bio ch. 54

what is the animal life of the tropical grassland (savanna)?

The world's greatest assemblages of large mammals occur in the savanna biome. Herds of antelope, zebra, and wildebeest are found, together with their associated predators: cheetah, lion, leopard, and hyena. Termite mounds dot the landscape in some areas. The extensive herbivory of large grazers, together with frequent fires, may help maintain savannas and prevent their development into forests

what needs a recurring input of energy from an external source (in most cases the sun) to sustain itself?

an ecosystem

what studies how populations of species interact and form functional communities?

community ecology

many food chains interconnect to form ______ ______ _______

complex food webs

the relative location of the landmasses on earth have changed enormously over time as a result of what?

continental drift

what explains the occurrences of similar living plant and animal species, and fossils, in South America, Africa, India, Antarctica, and Australia?

continental drift

what has led to the emergence of similar species that have evolved from different ancestors?

convergent evolution

what are the ultimate high temperatures that many terrestrial organisms face the result of?

fire

how many species of living tapir are there currently?

four

what is the single most important factor limiting the geographic distribution of tropical and subtropical plants?

frost (low temperatures)

what is atmospheric circulation driven by?

global temperature differentials

what would happen if the earth went without some type of greenhouse effect?

global temperatures would be much lower than they are and life would not exist on earth.

what are human activities that are increasing the greenhouse effect causing in the world?

global warming

where do the Sun's rays hit the Earth obliquely and are spread out over more of the planet's surface than they are in equatorial areas?

in higher latitudes

on mountains, what cause decreases in temperatures?

increasing elevation

what percentage of Cytoplasm is water?

85-90% (so, without moisture, there can be no life)

what is the location of the tropical grassland (savanna)?

Extensive savannas occur in Africa, South America, and northern Australia.

what is the study of the ways in which individual organisms meet the challenges of the abiotic and biotic environments?

organismal ecology

what is the best explanation is that different floras and faunas?

the independent evolution of separate, unconnected populations. (which have generated different species in different places)

most greenhouse gases have increased in atmospheric concentration since when?

the industrial revolution in the late 18th century

The equatorial flow from both hemispheres meets near the equator in a region called ?

the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

what are biomes?

the major types of habitats characterized by distinctive plant and animal life.

why would one perform an experiment several times (replication)?

to reduce the possibility that the results are due to a variable that was not measured or controlled in the study

what is the primary goal of population ecology?

to understand the factors that effect a populations growth and determine its size and density

where do the suns rays spread over a larger area and take a longer path through the atmosphere?

toward the poles

what is each level in a food chain called?

trophic level

why is wind one of the physical features of the environment that limit the distribution pattern and abundance of a species?

wind amplifies effects of cool temperatures (wind chill) and water loss; it creates pounding waves.

what does it mean that community ecology also studies succession?

it means that it also considers how species composition and community structure change over time, and in particular, after a disturbance.

what does it mean that more species make a community more stable?

it means that more species in a community make the community more resistant to disturbances (such as introduced species)

what does the elevation of a region greatly influence?

its temperature range

what are made to develop a hypothesis?

observations

together with the rotation of the earth, what do winds also create?

ocean currents

what is the prevailing weather pattern in a given region called?

climate

what are the components of climate?

1. temperature. 2. wind. 3. precipitation. 4. light

what are disjunct distributions?

widely separate populations of closely related species

for all info on the six aquatic biomes, go to page 1157

(or chapter. 54)

what are the physical features of the environment that limit the distribution pattern and abundance of a species?

1. temperature. 2. wind. 3. availability of water. 4. availability of light. 5. salinity. 6. pH

what are the names of the six major biogeographic regions Wallace divided the worlds biota into?

1. Nearctic. 2. palearctic. 3. neotropical. 4. ethiopian. 5. oriential. 6. austrailian.

what are the two physical factors that classify terrestrial biomes?

1. average annual precipitation. 2. average temperature.

why is temperature perhaps the most important factor in the distribution of organisms?

1. because of its effect on biological processes. 2. because most organisms are unable to regulate their body temperature precisely (so they are impacted by the environmental temperature)

what are the three marine aquatic biomes?

