biogeography midterm
LIFE HISTORY CHARACTERISTICS (4)
Age at first reproduction Reproductive fraction of lifespan Number of reproductive periods/events Number of offspring per reproductive event
What is the "Principle of Limiting Factors"?
(Liebig's Law of the Minimum) - the maximum rate of photosynthesis is limited by whichever basic resource of plant growth is in least supply (ex. energy from sun, nitrogen, precipitation)
What are some strategies by the ecosystem to mitigate climate change?
- fertilization and irrigation of forests - forestry adaptation - promote soil carbon storage - afforestation/reforestation (also used to improve freshwater retention in watersheds) - ocean fertilization (with iron) to grow algal blooms
What is the difference between a population and a community? A community and a biome?
- population is a group of organisms of the SAME SPECIES that live in the same place at the same time - community is ALL THE POPULATIONS of DIFFERENT SPECIES that live and interact together within an area at the same time - biome is larger AREA dictated by climate
What are some of the ways we have classified biomes in the past?
- rainfall amount, regime, form - temp extremes and norms, daily/seasonally - sunlight conditions - abiotic conditions determine productivity levels of dominant forms of life ***forest, scrubland, grassland, desert, tundra, aquatic
What are the three strategies for dealing with temperature?
1- avoid (go dormant) 2- escape (migrate, ex. up the mountain!) 3- tolerate (adaptations)
What are the 4 resources required for productivity?
1- energy 2- temperature 3-h20/moisture 4- nutrients
What are the two great "engines" that have driven biogeographic spatio-temporal distributions of organisms?
1- evolution: survival through adaptation 2- plate tectonics: how organisms were spread, ancient ancestor comparison
What three things define a biodiversity hotspot? Where do they tend to be in the world?
1- high levels of biodiversity 2- high levels of endemism (species only found there) 3- high levels of threat tend to be in tropical, mediterranean zones
What are 2 main factors that influence the productivity of an ecosystem?
1-source of ENERGY 2-source of BUILDING BLOCKS for life (macro/micronutrients)
What are the 5 soil formation factors? (hint- Cl O R P T) Which are the most important? What was the IC (6th factor) added in later?
1. Climate (energy and water) 2. Parent Material (the nutrient stock except for nitrogen) ->what kind of rock is being broken down, making soil/organism break down, adding to material 3. Topography (Relief) - aspect, rain, climate 4. Biota (Organisms) (HUMANS) ->decomposers make compost in soil, add to soil; humans cause soil erosion 5. Time (since last disturbance, in situ development) ->100s of years to make a few cm of soil **Dominant factors are CLIMATE and Parent material Chapin added sixth factor: INTERACTIVE CONTROLS (how the stated factors are related to each other and how they are regulated by the ecosystem - DISTURBANCE AND SUCCESSION (i.e. FEEDBACKS))
What are the top two ecosystems in terms of most net primary productivity in terms of grams/ meters/ year?
1. algal beds and reefs 2. tropical rainforests
What are the three reasons fisheries have faced so much pressure?
1. given that no nation lays legal claim to the open ocean, resources in the ocean are more susceptible to overuse and degradation than land resources 2. the growing human population requires protein, leading to a greater demand 3. technological advances allow us to fish so efficiently that every single fish is often removed from an area
What are the five main global change factors we should be concerned with in the future? For the "third" global change factor, which types of cycles are likely to be impacted?
1. land transformation / ocean change ----land clearing, forestry, grazing, intensification 2. biodiversity loss / invasions ----extinction, loss of ecosystems, hunting, fishing, invasive species 3. biogeochemical cycles 3a. carbon cycle (climate change, ecosystem change) 3b. nitrogen cycle (pollution, climate change, ecosystems) 3c. water 3d. other biogeochemical cycles and pollutants -----synthetic chemicals -----aerosols -----enhanced greenhouse 4. interacting factors 5. biome-scale variability in responses (how are different places going to respond to changes like more precipitation or direct sunlight?)
What are the two main subdivisions or subfields of Geography? Which one does this class fall under?
