Critical Thinking: Climate, Phenotypic Plasticity, and Dynamic Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the notes on climate diagrams, growth limitation, adiabatic processes, phenotypic plasticity, dynamic steady state, and related ecological topics.

Climate diagram

A graph of monthly temperature and precipitation for a location used to assess water and heat availability and to identify months when growth is temperature- or water-limited.

Growing season

The portion of the year during which conditions allow plant growth, typically determined by temperature and precipitation.

Temperature limitation

When plant growth is constrained by low temperatures (occurs when the temperature line falls below the precipitation line on a climate diagram).

Precipitation limitation

When plant growth is constrained by insufficient rainfall (occurs when precipitation falls below the temperature line on a climate diagram).

Adiabatic cooling

Cooling of air as it rises and expands in the atmosphere, often leading to condensation and cloud formation.

Adiabatic heating

Warming of air as it sinks and compresses, leading to higher temperatures and typically lower relative humidity.

Rainshadow effect

Dry conditions on the leeward side of a mountain caused by descending dry air after moisture has been dropped on the windward side.

Phenotypic plasticity

The ability of a single genotype to produce different phenotypes in response to different environmental conditions.

Environment

External conditions that influence an organism's phenotype and fitness.

Fitness

Reproductive success of an organism; a measure of how well an organism is adapted to its environment.

Phenotypically plastic traits

Traits that can be behavioral, physiological, morphological, or life-history and can change with the environment.

Behavioral trait

A plastic trait related to actions or responses to environmental conditions.

Physiological trait

A plastic trait related to bodily functions and metabolic processes.

Morphological trait

A plastic trait involving body form or structure.

Life-history trait

A plastic trait involving timing of reproduction, lifespan, and related strategies.

Dynamic steady state

A stable condition maintained by continuous flows (inputs and outputs) across time, rather than a fixed static state.

Photorespiration

A process where the enzyme Rubisco fixes O2 instead of CO2, reducing photosynthetic efficiency and plant water-use efficiency.

C4 plants

Plants that concentrate CO2 in specialized cells to minimize photorespiration and improve water-use efficiency.

Desert animals’ water-saving behaviors

Behavioral strategies (e.g., nocturnal activity, reduced movement) that minimize water loss in hot, dry environments.

Salt balance in fish and mangroves

Osmoregulation mechanisms that regulate internal water and salt levels through gill/root function and specialized tissues.

Saturation point (water vapor)

The maximum amount of water vapor air can hold at a given temperature; when reached, condensation begins.

Evaporation

The transformation of liquid water into water vapor, influenced by temperature, humidity, and surface area.

Condensation

The transformation of water vapor into liquid water, forming clouds when air reaches its saturation point.

Climate limitation analysis

Determining whether temperature or precipitation is the main limiting factor for plant growth using climate data.

Dynamic steady state vs mean fitness across environments

Assessment of whether a plastic genotype maintains stable performance across environments by averaging fitness over environments.