1. intertidal zone 2. coral reef 3. open ocean

in what ways does water perform crucial functions in all living organisms?

1. it acts as a solvent for chemical reactions. 2. takes part in hydrolysis and dehydration reactions. 3. is the means by which animals eliminate wastes. 4. is used for support in plants and in some invertebrates as part of a hydrostatic skeleton.

what are the variety of ways that wind affects living organisms?

1. it increases the rate of heat loss by convection, the transfer of heat by the movement of air next to the body (the wind chill factor). 2. Wind also contributes to water loss in organisms by increasing the rate of evaporation in animals and transpiration in plants. 3. Winds can also intensify oceanic wave action, with resulting effects for aquatic organisms.

what are the three freshwater habitat biomes?

1. lakes 2. rivers 3. wetlands

what are freshwater habitats traditionally divided into?

1. lentic- standing-water habitats. (calm) 2. lotic- running-water habitats. (washed)

what is the five-stage process of hypothesis testing?

1. observations. 2. hypothesis formation. 3. experimentation. 4. data analysis. 5. acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis.

what are the two sub-disciplines of organismal ecology?

1. physiological ecology. 2. behavioral ecology.

what are the factors that distinguish the six aquatic biomes?

1. salinity 2. oxygen content 3. depth 4. current strength 5. availability of light

what are the gases that cause the greenhouse effect?

1. water vapor. 2. carbon dioxide. 3. methane. 4. nitrous oxide, 5. chlorofluorocarbons (this group of atmospheric gases together make up less than 1% of the total volume of the atmosphere)

what is the plant life of the mountain ranges?

A variety of biomes can be found on a single mountain range. Biome type may change from temperate forest through taiga and into tundra on an elevation gradient in the Rocky Mountains, and even from tropical forest to tundra on the highest peaks of the Andes in tropical South America. In tropical regions, daylight averages 12 hours per day throughout the year. Instead of a period of intense productivity seen in arctic tundra, vegetation in the tropical alpine tundra exhibits slow but steady rates of photosynthesis and growth all year.

what are the effects of humans on the cold desert?

Agriculture is hampered because of low temperatures and low rainfall, and human populations are not extensive. If the top layer of soil is disturbed by human intrusions, such as by off-road vehicles, erosion occurs rapidly and even less vegetation can exist.

what are the effects of humans on the hot desert ?

Ambitious irrigation schemes and the prolific use of underground water have allowed humans to develop deserts and grow crops there. Salinization, a buildup in the salt content of the soil that results from irrigation in areas of low rainfall, is prevalent. Off-road vehicles can disturb the fragile desert communities.

what is animal life like in the tropical rain forest?

Animal life in the tropical rain forests is diverse; insects, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals are well represented. Large mammals, however, are not common. Because many of the plant species are widely scattered in tropical forests, plants do not typically rely on wind for pollination or to disperse their seed. Instead, animals are important in pollinating flowers and dispersing fruits and seeds. Mimicry and bright protective coloration, warning of bad taste or the existence of toxins, are common

what is the animal life of temperate deciduous forest?

Animals are adapted to the vagaries of the climate; many mammals hibernate during the cold months, birds migrate, and insects enter diapause, a condition of dormancy passed usually as a pupa. Reptiles, which depend on solar radiation for heat, are relatively uncommon. Mammals include squirrels, wolves, bobcats, foxes, bears, and mountain lions.

what is the animal life of the tundra?

Animals of the arctic tundra have adapted to the cold by having good insulation. Many birds, especially shorebirds and waterfowl, migrate. The fauna is much richer in summer than in winter. Many insects spend the winter at immature stages of growth, which are more resistant to cold than the adult forms. Larger animals include such herbivores as musk oxen and caribou in North America, called reindeer in Europe and Asia. Smaller animals include hares and lemmings. Common predators include arctic fox, wolves, and snowy owls, and polar bears near the coast.

what is the physical environment of the temperate grassland (prairie)?