1. physical geography (physical and life sciences)*** includes why things are where they are, climatology, etc. 2. human geography (social and cultural sciences) geography of religion, political movements, anthro, econ, sociology
What are the 6 main drivers of latitudinal patterns of biodiversity according to Pianka (1966)?
1. time 2. spatial heterogeneity 3. competition 4. predation 5. climatic stability 6. productivity
About how much energy is retained through the trophic levels? What is the percentage of efficiency?
10% rule: only 10% of energy can be passed on to the next trophic level
Which evolved earlier C3 or C4 plants? i.e. which is the oldest photosynthetic pathway?
C3 plants: oldest photosynthetic pathway, over 200 million years ago
Which is more water- efficient, C3 or C4 plants?
C4 plants are more water-use and CO2-use efficient
What is the difference between photosynthesis and respiration?
Cellular Respiration: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O (+energy) Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6+ 6O(2) [converts light energy into stored chemical energy]
What was DDT? Who publicized in her book Silent Spring that DDT might be affecting wildlife? Why is DDT such a devastating chemical?
DDT = Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, a substance used in insecticide/pesticide Rachel Carlson published Silent Spring and warned that DDT was causing birds to lay eggs with thin shells (chick death) devastating because of a lasting impact through: - persistence - bioaccumulation (taking in same small amount but not releasing- top of food chain has greater concentrations of toxicants than lower levels) - biological magnification
What are the two main drivers of the extent of biomes?
ELEVATIONAL and LATITUDINAL bands of vegetation structure and climate (so altitude and latitude)
What is the main driver of atmospheric circulation?
ENERGY IMBALANCES includes differential heating of the sun (involving latitude, elevation, and the distribution of oceans and continents
What is the difference between gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP)? Which is the easiest to measure on the ground or from satellite imagery.
GPP is the TOTAL amount of carbon that enters the ecosystem through photosynthesis - rate at which energy is captured by photosynthesis NPP is the total carbon input MINUS the carbon lost via plant respiration - amount of biomass found in excess of that broken down by plants during cellular respiration; easier to measure
What is the difference between a generalist and a specialist in terms of niche or distribution?
Generalists: broad tolerance (fewer physical and biological constraints) Specialists: narrow tolerance (more physical and biological constraints)
Be able to identify the Genus and species from a Latin binomial name for an organism. (ex. Homo sapiens)
Genus = first, italicized, capitalized species = second, italicized, lowercase Genus Homo species sapiens
How do global patterns of NPP vary with latitude? With temperature? With precipitation?
Global patterns of NPP vary with... - latitude: higher NPP closer to equator - temperature: warmer temps = higher NPP - precipitation: NPP exponentially rises with increased precipitation until water levels become too much (around 2,500 mm/yr), then NPP decreases gradually
What are some adaptations a plant may have to be adapted to high-light situations? (size, thickness, chlorophyll content, orientation, hairs, lifespan)
High-Light plant adaptations: leaf size = small leaf thickness = thick leaf chlorophyll content = low leaf orientation = perpendicular to ground leaf hairs = yes leaf lifespan = short
In an agricultural field, are insect populations controlled more by bottom-up or top-down controls?
In an agricultural field, insect populations (presumably) have a large supply of food and a low amount of predation. The threats to insects in an agricultural field are the use of insecticide/pesticide. Being as this limits food supply (in that the insect populations will significantly decrease if they rely on the crop), bottom-up controls are more influential. While this would not lower crop yield, it would lower all other trophic levels uniformly. Alternatively, if pesticide is not involved, the growth of primary producers would uniformly increase all trophic levels above it! So: bottom-up!!
In a rainforest, are insect pops controlled more by bottom-up or top-down controls?
Insect populations most often consist of herbivores (or other insect eaters), meaning that such populations will be close to the bottom of the trophic pyramid. As such, bottom-up controls will have a stronger effect on their biomass than they will on that of a top predator. However, top down controls have a strong impact on all trophic levels, one that doesn't lessen as it transfers. Considering that a rainforest is abundant with biomass and resources, bottom-up controls are likely not limiting for insect populations. Alternatively, a loss or gain in predation would have large implications for insectivores, which would of course serve to control insect populations. Thus, in short, top-down!!
