Quiz 8 Plant Communities

Question 1

Plant Community Characteristics

Answer 1

• a distinct assemblage of plant species that interact with each other and their physical environment
• naturally occurring
• provide many important habitats to animals and other plant species

Question 2

Influencing Factors of a Plant Community:

Biotic Factors

Answer 2

-humans, urbanization, use, history, other animals, other plants

Question 3

Influencing Factors of a Plant Community:

Abiotic Factors

Answer 3

-soil, and its physical/chemical composition, minerals

Question 4

Influencing Factors of a Plant Community:

Physiography

Answer 4

-topography = slope, terrain, elevation, canyons, ridges

Question 5

Influencing Factors of a Plant Community:

Climate

Answer 5

-temperature, water, fire, solar radiation

Question 6

Plant Dominance

Answer 6

• size
• abundance relative to other plants in the community
• its impact on the community
• more than one plant species may be dominant in a community
• several species may be co-dependent

Question 7

Plant Disturbance

Answer 7

fire, flood, plowing, grazing are examples of disturbances that may change a plant community

Question 8

Ecological Succesion

Answer 8

an initial plant community that will gradually change into another plant community over the course of many years

Question 9

Climax Community

Answer 9

a stable community that develops as long as there are no more major disturbances

Question 10

3 Levels of Biodiversity
#1

Answer 10

Genetic Diversity

populations of plants and animals

Question 11

3 Levels of Biodiversity
#2

Answer 11

Species Diversity

the # of different species in world

Question 12

3 Levels of Biodiversity
#3

Answer 12

Ecosystem Diversity

protect all ecosystems, entire landscapes

Question 13

Bottleneck Effect

Answer 13

an event causes a species to be pushed through a bottleneck and only a few that are adapted can survive (disease, environment change)

Question 14

of named species

Answer 14

~1.8 million

Question 15

Estimated # of species worldwide

Answer 15

~30 million

Question 16

most species in the world are:

Answer 16

insects

Question 17

Threats to Species Diversity

Answer 17

Habitat Loss
Habitat Alteration
Introduced Species
Overexplotation

Question 18

Habitat Loss

Answer 18

#1 cause due to agriculture, urban sprawl, forestry, mining
fragmentation: creating smaller habitats and popluations from a once larger one

Question 19

Habitat Alteration

Answer 19

global warming
pollution (DDT, Mercury)
-Biomagnification: higher in food chain the amt of toxins reaches highest (top predators highest, plankton in ocean lowest

Question 20

Introduced Species

Answer 20

non-native, exotic, alien species
intentional or accidental
Invasive Species when it: displaces native species, by preying on them, outcompeting natives for resources, it has no natural predators
(Bullfrog, African Clawed Frog)

Question 21

Overexplotation

Answer 21

-harvest wild organisms at rates where it exceeds their ability to rebound and replace themselves
-extra vulnerable species: ones on island habitats
and large animals w/ slow reproductive rates
(over fishing and illegal trade)

Question 22

Why Protect Biodiversity?

Answer 22

-intrinsic value
(biophilia: connection to nature)
-instrumental value:
(practical uses, economic, ecological: clean air/water, recreation, scientific knowledge/research)

Question 23

Biodiversity Hot Spots

Answer 23

• high degree of endemic species: only live in that only place on earth
• threatened by human activity
• major goal of conservationists is to establish and protect this place

Question 24

Salt Marshes

Answer 24

estuaries (tidal wetland w/freshwater flow)
Salt Grass and Pickleweed
(Halophites: can grow in salt water)

Question 25

Costal Strand and Bluffs

Answer 25

sand dunes, stabilized areas, receive salt spray

Question 26

Costal Sage Scrub

Answer 26

Costal Hills sea level to 2000ft, aromatic plants | Sagebrush, Chamise, Buckwheat, Redwood

Question 27

True Chaparral

Answer 27

interior foothills, mts, valleys below 6000ft drought tolerant Scrub Oak, Manzanita, Tyon, Laural Sumac, Red Shank Old Growth (has not been burned in over 50 years)

Question 28

Riparian

Answer 28

along flowing, shallow, freshwater | Scyamore, Maple, Willow trees

Question 29

Grasslands

Answer 29

Hot interior valleys, less than 20inches of rain, usually only grasses, wildflowers and after rain vernal pools

Question 30

Oak Woodland

Answer 30

3000-5000ft elevation, grassy and park-like, scattered trees and low shrubs Oaks, Buckeye

Question 31

Lower Montane Forrest

Answer 31

``` Coniferous forrests and meadows West side of Sierra Nevada Sequoia trees (fire adapted) Ponderosa pine White fur ```

Question 32

Upper Montane

Answer 32

Coniferous forrests, meadows | Lodgepole Pine

Question 33

Subalpine Forests

Answer 33

just below treeline btwn montane and alpine zone exposed granite rock, spotted with dry dead trees some are subject to flagging: stripped on one side krummholtz: twisted tree growth Bristlecone Pine

Question 34

Alpine

Answer 34

above the timberline, small rounded plants, strong winds, large wildflowers (non aromatic to preserve water but still attract pollenators)

Question 35

Sagebrush Scrub

Answer 35

Eastern slopes of mountains | Basin Sagebrush, Big Sagebrush (aromatic)

Question 36

Joshua Tree Woodland

Answer 36

Mojave "High" Desert 2000-6000ft Joshua Trees, Teddy Bear Cholla Yucca Moth (symbiotic mutual relationship w/ Joshua tree) Joshua tree tips can frost over then branch and flower and seeds must germinate under shade or else it will dry up

Question 37

Cretosote Brush Scrub

Answer 37

``` Colorado Desert (Low Desert) Creosote Bush, Ocotillo, Teddybear Cholla ```

Question 38

Desert Washes

Answer 38

watercourses in desert after rains | Palo Verdes, Smoke Trees

Question 39

Oases/Oasis

Answer 39

Permanent source of water may be underground | Fan Palms dominate

Question 40

True Chaparral | Obligate Resprouters

Answer 40

pyrophytes Toyon and Scrub Oak can be burned to the roots but can resprout

Question 41

True Chaparral | Obligate Seeders

Answer 41

pyrophytes Ceanothus and Fire Poppies can be completely destroyed but seeds survive fire

Question 42

Great Basin Desert

Answer 42

East of Sierra Nevada and North of the Mojave Highest Desert (3000-6500ft) Sagebrush Scrub Plant Community

Question 43

Virga

Answer 43

when it rains in the desert but the rain evaporates before reaching the ground