Annual rainfall is generally between 25 and 100 cm, too low to support a forest but higher than that in deserts. Temperatures in the winter sometimes fall below -10°C, whereas summers may be very hot, approaching 30°C.

what is the physical environment of temperate deciduous forest?

Annual rainfall is generally between 75 and 200 cm. Temperatures fall below freezing each winter but not usually below -12°C.

what is the animal life of the cold desert?

As in hot deserts, large numbers of plants produce small seeds on which numerous ants, birds, and rodents feed. Many species live in burrows to escape the cold. In the Great Basin Desert, pocket mice, jackrabbits, kit foxes, and coyotes are common.

what is plant life like for tropical deciduous forests?

Because of the biome's distinct dry season, many of the trees in tropical deciduous forests shed their leaves, just as they do in temperate forests, and an understory of herbs and grasses may grow during this time. Where the dry season is 6-7 months long, tropical deciduous forests may contain shorter, thorny plants such as acacia trees, whose thorns deter moisture-seeking animals, and the forest is then referred to as a tropical thorn forest.

what is the location of the cold desert?

Cold deserts are found in dry regions at middle to high latitudes, especially in the interiors of continents and in the rain shadows of mountains. Cold deserts are found in North America (the Great Basin Desert), in eastern Argentina (the Patagonian Desert), and in central Asia (the Gobi Desert).

what is the plant life of the cold desert?

Cold deserts are relatively poor in terms of numbers of plant species. Most plants are small in stature, being only between 15 and 120 cm tall. Many species are deciduous and spiny. The Great Basin Desert in Nevada, Utah, and bordering states is a cold desert dominated by sagebrush.

what is the plant life of the temperate grassland (prairie)?

From east to west in North America and from north to south in Asia, grasslands show differentiation along moisture gradients. In Illinois, with an annual rainfall of 80 cm, tall prairie grasses such as big bluestem and switchgrass grow to about 2 m high. Along the eastern base of the Rockies, 1,300 km to the west, where rainfall is only 40 cm, prairie grasses such as buffalo grass and blue grama rarely exceed 0.5 m in height. Similar gradients occur in South Africa and Argentina.

what is the location of the hot desert?

Hot deserts are found around latitudes of 20-30° north and south. Prominent deserts include the Sahara of North Africa, the Kalahari and Namib of southern Africa, the Atacama of Chile, the Sonoran of northern Mexico and the southwest U.S., and the Simpson of Australia.

what are the effects of humans in tropical rain forests?

Humans are affecting tropical forests greatly by logging and by clearing the land for agriculture. Many South American tropical forests are cleared to create grasslands for cattle.

what are the effects of humans on the temperate coniferous forest (Taiga)?

Humans have not extensively settled these areas, but they have been quite heavily logged. Exploration and development of oil and natural gas reserves are also a threat.

what is the animal life of the temperate rain forest?

In North America, the temperate rain forest is rich in species such as mule deer, elk, squirrels, and numerous birds such as jays and nuthatches. Because of the abundant moisture and moderate temperatures, reptiles and amphibians are also common.

what is the location of temperate deciduous forest?

Large tracts of temperate deciduous forest are evident in the eastern U.S., Western Europe, and eastern Asia. In the Southern Hemisphere, eucalyptus forests occur in Australia, and stands of southern beech are found in southern South America, New Zealand, and Australia.

what are the effects of humans on the mountain ranges?

Logging and agriculture at lower elevations can cause habitat degradation. Because of the steep slopes, mountain soils are often well drained, thin, and especially susceptible to erosion following agriculture.

what are the effects of humans on the temperate deciduous forest?

Logging has eliminated much of the temperate deciduous forest from populated portions of Europe and North America. Because the annual leaf drop promotes high soil nutrient levels, soils are rich and easily converted to agriculture. Much of the human population lives in the regions where temperate deciduous forest is found, and both agriculture and development are threats to the biome.

what is the plant life of temperate coniferous forest (Taiga)?