What is the international panel of scientists that provides regular reports on climate change?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
What is the difference between interspecific and intraspecific competition? Please give an example of each.
Intraspecific competition (ex. dominant grizzlies occupy the best fishing spot) - Within same species - Can limit growth - Dealing with same climatic factors - Outcompetes the less successful members of species Interspecific competition (ex. different species of warbler, led to resource partitioning of areas in a tree) - Between different species - Different physical controls on where they live - Due to competition, may be forced outward
How do biotic potential and/or carrying capacity produce the J-shaped and S-shaped population growth curves?
J Shaped: accelerated population growth at optimal conditions where a population reproduces at a constant rate (larger it gets, faster it grows) biotic potential: max rate of increase under ideal conditions and affected by factors called life history characteristics S Shaped: carrying capacity, k, (max pop size) is enforced by environmental resistance (limits on food/water/shelter) when pop density is less than k, follows j-shaped exponential growth
Do any of these theories explain in full why the tropics are more diverse?
NO
How do each of the following affect population size: birth rate, death rate, immigration, and emigration?
Population growth (rate) = change in number of individuals over time - Balance between inputs and outputs - Growth rate = birth + immigration - death - emigration Closed v. Open populations - Open: organisms can migrate between (immigration and emigration must be factored in) - Closed: just birth and death (ex. Islands)
What is the definition of species range and species density? Are they equitable? How do they relate?
Range: entire geographic area in which a species is found, regardless of density Density: the relative abundance (number of individuals per unit area or volume) of a species patches in the center of the geographic range tend to have higher numbers of organisms, higher density, as you get to the outskirts of the range or the bird might be able to be found there (it's possible they're not going to be in really dense concentrations because something is changing as you move across geographic space)
Describe ways that land and water heat differently. What is specific heat?
Specific Heat: the amount of heat required to raise the temp of 1 gram of X by 1 degree RELATIVE to the heat required to raise the temp of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Specific heat of water = 1; of rocks = 0.2 Continents heat up faster and cool down faster than oceans Heat Capacity is a term in physics that describes how much heat must be added to a substance to raise its temp by 1 degree Celsius Water has higher heat capacity than land Lots of energy needed to heat up water, but also takes a long time to lose heat Means: land heats up quick, but loses heat fast compared to water
What is an ecosystem? What sorts of things interact within an ecosystem?
a complex set of interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that create characteristic functional units interactions amongst water, sunlight, gases//producers, consumers, decomposers overall: the flows of energy and materials
Abandoned farmland, fire, glacial retreat: primary or secondary ecological succession?
abandoned farmland=secondary fire=secondary glacial retreat=primary
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic? Give an example
abiotic is non-living (carbon cycle, water, sunlight, rock); biotic is living (plant, animal, microbe)
What is bycatch?
accidentally caught ! dolphin !
Why should plants care about the "best" photosynthesis rate?
an inefficient photosynthetic rate can lead a species to die out!
What factors determine the spatio-temporal distributions of organisms?
as is influenced by history, chance, and human activity: PHYSICAL (abiotic) climate, topography, soils, disturbance BIOLOGICAL (biotic) competition, predation, symbiosis, dispersal
Geographically speaking, where does biodiversity tend to be highest?
between the tropics of cancer and capricorn (within 23.5 degrees latitude above or below the equator)
What is the ITCZ, and what does it do?
book: region where trade winds from the northern and southern hemisphere converge; winds replenish moisture for convective precipitation in tropical zone lecture: a line that shifts with the subsolar point: january, hits farther south; july, father north *more seasonal variation on land than in ocean
What is population ecology?
branch of biology that studies individuals in a defined area (concerned with how and why the pop increases or decreases over time as a result of competition, disease and predation)
Why are detritivores and decomposers important? What would happen in an ecosystem with them absent?
break down waste/dead organisms, help to prevent a build up of organic waste
What are the five mediterranean zones?
