What are some features of tundra’s?

Answer 29

1. ~80 degree lat
2. permafrost
3. cold temp
4. low precipitation

Question 30

What is permafrost?

Answer 30

Where it is permanently frozen underground and for hundreds meters deep

Question 31

What are some features of steppe/velds?

Answer 31

1. ~60 degree lat
2. grasslands
3. cold temps
4. low precipitation

Question 32

What are some conclusions made about biomes?

Answer 32

1. environment determines distribution of plant species in the biosphere
2. distribution of plant species determines the community structure of the animals