Most of the trees are evergreens or conifers with tough needles, hence the similarity of taiga to temperate rain forest. In this biome, spruces, firs, and pines generally dominate, and the number of tree species is relatively low. Many of the conifers have conical shapes to reduce bough breakage from heavy loads of snow. As in tropical forests, the understory is sparse because the dense year-round canopies prevent sunlight from penetrating. Soils are poor because the fallen needles decay so slowly in the cold temperatures that a layer of needles builds up and acidifies the soil, reducing the numbers of understory species.

what is the location of the mountain ranges?

Mountain ranges exist in many areas of the world, but among the largest are the Himalayas in Asia, the Rockies in North America, and the Andes in South America.

what is the physical environment of the mountain ranges?

Mountain ranges must be viewed differently from other biomes. On mountains, temperature decreases with increasing elevation through adiabatic cooling, as discussed previously. Thus, precipitation and temperature may change dramatically, depending on elevation and whether the mountainside is to windward or leeward.

what are the effects of humans on the temperate grassland (prairie)?

Prairie soil is among the richest in the world, having 12 times the humus layer of a typical forest soil. Worldwide, most prairies have been converted to agriculture, and original temperate grassland habitats are among the rarest biomes in the world

what is the physical environment of temperate coniferous forest (Taiga)?

Precipitation is generally between 30 and 100 cm and often occurs in the form of snow. Temperatures are very cold, often below freezing for long periods of time.

what is the physical environment of the tundra?

Precipitation is generally less than 25 cm per year and is often locked up as snow and unavailable for plants. Deeper water can be locked away for a large part of the year in permafrost, a layer of permanently frozen soil. The growing season is short, only 50-60 days. Summer temperatures are only 3-12°C, and even during the long summer days, the ground thaws to less than 1 m in depth. Midwinter temperatures average -32°C.

what is the physical environment of the cold desert?

Precipitation is less than 25 cm a year and is often in the form of snow. Rainfall usually comes in the spring. In the daytime, temperatures can be high in the summer, 21-26°C, but average around freezing, -2 to 4°C, in the winter

what is the physical environment of the temperate rain forest?

Rainfall is abundant, usually exceeding 200 cm a year. The condensation of water from dense coastal fogs augments the normal rainfall. Temperatures seldom drop below freezing in the winter, and summer temperatures rarely exceed 27°C.

what is the physical environment of the hot desert?

Rainfall is generally less than 30 cm per year. Temperatures are variable, from below freezing at night to as high as 50°C in the day

what is the physical environment of a tropical deciduous forest? (what are rainfall levels like? what is temp like? how are soil levels?)

Rainfall is substantial, at around 130-280 cm a year, and temperatures are hot year round, averaging 25-39°C. This biome experiences a distinct dry season that often lasts 2-3 months or longer. Soil water shortages can occur in the dry season.

what is animal life of temperate coniferous forest (Taiga)?

Reptiles and amphibians are rare because of the low temperatures. Insects are strongly periodic but may often reach outbreak proportions in times of warm temperatures. Mammals that inhabit this biome, such as bears, lynxes, moose, beavers, and squirrels, are heavily furred

who classified biomes according to the physical factors of average annual precipitation and temperature?

Robert Whittaker

what are the effects of humans on the tropical grassland (savanna)?

Savanna soils are often poor because the occasional rain leaches nutrients. Nevertheless, conversion of this biome to agricultural land is rampant, especially in Africa. Overstocking of land for pasturage of domestic animals can greatly reduce grass coverage through overgrazing, turning the area desert-like. This process is known as desertification

how does the greenhouse effect work?

Solar energy in the form of short-wave radiation passes through the atmosphere to heat the surface of the Earth. At night, this energy is radiated from the Earth's warmed surface back into the atmosphere, but in the form of long-wave infrared radiation. Instead of letting it escape back into space, however, atmospheric gases absorb much of this infrared energy and radiate it back to the Earth's surface, causing the surface temperature to rise further

what is the plant life of temperate deciduous forest?

Species diversity is much lower in temperate deciduous forests than in the tropical forests, with about only three to four tree species per square kilometer, and several tree genera may be dominant in a given locality—for example, oaks, hickories, and maples are usually dominant in the eastern U.S. Commonly, leaves are shed in the fall and reappear in the spring. Many herbaceous plants flower in spring before the trees leaf out and block the light. Even in the summer, though, the forest is not as dense as in tropical forests, so ground cover is abundant.

what is the location of the temperate grassland (prairie)?