california floristic province, mediterranean basin, sw australia, southern tip of africa [cape floristic province], central chile
What is carrying capacity? Do you think carrying capacity only applies to people as well as to other organisms? Why or why not?
carrying capacity: max population size sustainable given environmental resources all organisms have it, but humans are hard to define because we don't act uniformly (ex. different levels of reproduction, consumption, etc)
Is human induced climate change a punctuated or a chronic problem?
chronic
What are the general patterns of biodiversity with latitude? i.e. where is diversity highest?
closer to the equator = higher diversity (as you go toward polar region, less production)
What are some of the ecosystem services provided by consumers, besides just predating on other organisms?
consumers alter and create niches by: - grazing and biomass removal (eating primary producers) - competition, predator-prey - seed dispersal and ecosystem maintenance - important contributors to biodiversity
How do the differences between land and water heating affect coastal local wind systems?
continents heat up faster and cool down faster than oceans: low pressure over warm (air rises), high over cool (air sinks)-> circulation creates OPPOSITE convection cells water masses and land— constant exchange of energy trying to reach equilibrium
What is the difference between correlation and causation?
correlation is a PATTERN while causation is a PROCESS correlation offers a trend without proving a cause/effect relationship between two variables (in terms of distribution: may be correlated with multiple factors, which are themselves highly correlated with one another) we test for causation by looking at the physical and biological components and their relationships: what factors determine spatio-temporal distribution?
How does day length vary across the globe? Which regions experience nearly the same length of sunlight (12 hours) year-round? Which places have time periods of 24hrs of sunlight and periods with 24 hours of darkness?
day length varies in terms of latitude and the time of year (namely, where the subsolar point is located) - equator experiences nearly the same sunlight (12 hrs) year round - high latitudes (poles) experience 24 hrs of sunlight/darkness
What is the definition of biodiversity, and what are three levels scientists might study biodiversity?
defined as the variability among living organisms from all sources and the ecological complexes of which they are part; the includes diversity within species (genetic) and between species (comparing population numbers) and of ecosystems 1- genes / genetic diversity 2-species diversity 3-ecosystem diversity
How would the moving of plants in after a volcanic eruption be classified? Is the soil just added to with ash, or is it covered with lava, and no soil remains? Explain how it could be both primary or secondary succession.
depends whether the eruption decimated the soil and life forms; it is mostly primary in that sense, but because it is associated with a disruption and had previous life, it is somewhat secondary
What is a dichotomous key? What are a couple of the things you can use to identify a tree species?
dichotomous key: a decision key where, at each point, you select one of two options to move to the next step to identify tree species: can start generally to establish family/genus by - crown shape - trunk characteristics - leaf arrangement - scent
What is a trophic level? How are trophic relationships related?
each level in a food chain, related by the transformation of energy between them
How has forest coverage/land use change changed the Earth's surface over the last 100 years?
edges being deforested; amazon fires in Brazil; forests getting burnt and cleared for cattle-ranching; tropical regions losing a lot of forests; loss in eurasia; US GETTING GREENER as trees are moving into abandoned farmland; land degradation in dry lands
Energy ______ and nutrients/matter _____. Know this. Might be a True/ False type question.
energy = flows!! from producers to consumers to decomposers to heat nutrients, matter = cycles!! between biotic and abiotic environments
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
energy cannot be created or destroyed total E content always the same; energy can only change from one form to another (ex. solar energy conversion to chemical energy by autotrophs)
How does energy flow through an ecosystem?
energy flows in a one way direction through an ecosystem and occurs in food chains (which are divided into trophic levels) >>Producers>>Consumers>>Detritivores/decomposers>>Heat
How is energy "lost" as energy moves through trophic levels?
energy is lost as it transforms because some turns to heat (less usable, more disorganized) by entropy (measures this disorganized energy) the second law of thermodynamics (the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state)
What is an epiphyte? Give an example of a temperature and a tropical type of epiphyte.
