Biology 2e (Ch. 44 - Ecology and the Biosphere)

Abiotic

Nonliving components of the environment.

(Ex: Rocks, Moisture)

Biotic

Living components of the environment.

(Ex: Trees, Animals)

Which of the following is a biotic factor?

1. wind

2. disease-causing microbe

3. temperature

4. soil particle size

Disease-causing microbe

The study of nutrient cycling though the environment is an example of which of the following?

1. organismal ecology

2. population ecology

3. community ecology

4. ecosystem ecology

Ecosystem ecology

Conspecifics

Individuals that are members of the same species. (Only one specific species)

Ecology

The study of interaction between living things and their environment.

(Includes: Adaptations may be morphological, physiological, and behavioral.)

Heterospecifics

Individuals that are members of different species. (Interactions with different species)

Understory plants in a temperate forest have adaptations to capture limited ________.

Sunlight

An ecologist hiking up a mountain may notice different biomes along the way due to changes in all of the following except:

1. elevation

2. rainfall

3. latitude

4. temperature

Latitude

Biogeography

The study of the geographic distribution of living things and the abiotic factors that affect their distribution.

Biome

Ecological community (large area) of plants, animals, and other organisms that is adapted to a characteristic set of environmental conditions.

Endemic

Species naturally found only in a specific geographic area that is usually restricted in size.

(Ex: Venus flytrap)

Fall and Spring Turnover

Seasonal process that recycles nutrients and oxygen from the bottom of a freshwater ecosystem (Only in freshwater!) to the top.

Above-Ground Biomass (AGB)

The total mass of aboveground living plants per area.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

Measurement of the energy accumulation within an ecosystem, calculated as the total amount of carbon fixed per year minus the amount that is oxidized during cellular respiration. (Estimate of all the organic matter available as food) [Total Carbon (C) - amount it oxidized)

Ocean Upwelling

Rising of deep ocean waters that occurs when prevailing winds blow along surface waters near a coast.

(Can bring up dead organic matter to the surface)

Thermocline

The layer of water with a temperature that is significantly different from that of the surrounding layers.

Which of the following biomes is characterized by abundant water resources?

1. deserts

2. boreal forests

3. savannas

4. tropical wet forests

4. Tropical wet forests

Which of the following biomes is characterized by short growing seasons?

1. deserts

2. tropical wet forests

3. arctic tundras

4. savannas

3. Arctic tundras

Canopy

Branches and foliage of trees that form a layer of overhead coverage in a forest.

Permafrost

Perennially frozen portion of the Arctic tundra soil.

Which of the following statements about biomes is false?

1. Chaparral is dominated by shrubs.

2. Savannas and temperate grasslands are dominated by grasses.

3. Boreal forests are dominated by deciduous trees.

4. Lichens are common in the arctic tundra.

3. Boreal forests are not dominated by deciduous trees.

Tropical Wet Forest (tropical rainforests)

- This biome is found in equatorial regions.

- These forests are “evergreen” year-round. (Due to warm climate)

- Temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 34 °C (68 °F to 93 °F).

Savannas

- Grasslands with scattered trees, and they are located in Africa, South America, and northern Australia.

- Savannas have an extensive dry season; tree do not grow as well.

In which of the following regions would you expect to find photosynthetic organisms?

1. The aphotic zone, the neritic zone, the oceanic zone, and the benthic realm

2. The photic zone, the intertidal zone, the neritic zone, and the oceanic zone

3. The photic zone, the abyssal zone, the neritic zone, and the oceanic zone

4. The pelagic realm, the aphotic zone, the neritic zone, and the oceanic zone

2. The photic zone, the intertidal zone, the neritic zone, and the oceanic zone.

Where would you expect to find the most photosynthesis in an ocean biome?