Temperate grasslands include the prairies of North America, the steppes of Russia, the pampas of Argentina, and the veldt of South Africa. In addition to the limiting amounts of rain, fire and grazing animals may also prevent the establishment of trees in the temperate grasslands. Where temperatures rarely fall below freezing and most of the rain falls in the winter, chaparral, a fire-adapted community featuring shrubs and small trees, occurs. Chaparral is seen at around 30° latitude, where cool ocean waters moderate the climate, as along the coasts of California, South Africa, Chile, and southwest Australia and in countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Some ecologists recognize chaparral as a distinct biome type.

what is the animal life of the mountain ranges?

The animals of this biome are as varied as the number of habitats they contain. Generally, more species of plants and animals are found at lower elevations than at higher ones. At higher elevations, animals such as bighorn sheep and mountain goats climb the craggy slopes and have skidproof pads on their hooves. Birds of prey, such as eagles, are frequent predators of the furry rodents found at higher elevations, including guinea pigs and marmots.

what is the location of the temperate rain forest?

The area of this biome type is small, consisting of a thin strip along the northwest coast of North America from northern California through Washington State, British Columbia, and into southeastern Alaska (where it is called tongass). It also exists in southwestern South America along the Chilean coast. It is found only in coastal locales because of the moderating influence of the ocean on air temperature.

what is the location of temperate coniferous forest (Taiga)?

The biome of temperate coniferous forest, known commonly by its Russian name, taiga, lies north of the temperate-zone forests and grasslands. Vast tracts of taiga exist in North America and Russia. In the Southern Hemisphere, little land area occurs at latitudes at which extensive taiga could exist.

what is animal life like in tropical deciduous forests?

The diversity of animal life is high, and species such as monkeys, antelopes, wild pigs, and tigers are present. However, as with plant diversity, animal diversity is less than that of tropical rain forests. Tropical thorn forests may contain more browsing mammals; hence, the evolution of plant thorns as a defense

what is the plant life of the temperate rain forest?

The dominant vegetation type, especially in North America, consists of large evergreen trees such as western hemlock, Douglas fir, and Sitka spruce. The high moisture content allows epiphytes to thrive. Cool temperatures slow the activity of decomposers, so the litter layer is thick and spongy.

what is plant life like in tropical rain forests?

The numbers of plant species found in tropical forests can be staggering, often reaching as many as 100 tree species per square kilometer. Leaves often narrow to "drip-tips" at the apex so that rainwater drains quickly. Many trees have large buttresses that help support their shallow root systems. Little light penetrates the canopy, the uppermost layer of tree foliage, and the ground cover is often sparse. Vines and epiphytes, plants that live perched on trees and are not rooted in the ground, are common.

what are the effects of humans on tropical deciduous forests?

The soil of tropical deciduous forests is more fertile than that of tropical rain forests. Land is increasingly being logged and cleared for agriculture and a growing human population.

where are coral reefs located?

between the two 20C isotherm lines that are formed above and below the equator

what is the location like for tropical deciduous forest?

This biome exists in equatorial regions where rainfall is more seasonal than in tropical rain forests. Much of India consists of tropical deciduous forest, containing teak trees. Brazil, Thailand, and Mexico also contain tropical deciduous forest. At the wet edges of this biome, it may grade into tropical rain forests; at the dry edges, it may grade into tropical grasslands or savannas

what is the physical environment of the tropical grassland (savanna)?

This biome includes hot, tropical areas, with a low or seasonal rainfall between 50 and 130 cm per year. There is often an extensive dry season. Temperatures average 24-29°C

what are the effects of humans on the temperate rain forest?

This biome is a prolific producer of wood and supplies much timber; logging threatens the survival of the forest in some areas.

what is the location of a tropical rain forest like? (where is this biome found? what regions do tropical rain forest cover?)

