Unit B Flashcards
What is an ecotone?
the transition area between 2 different ecosystems
what types of biomes tend to have the highest biodiversity?
rainforests have the highest biodiversity.
what is an ecological niche?
an organisms role in the ecosystem
what is the biological advantage of having niches that are different than other organisms in your ecosystems?
it decreases competition.
what is an exotic or invasive species?
species moved into an area by humans
what are the 4 zones of a terrestrial ecosystem?
canopy, sub-canopy, forest floor, soil.
what are the 2 zones of the ocean?
photic zone and aphotic zone
what are the 4 zones of a lake or pond?
littoral zone, limnetic zone, profundal and benthic
what are abiotic factors that affect organisms living in terrestrial ecosystems? how do they affect organisms living there?
water, temp and sunlight. water affects the organisms by being determined by the rain. temp affects the organisms because the organisms need to be adapted to the temp ( it can change when seasons change ) sunlight affects the organisms because some organisms need more and some need less.
what are the 4 major layers of soil?
litter, topsoil, subsoil, bedrock.
what happens to a lake or pond during each season? why does this occur?
winter- ice, epilimnion (0 C), thermocline, hypolimnion (4 C).
spring - turnover (water warms and sinks)
summer - epilimnion (warm), thermocline< hypolimnion (4 C)
Fall - Turnover (water cools and sinks)
what is a seasonal variation in a lake or pond?
as water cools it becomes denser until it hits 4c, then it becomes less dense.