1. aphotic zone

2. abyssal zone

3. benthic realm

4. intertidal zone

4. Intertidal zone.

A key feature of estuaries is:

1. low light conditions and high productivity

2. salt water and fresh water

3. frequent algal blooms

4. little or no vegetation

2. Salt water and fresh water

Abyssal Zone

The deepest part of the ocean at depths of 4000 m or greater.

- Very cold, has high oxygen content, and low nutrient content.

Algal Bloom

Rapid increase of algae in an aquatic system.

- Caused by a large input of nitrogen and phosphorus materials, like runoff from fertilizer.

Aphotic Zone

Parts of the ocean where no light penetrates. (Below 200m)

Benthic Realm

(also, benthic zone) Part of the ocean that extends along the ocean bottom from the shoreline to the deepest parts of the ocean floor.

Channel

The width of a river or stream from one bank to the other bank.

Coral Reef

Ocean ridges formed by marine invertebrates living in warm, shallow waters within the photic zone.

Cryptofauna

Invertebrates found within the calcium carbonate substrate of coral reefs.

Ecosystem Services

The processes by which life-supporting resources such as clean water, timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops are produced.

(Human benefits and services provided by natural ecosystems)

Emergent Vegetation

Wetland plants that are rooted in the soil but have portions of leaves, stems, and flowers extending above the water’s surface.

Estuary/Estuaries

Biomes where a source of fresh water, such as a river, meets the ocean. (Mixing of salt and freshwater)

- Many water organisms are born in these places.

Intertidal Zone

Part of the ocean that is closest to land; parts extend above the water at low tide.

Neritic Zone

Part of the ocean that extends from low tide to the edge of the continental shelf.

Oceanic Zone

Part of the ocean that begins offshore where the water measures 200 m deep or deeper.

Pelagic Realm (Zone)

Open ocean waters that are not close to the bottom or near the shore.

Photic Zone

Portions of the ocean that light can penetrate.

Planktivore

Animal species that eats plankton.

Predator

An organism that kills and consumes another organism.

Sargassum

Type of free-floating marine seaweed.

Source Water

A point of origin of a river or stream.

(Also known as headwater)

Clathrates

Frozen chunks of ice and methane found at the bottom of the ocean.

Climate

Long-term, predictable atmospheric conditions present in a specific area.

(Ex: Temperature and rainfall averages remain the same for long periods of time)

Global Climate Change

Altered global weather patterns, including a worldwide increase in temperature, due largely to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Greenhouse Effect

Warming of Earth due to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gases

Atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that absorb and emit radiation, thus trapping heat in Earth’s atmosphere.

Haze-Effect Cooling

The effect of gases and solids from a volcanic eruption on global climate. (Cools the Earth due to blocking sunlight)

Milankovitch Cycles

Cyclic changes in the Earth’s orbit that may affect climate.

Solar Intensity

The amount of solar power energy the sun emits in a given amount of time.

(Ex: The poles receive less solar energy)

Which of the following is an example of a weather event?

1. The hurricane season lasts from June 1 through November 30.

2. The amount of atmospheric CO2 has steadily increased during the last century.

3. A windstorm blew down trees in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota on July 4, 1999.

4. Deserts are generally dry ecosystems having very little rainfall.

3. A windstorm blew down trees in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota on July 4, 1999.

Which of the following natural forces is responsible for the release of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric gases?

1. The Milankovitch cycles

2. Volcanoes

3. Solar intensity

4. Burning of fossil fuels

2. Volcanoes

Community Ecology

The study of how interactions between species affect community structure and organization. (All living things in a space at one time)

Population Ecology

The study of factors that cause populations to increase or decrease. (All ONE species in a space)

Biosphere

Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.

Abiotic Factors

Nonliving components of environment.

- Varys mainly on latitude and elevation.

(Includes weather and temperature)

Latitude

Distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees.

- Creates and affects seasons.

Elevation

The height of land above sea level.

Generalists

A species with a broad niche that can tolerate a wide range of conditions and can use a variety of resources. (Ex: Raccoons)

Ephemeral

Lasting a very short time.