This biome is found in equatorial regions. Tropical forests cover much of northern South America, Central America, western and central Africa, Southeast Asia, and various islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

what are the effects of humans on the tundra?

Though this area is sparsely populated, mineral extraction, especially of oil, has the potential to significantly affect this biome. Ecosystem recovery from such damage would be very slow.

what is the plant life of the hot desert?

Three forms of plant life are adapted to deserts: annuals, succulents, and desert shrubs. Annuals circumvent drought by growing only when there is rain. Succulents, such as the saguaro cactus and other barrel cacti of the southwestern deserts, store water. Desert shrubs, such as the spraylike ocotillo, have short trunks, numerous branches, and small, thick leaves that can be shed in prolonged dry periods. In many plants, spines or volatile chemical compounds serve as a defense against water-seeking herbivores.

what is the animal life of the hot desert?

To conserve water, desert plants produce many small seeds, and animals that eat those seeds, such as ants, birds, and rodents, are common. Reptiles are numerous, because high temperatures permit these ectothermic animals to maintain a warm body temperature. Lizards and snakes are important predators of seed-eating mammals.

what is the location of the tundra?

Tundra (from the Finnish tunturia, meaning treeless plain) exists mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, north of temperate coniferous forest, because very little land area is in the Southern Hemisphere at the latitude where tundra would occur.

why are corals sensitive to very high temperatures too?

When temperatures are too high, the symbiotic algae that live within coral die and are expelled, causing a phenomenon known as coral bleaching. Once bleaching occurs, the coral tissue loses its color and turns a pale white

what is the animal life of the temperate grassland (prairie)?

Where the grasslands remain, large mammals are the most prominent members of the fauna: bison and pronghorn in North America, wild horses in Eurasia, and large kangaroos in Australia. Burrowing animals such as North American gophers and African mole rats are also common.

what is the plant life of the tropical grassland (savanna)?

Wide expanses of grasses dominate savannas, but occasional thorny trees, such as acacias, may occur. Fire is prevalent in this biome, so most plants have well-developed root systems that enable them to resprout quickly after a fire.

what is the plant life of the tundra?

With so little available water, trees cannot grow. Vegetation occurs in the form of fragile, slow-growing lichens, mosses, grasses, sedges, and occasional shrubs, which grow close to the ground. Plant diversity is very low. In some places, desert conditions prevail because so little moisture falls.

what is global warming?

a gradual elevation of the earths surface temperature caused by an increasing greenhouse effect.

what is an area on the side of a mountain that is sheltered from the wind and experiences less precipitation?

a rain shadow

what is an ecosystem?

a system formed by the interaction between a community of organisms and its physical environment.

what occurs through an ecosystem, with energy dissipated at every step?

a unidirectional flow of energy

what are generally differentiated by water salinity, current strength, water depth, oxygen content, and light availability?

aquatic biomes

Biogeographical regions correspond largely to continents but more exactly to what?

areas bounded by major barriers to dispersal

the distribution patterns of many plants are limited by what?

available water

why do temperatures not continue to increase toward the equator?

because both cloudiness and rain reduce average temperature.

why can cold temperatures be lethal to plants?

because cells may rupture if the water they contain freezes. (Disruption of cells via freezing is especially lethal to plants that produce poisonous chemical defenses against herbivores)

why might cold climates cause an issue of water availability?

because in cold climates, water can be present but locked up as permafrost and, therefore, unavailable.

why can the proximity of a landmass to a large body of water can affect climate?

because land heats and cools more quickly than the sea does. (remember: the specific heat of the land is much lower than that of the water, allowing the land to warm quicker than water)

why can light be a limiting resource for plants and algae?

because light necessary for photosynthesis, so it can be a limiting resource for plants.

how can animals distribution and population density be strongly effected by water availability?

because most animals depend on plants for food, so animals distribution is linked to plant distribution

why are high temperatures also limiting for many plants and animals?

because relatively few species can survive internal temperatures more than a few degrees above their metabolic optimum

why is more heat lost in the atmosphere of higher latitudes?

because the Sun's rays travel a greater distance through the atmosphere, allowing more heat to be dissipated by cloud cover.