epiphyte: an example of commensalism - a plant that grows on another plant (tree trunks) but is not parasitic - grow on other plants for physical support; do not negatively affect the "host" unless there are too many (in which case they can weigh down the plant) - derives moisture and nutrients from air, rain, water, or accumulated debris tropics: ferns, bromeliads, orchids, cacti (and lichens/mosses) temperate: mosses, lichens, algae
What are the general patterns of biodiversity with elevation? i.e. where is diversity highest? At the top of a mountain or at the base?
fewer species at high elevation (as you go up a mountain, less production)
How did the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone in the 1990s disrupt the ecology of the park from the previous 70 years?
grey wolf reintroduction (1995): - elk population halved - less browsing near streams (afraid of wolf) - repairing vegetation, restored natural water flow - aspen and willow trees grow back near stream - more nest spaces for birds - increase in beaver dams! - coyotes decreased in number, so resurgence in other animals - scavengers gain food source (dead remains of elk)
What are the general patterns of biodiversity with elevation? i.e. where is diversity highest? What is the peninsular effect in relation to patterns of biodiversity?
higher elevation: generally lower diversity peninsula effect: patches of lower diversity (ex. Florida peninsula, species less likely to make it to tip of peninsula because they infiltrate from the mainland) mountain effect: other species are more competitive with HIGHER SPECIES TURNOVER)
Where does NPP tend to be highest across the globe? What are some of the drivers for this?
highest between the tropics because: sun is directly overhead within tropical lines at some point in the year, so more energy comes in to be stored
How does the amount of insolation in the tropics compare to the amount of insolation received at the poles?
highest insolation in tropics; lowest at poles
What are the two main groups/ categories of theories for why the tropics harbor more species than anywhere else in the world? Explain one theory under each category.
historical theories: past history of species' diversification and evolution --->stability-time hypothesis- tropics more stable during glacial periods, less environ change (so less extinction and emigration); more immigration during those glacial periods by other species --------->may explain more local differences (more time for diversification through evolution leads to more stability) --->pleistocene refugia- allopatric and ecotonal speciation equilibrium theories: modern environmental conditions and biological interactions are ideal --->environmental gradients/niche theory- explain high biodiversity --------->tropics have large gradients, wide range --------->tropics have niche specialization --------->abundant resources!!!
Examples: Hurricane, volcanic eruption, beetle infestation: punctuated or chronic; internal or external?
hurricane: punctuated, major intensity, external volcanic eruption: punctuated, major intensity, internal beetle infestation: chronic, major intensity, usually external (foreign beetle species)
What is the intermediate disturbance hypothesis?
hypothesis to explain maintenance of biodiversity at non-steady-state conditions (true for most ecosystems) *MOST WIDELY ACCEPTED* - greater diversity when disturbances are intermediate on scales of intensity, frequency, and size - prevents most competitive species from becoming dominant 1. What kinds of disturbance promote diversity? medium levels in terms of frequency, time since disturbance, and size of disturbance 2. What kinds of disturbance decrease diversity? big disturbances immediately after disturbance or frequent
Of the different taxa, which type of critters on the planet have the highest biodiversity?
insects
How can spatial analysis be used by Geographers? Is it an important component?
it is used by geographers as tools to explain distributions and movement across Earth and how these processes interact with human activities. (maps, GPS, GIS, remote sensing) it is vital to conveying geographical data and interpreting spatial relations; insight into the nature and character of space/its measurement
How does a keystone species affect its ecosystem? Give an example.
keystone species: a species that affects the survival and abundance of many other species in the community in which it lives. It may be important in determining the ability of a large number of other species to persist. - Its removal or addition results in a relative significant shift in the composition of the community and sometimes even in the physical structure of the environment - Keystone species don't need to be the dominant species (most numerous), nor do they have to be apex predators ** sharks and otters = keystone species
How does light availability change around the globe? Why? What are some factors that affect it?