(Ex: Some flowers)

Australia

Smallest Continent (Separated from other continents)

- It contains many distinctive groups of plants and animals. (Between 600,000 and 700,000 species)

- About 3/4 of living plant and animal species are endemic and found only on this continent.

Migration

Form of relocation diffusion involving a permanent move to a new location. (Caused by temperature fluctuation)

Hibernation

Long-term torpor is an adaptation to winter cold and food scarcity. (Everything slows down to prevent using too much food and ensure survival)

Estivation

(Summer torpor.) Enables animals to survive long periods of high temperatures and scarce water supplies.

Terrestrial Organisms

Organisms that live on land.

Diffusion

Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

(Organisms lose water to the environment due to simple diffusion)

Osmosis

Diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane.

(Freshwater organisms try to remove water at quicker rates)

(Saltwater organisms try to keep water to prevent dehydration - they get rid of salt at faster rates)

Inorganic Nutrients

Minerals are found in things such as water and plants.

- Animals get inorganic nutrients (like iron) from plants.

- Plants get inorganic nutrients from the soil and fungi.

Cold Water

- More dense (causes it to sink/be at the bottom of bodies of water)

- Holds more oxygen when cold

Jake Pine

Can only open when exposed to high temperatures, such as during a forest fire. (Helps rebuild forests)

Subtropical Deserts

A biome prevailing at approximately 30° N and 30° S, with hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation.

- Contains many dormant seeds and nocturnal animals to deal with the rain and temperatures.

Temperate Grasslands

Dominated by grasses, trees and large shrubs are absent. Temperatures vary more from summer to winter, and the amount of rainfall is less than in savannas. Temperate grasslands have hot summers and cold winters.

Temperate Forests

Forests exist between 25 and 50 degrees (Temperature varies on the season) latitude in both hemispheres. They typically have high humidity, heavy rainfall, large, tall trees, and wide leaves.

Boreal Forests

A forest made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons.

(Also known as taiga or coniferous forest)

Largest land Biome on Earth

Arctic Tundra

This biome supports a low number of plant species, receives little rain, and plants have shallow root zones due to permafrost and wet soil. Short growing seasons and cold temperatures.

Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis)

The wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) is the only known host plant for the Karner blue butterfly.

Forest Gardenia (Gardenia brighamii)

A small tree with distinctive flowers. It is found only in small populations in five of the Hawaiian Islands. (Endemic species)

Chaparral

The majority of the rain falls in the winter. Summers are very dry and many chaparral plants are dormant during the summertime. The chaparral vegetation is dominated by shrubs adapted to periodic fires, with some plants producing seeds that only germinate after a hot fire.

Chemosynthetic bacteria

Use the geothermal energy (such as hydrogen sulfide) in hot springs or deep-sea vents to produce their food.

Bleaching

Excessive warmth (when ocean temperatures rise) causes reefs to expel their symbiotic, food-producing algae, resulting in reefs turning white, which causes them to die.

Dead Zones

In a body of water, an area with extremely low oxygen concentration and very little life.

- Can be caused by decomposition of algae which sucks all the oxygen out of the water.

Wetlands

A lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp, that is saturated with moisture almost all the time, especially when regarded as the natural habitat of wildlife.

Freshwater Marshes or Swamps

They are characterized by a slow and steady water flow.

Bogs

Ponds are covered in thick floating mats of vegetation. The bottom is covered in clay bottoms with poor percolation or movement of water through pores in soil or rocks.

- Water is stagnant (still) and oxygen-depleted.

- Causes the pH of water to lower making nitrogen unavailable.

Bog Plants

Plants evolving to capture insects for nitrogen.

(Ex: Venus flytraps and Sundews)

Ice Cores

Method for studying climate change by drilling cores in ice caps and glaciers that have built up over thousands of years.

- The deeper the sample, the earlier the time period.

Carbon Dioxide Levels/Cycles

Between 180 and 300 parts per million (ppm) by volume.