why is it that at the surface, plants and algae appear green?

because they absorb red and blue light, but not green

why are fire-prevention practices in some ways actually bad for some plants?

because they can be.... 1. preventing the regeneration of fire-dependent species. 2. can result in an accumulation of vegetation beneath the canopy (the understory) that may later fuel hotter and more damaging fires.

why might light be an even more limiting factor in aquatic environments?

because water absorbs light, which could prevent photosynthesis at depths greater than 100m

what focuses on how the behavior of individual organisms contributes to their survival and reproductive success, which, in turn, eventually affects the population density of the species?

behavioral ecology

what is the study of the geographic distribution of extinct and living species?

biogeography

what is an example where animals are affected by water availability?

buffalo density and grass productivity is related to the amount of rainfall in the previous month. Buffalo density is governed by grass availability, so a significant correlation is found between buffalo density and rainfall.

among the increasing greenhouse gases, which is the most important one and why?

carbon dioxide (CO2). this is because although CO2 has a lower global warming potential per unit of gas (relative absorption) than any of the other major greenhouse gases, its concentration in the atmosphere is much higher.

what pattern creates the familiar onshore sea breezes in coastal areas?

cool daytime breezes in coastal areas: -during the day, the warmed air rises and cooler air flows in to replace it. -at night, the land cools quicker than the sea, and so the pattern is revered, creating offshore breezes.

what permits rejection or acceptance of a hypothesis?

data analysis

what help define the earths different terrestrial biomes?

differences in climate on earth

what is the main reason behind differences in temperature that occur over the earth?

differences in temperature occur due to latitudinal variations in the incoming solar radiation.

how do ecologists determine whether the difference between experimental and control groups are statistically significant?

ecologists use a variety of tests

what is the study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environments?

ecology

what ranges in scale from the study of an individual organism through the study of populations to the study of communities and ecosystems?

ecology

what describes the flow of energy and chemicals through communities?

ecosystem ecology

what is the study of the flow of energy and cycling of nutrients among organisms within a community and between organisms and the environment?

ecosystem ecology

what are conducted to test a hypothesis?

experiments

what does an understanding of evolution and geological change over large scales and time periods helps do?

explain some of the distribution patterns we see

what is salinity one of the physical features of the environment that limit the distribution pattern and abundance of a species?

high salinity generally reduces plant growth in terrestrial habitats. it affects osmosis in marine and freshwater environments.

in the model of general atmospheric circulation, what cause the surface equatorial air to heat up and rise vertically into the atmosphere?

high temperatures at the equator

what does organismal ecology investigate?

how adaptations and choices by individuals affect their reproduction and survival

why is the availability of light one of the physical features of the environment that limit the distribution pattern and abundance of a species?

insufficient light limits plant growth (particularly in aquatic environments)

why is the availability of water one of the physical features of the environment that limit the distribution pattern and abundance of a species?

insufficient water limits plant growth and animal abundance. express water drowns plants and other organisms.

what are biotic interactions?

interactions between living organisms

what are abiotic interactions?

interactions between organisms and their nonliving environment

what does species interactions include?

interactions such as predation, competition, and parasitism

what is the cooling rate of adiabatic cooling?

it cools at a rate of about 10C for every 1,000 meters in elevation (as long as no water vapor or cloud formation occurs)

what does community ecology focus on?

it focuses on why certain areas have high numbers of species (that is, are species-rich), but other areas have low number of species (that is, are species-poor).

why is temperature one of the physical features of the environment that limit the distribution pattern and abundance of a species? (what do low and high temperatures do?)

low temperatures freeze many plants. high temperatures denature proteins. (some plants require fire for germination)

how do the suns rays strike the earths surface near the equator?

perpendicularly

what are both distribution patterns of organisms and their abundance of the species limited by?

physical features of the environment.

what investigates how organisms are physiologically adapted to their environment and how the environment impacts the distribution of species?

physiological ecology

what do the major ocean currents act as between continents?

pinwheels

what describes how populations grow and interact with other species?

population ecology

what is the physical environment of a tropical rain forest? (what are rainfall levels like? what is temp like? how are soil levels?)