light availability varies spatially based on geography (latitude), topography (altitude), aspect (north v. south slope), ecosystem/canopy position (shade tolerant v. intolerant) ALSO: intensity (# of photons), duration (day length/szn), quality of wavelengths --------------------------------------------------- light availability changes based on latitude and radiation patterns, as well as with differentiation in sun exposure and seasonal changes - solar radiation is unevenly distributed around globe - - angels of incidence: smaller angles at higher latitudes, meaning less light is spread over a larger area ---->equator: more direct sunlight, very concentrated - atmospheric obstruction limits absorption due to the - - length of solar rays (high latitudes: light must pass through more atmosphere) - changing subsolar point due to a 23.5 degree tilt of Earth - day length: duration of sunlight differs seasonally, more insolation in summer
What are the different "spheres" of Geography? (l(g)-a-b-h(c)-a)
lithosphere/geosphere: rocky part of the plant, including all rock materials on the surface and in interior layers hydrosphere/cryosphere: includes all earth's water in liquid/solid/gaseous phases biosphere: all life forms in all habitats atmosphere: blanket of gas surrounding the planet and extending to the edge of space anthrosphere/anthroposphere: how humans interact with all other spheres; ex. how we affect water cycle and atmosphere
What does the expression "Red and Black, Friend of Jack; Red and Yellow, Kill a Fellow" refer to?
mimicry: - if red and black touch each other, it is the non-venomous Scarlet King Snake - if red and yellow touch each other, it is the venomous Eastern Coral Snake
What is one example of mutualism? Of parasitism?
mutualism: - honeycreeper/tubular flower (nectar for bird, pollination for flower) - clownfish/anemone (protection for fish, dropped food for anemone) - ants/acacia (shelter and amino acids for ant, protection from herbivores for plant) parasitism: - mistletoe/trees
What is the relationship between latitude and seasonality? Which climograph would have a bigger temperature range throughout the year and more distinct seasons?
nearer to equator, less seasonal diff; farther from equator, larger seasonal diff
What is orographic precipitation, and how can it affect water availability and vegetation cover?
orographic precipitation is rain generated as air is forced to rise when it encounters physical barriers (e.g. mountain); creates "rainshadow;" results in wet and dry sides
What is the main driver of loss of biodiversity in the oceans?
overexploitation/overfishing
What are three aspects of an organism's ecological niche?
physical biological chemical
What is the difference between a physical disturbance and a biological one? Can they occur concurrently, or are they usually independent of one another?
physical disturbance: fires, windstorms, hurricanes, landslides, floods, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tree falls biological disturbance: disease, insect outbreaks, pathogen outbreaks, species invasions can occur together (fire leads to susceptibility of beetle infestation)
What are the two ways disturbance may affect a region?
physical v. biological spatio-temporal distribution // primary v. secondary
What are the two subdivisions for plants versus animals?
phytogeography: plants zoogeography: animals
What are some plant strategies to deal with drought? For animals?
plant strategies to deal with drought - drought deciduousness - leaf senescence (rid above ground parts, avoid leaf transpiration, roots remain healthy) - sclerophyllous leaves (small, hard, and waxy) - change leaf orientation to vertical so less light and evapotranspiration - seeds may require big rainstorm before germination - deep root systems - water storage in trunk - leaf hairs - temporally partition photosynthesis: CAM (another strategy besides C3 and C4, fix CO2 during nighttime) (cacti) animal strategies to deal with drought - behavior (reducing exposure and activity at hottest times) - physiology (ex. specialized kidneys of the kangaroo rat)
How does primary succession differ from secondary succession?
primary succession is a change of species over time in a previously uninhabited environment with no soil and bare rock surfaces, beginning with a pioneer community (acidic lichens that break up rock and form soil, colonizer species) secondary succession, alternatively, is a change in species composition after a disturbance in an area previously inhabited, so soil is already present
What is the difference between a punctuated disturbance and a chronic one?
punctuated is a one time event, while chronic is more continual for an indefinite time
What is the significance of a realized niche? Please explain, using the example of the anoles in Florida.
realized niche: the actual niche an organism occupies interspecific: While the fundamental niches of these two lizards (green and brown anole) initially overlap, the brown outcompetes the green, restricting its realized niche significant because of competitive exclusion: 2 different species will not occupy the same niche because 1 species will always outcompete the other
How does continentality (INLAND v. COAST) affect temperature range?
