Unit 8: Ecology Flashcards
(124 cards)
Biotic
= living (organisms – behaviors & interactions between organisms)
Abiotic
nonliving (temp, water, salinity, sunlight, soil)
Climate
long-term prevailing weather conditions in a particular area, (temperature + precipitation + sunlight + wind)
Macroclimate
work at seasonal, regional or local level
Microclimate
small-scale environmental variation (eg. under
a log)
Climate change effect on species
some species may not survive
shifting ranges
Biomes
major types of ecosystems that occupy very broad geographic regions
What abiotic factors determine biomes?
climate, temperature, salinity, soil type, amount of sunlight, and amount of water that is available
Role of Abiotic factors in the formation of biomes
The create suitable or ill suitable conditions for various life forms to live in
- climate influences the distribution of plants - temperature & perception help to determine what type of biome it is
- pH & composition of rocks limits the distribution, helping certain dominate plants to thrive
How do biotic factors help biomes?
The primary producers and autotrophs (biotic factors) support the rest of the biome.
Population:
group of individuals of same species living in a particular geographic area
Community
group of populations of diff species in an area
Ecosystem
community of organisms + physical factors
Landscape
mosaic of connected ecosystems
biosphere
global ecosystem
Global climate patterns
Sunlight intensity, Air Circulation & Precipitation Patterns, Ocean Currents, Mountains affect rainfall
Climograph
plot of annual mean temperature & precipitation in a particular region
Tropical Rain Forest
A terrestrial biome characterized by relatively high precipitation & temperatures year-round.
Desert
A terrestrial biome characterized by very low precipitation
Savana
A tropical grassland biome w/ scattered individual trees, large herbivores & maintained by occasional fires/drought
Chaparral
Biome characterized by mild, rainy winters & long, hot, dry summers; dominated by dense, spiny evergreen shrubs
Temperate Grassland
A terrestrial biome that exists at midlatitude regions & is dominated by grasses & forbs.
Northern Coniferous Forest
A terrestrial biome characterized by long, cold winters and dominated by cone-bearing trees.
Temperate Broadleaf Forest
A biome located throughout midlatitude regions where there is sufficient moisture to support the growth of large, broadleaf deciduous trees