rainfall exceeds 230 cm per year, and the temperature is hot year round, averaging 25-29C. Soils are often shallow and nutrient-poor.

what is the process called where you are performing an experiment several times?

replication

how many aquatic biomes are there?

six

what are global patterns of atmospheric circulation and precipitation influenced by?

solar energy

what are the areas of high pressure that are the sites of the worlds tropical deserts because the subsiding air is relatively dry, having released all of its moisture over the equator?

subsidence zones

what increase as the amount of solar radiation increases?

temperature

what is the most important factor in the distribution of organisms?

temperature

what are the major biomes determined by?

temperature differences and wind patterns.

what is wind created by?

temperature gradients. (As air heats up, it becomes less dense and rises. As hot air rises, cooler air rushes in to take its place)

what did Alfred Russel Wallace see?

that plants and animals were often restricted to certain geographic areas

Although many species can adapt to slight changes in their environment, what is the issue with possible global warming effects?

the anticipated changes in global climate are expected to occur too rapidly to be compensated for by normal evolutionary processes such as natural selection.

what is environmental science?

the application of ecology to real world problems

what are influenced by the components of climate?

the distribution and abundance of organisms

what are relics of once broader distributions?

the distributions of many present-day species

what is the earth warmed by?

the greenhouse effect

what is the name of the naturally occurring process that is responsible for keeping the Earth warm enough to sustain life?

the greenhouse effect

what is the process in which short-wave solar radiation passes through the atmosphere to warm the Earth but is radiated back to space as long-wave infrared radiation? (much of this radiation is reflected by atmosphere gases back to earths surface, causing its temperature to rise)

the greenhouse effect.

what is known as a fairly narrow zone close to the surface of an aquatic environment where light is sufficient to allow photosynthesis to exceed respiration?

the photic zone (thesis where most aquatic plants and algae are limited to)

what is adiabatic cooling?

the process where increasing elevation leads to a decrease in air pressure (air temperature)

what is continental drift?

the slow movement of the earths surface plates

what is population ecology?

the study of how populations grow and what factors promote or limit growth

what does the study of population ecology include?

the study of species interactions (because the relative abundance of a species is influenced by its interactions with other species)

what is the point called where Alpine trees stop growing at on the mountainside where they cannot take up enough moisture to offset transpiration losses?

the timberline

what do ecologists generally believe about species-rich communities in regards to how they perform?

they believe that species-rich communities perform better than species-poor communities.

what do periodic low intensity fires do?

they enhance the release of seeds and clear out competing vegetation at the base of the tree so that seeds can germinate and grow.

true or false: Adiabatic cooling is also the process applied in the function of a refrigerator, in which refrigerant gas cools as it expands coming out of the compressor

true

true or false: corals are sensitive to low temperatures; however, they are sensitive to very high temperatures as well.

true

true or false: elevation and other landmass features can also affect climate

true

true or false: what may be sufficient light to support the growth of one plant species may be insufficient for another.

true

true or false: South America, Africa, and Australia all have similar biomes, ranging from tropical to temperate, yet each continent has distinctive animal life.

true (South America- sloths, anteaters, armadillos, and monkeys with prehensile tails. Africa- antelopes, zebras, giraffes, lions, baboons, the okapi, and the aardvark. Australia- marsupials such as kangaroos, koala bears, Tasmanian devils, and wombats, as well as the egg-laying monotremes, namely, the duck-billed platypus and four species of echidnas)

why is pH one of the physical features of the environment that limit the distribution pattern and abundance of a species?

variations in pH affect decomposition and nutrient availability in terrestrial systems. it directly influences mortality in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

where are coral reefs abundant in?

warm water due to effects of temperature on coral deposition.

what has an important effect on the distribution of organisms?

water

can mountains also influence patterns of precipitation?

yes

can soil conditions influence biome type?

yes

do some species depend on frequent low-intensity fires for their reproductive success? (meaning, so many species depend on fire to release seeds and clear out competing vegetation)

yes. (examples: jack pine -Pinus banksiana. Also, the giant sequoia)