regions near large bodies of water experience less drastic temperature change (land masses near ocean are BUFFERED in terms of temperature)
What is one way humans are impacting the water cycle?
removal from the water cycle: urbanization leads to lack of absorption (as groundwater), leading to runoff; extraction of groundwater; pesticides/pollution in runoff; dam erection
Be able to label the parts of a flower:
see image
What is symbiosis? How do the three kinds of symbiosis vary?
symbiosis: two species living in close association; associated in such a way that it benefits at least one of them; results from coevolution 1. mutualism: positive/positive 2. commensalism: neutral/positive 3. parasitism: negative/positive
What is one of the main drivers of geographic range?
temperature extremes often set geo range
What are the main autotrophs/ primary producers of the terrestrial world? Within the ocean?
terrestrial: plants, lichen, moss, bacteria, algae oceans: phytoplankton
How does diurnal temperature range (DTR) vary? i.e. do lower or higher elevations have the larger range of temperatures diurnally? How about continental interiors and maritime locations? Which regions around the world have the smallest range in the DTR?
the diurnal temp range is the difference between the daily max and the daily min temp at a given location; it varies by elevation, continental location, biome: deserts DTR>forests DTR high elevation>lower elevation continental interiors>maritime locations lowest in tropical coastal locations (little change in temp, little seasonal change, buffered energy)
What is ecological succession?
the process of community development overtime through a sequence of species, which modify the environment, making it suitable for later species
What is plant taxonomy?
the science dealing with description, identification, naming, and classification of organisms (plants)
What is the definition of biogeography?
the study of the patterns and mechanisms of distribution of living organisms across space and time
What is the subsolar point? Where does it migrate during the year?
the subsolar point is where the sun directly hits on Earth; it migrates based on Earth's tilt; it is the point of MAXIMUM INSOLATION - equinox: sun directly hits equator - summer solstice: sun directly hits tropic of cancer - winter solstice: sun directly hits tropic of capricorn
What is the main energy source for terrestrial systems (those on land)?
the sun!!
How much does the sun's subsolar point position change from the summer solstice to the winter solstice?
the sun's subsolar point position changes by 47 degrees latitude (from tropic of cancer [23.5 deg N] to tropic of capricorn [23.5 deg S])
What is an ecological niche?
the totality of an organism's adaptations, it's use of resources, and the lifestyle to which it is fitted (describes place and function of organism within ecosystem)
Why is axial parallelism a crucial part of seasonal changes?
the uneven distribution of sunlight on earth is what determines crucial aspects of seasonal changes, such as day length, temperature, and insolation//axial parallelism is the concept that Earth's 23.5 degree tilt never changes, so the axis of earth is parallel to itself throughout orbit
Explain how top-down or bottom-up controls could impact the flow of energy and material through food webs.
top down: predators (amount of predators) Stocking a lake with predators decreases trophic level below it, then increases next level bc lacking predator bottom up: resource availability Every trophic level is increased
What is evapotranspiration?
transpiration (water loss through stomata) and evaporation off of leaf's surface
Where are we seeing some "greening up" of the planet due to climate change? (increase in NPP)
tree response to climate change, able to survive at higher latitudes (shifting northward) tropics mid- to high-latitudes in N America and Europe (look at an image)
How does the terrestrial trophic pyramid compare to the trophic pyramid for aquatic systems? For energy AND for biomass? Are they similar, or do they differ? Why?
trophic pyramids differ (flipped due to biomass being opposite) WHY: aquatic has a base of phytoplankton with a tiny biomass, larger biomass at higher trophic levels energy pyramids are roughly the same
Which kind of soils have experienced the most weathering and leaching of nutrients over time? Tropical or temperate soils?
tropical soils have experienced the most weathering and leaching of nutrients (temperate/dry soils are younger, less weathered)
What human actions are increasing nitrogen in the atmosphere?
use of petroleum fertilizer
How can ocean environments be viewed as a "tragedy of the commons?"
where if nobody has authority over it, but everybody has some access, people or objects. Ocean resources are more open to the public. No nation has legal claim to the open ocean."
