Studied by 0 people
Explain the difference between weather and climate.
Weather is considered the conditions of the atmosphere over shot periods. Climate is how the atmosphere behaves over long periods of time
Net primary Productivity
The proportion of total energy that is not use by primary producers
Which biome has the highest net primary production?
Tropical Rainforest
Which biome has the lowest net primary production?
The open ocean
What 2 factors are most important in determining the type of vegetation that will grow in an area?
Temperature and rainfall
What kind of vegetation will grow in an area with low precipitation and high temperatures?
Short, sparse vegetation
Latitude
A geographic coordinate that indicates the North-South position of a point on the Earth's surface.
Explain the Latitudinal gradient
Species richness increases towards the equator
Altitude
The height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level
Explain how climate changes as altitude increases.
temperature decreases, vegetation changes in type and density, and precipitation levels increase
Which Forest biome is closest to the North Pole?
Boreal/taiga
Which Forest biome is closest to the equator?
Tropical rainforest
Where are forests located that have the most biodiversity?
Tropical rainforest
What type of Forest biome loses its leaves in the fall?
Deciduous Forest
Explain the layers of the rainforest and what you would find in each layer.
Emergent: Tallest trees Canopy:Monkeys Understory: Larger Birds Forest Floor: Ground Level
Where in the United States is there a temperate rainforest located?
Pacific Northwest (Washington,Oregon)
Which biome is located in coastal areas with a Mediterranean climate?
Chaparral
Which biome gets less than 25 cm of rain each year?
Desert
Which biomes have been affected by human activity?
All biomes (Grassland, Desert,Tundra)
Where is the Tundra located?
The high northern latitudes, near the North Pole
Where in the United States is chaparral located?
California
What 3 characteristics are used to define aquatic ecosystems?
water-based environments, which can be either marine, and are characterized by unique physical and chemical properties, as well as the biological communities with them.
Brackish
water that has a higher salinity than fresh water but lover salinity than seawater
Explain the differences in the photic and aphotic zones
The photic zone is the upper layer and The aphotic zone is the deeper part of a water body.
What begins the food chain in aquatic ecosystems?
It begins with primary producers, which are usually phytoplankton. These organisms are able to photosynthesize, converting sunlight and nutrients in the water.
Explain the differences in the littoral and limnetic zones
The littoral zone is shallow near-shore. The limnetic zone is the open water area where sunlight does not.
What is the benthic zone of a lake or pond?
The lowest level of a lake or pond.
What are the 2 major types of freshwater wetlands?
Marshes and Swamps
What ecosystem services do wetlands provide for humans?
Water puriffication, flood control, and biodiversity support
Explain the differences between freshwater marshes and freshwater swamps.
Marshes are characterized by herbaceous plants and periodic water levels, while swamps are characterized by woody plants and are usually found in low-lying areas.
What has been done in order to preserve our wetlands?
Legal protections, Restoration projects, Sustainable use practices
Explain how a river changes from the source to the bottom of a river.
The river changes is usually narrow, shallow, and swift.
Tributary
A smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one.
What are ports built on estuaries?
Ports are built on estuaries because they provide calm, sheltered waters that are ideal for harboing shiffs.
Why are estuaries so susceptible to pollution?
Due to their semi-enclosed by herbaceous plants. Swamps are characterized by woody plants.
Explain the difference between saltwater marshes and saltwater swamps.
Marshes are characterized by herbaceous plants. Swamps are characterized by woody plants.
Where is the largest mangrove forest in the US?
South Florida
Where is the most ocean life found?
The continental shelf region
Ocean Currents
continuous, directed movements of seawater
Explain the differences between the intertidal, neritic, and oceanic zones
The intertidal zone is the area between the high and low tide lines, the neritic zone extends from the intertidal zone, and the oceanic zone lies beyond the continental shelf.
What type of water do coral reefs need to survive?
warm,clear, and saltwater
How do Coral reefs grow?
by the coral polyis extracting calcium ions.
How does coral interact algae?
through a symbiotic relationship.
What happens to the color of coral when they die?
they lose their vibrant colors and turn white, a process known as coral bleaching.
What percent of food energy is transferred up the food chain to the next level?
10%
What animal uses wetlands to rest?
Birds
Dogs and swamps are example of
Wetlands
A term for a mix of salt and fresh water
Brackish water
In this marine ecosystem, plants and animals have to adapt to the changing salinity caused by the tides
The intertidal zone
Population
A group of individuals
Wetlands are
The area
This biome receives the least amount of precipitation throughout the year.
Desert
There are more plant and animal species in this biome than any others
Rain Forest
Abiotic factors
Non-living things in an ecosystem
The climate and water
Are related but do not mean the same thing.
Community
All the different populations
Moving body of water that is narrow,shallow, and fast flowing
Stream
Land flooded by water permanently or seasonally; found in freshwater and saltwater ecosystems is called
Wetland
Organisms in the a photic zone of the ocean survive mostly on
Dead stuff
A large,deep, and slowly flowing water
River
An area where the freshwater of a river meets the saltwater of an ocean
Estuary
Saltwater accounts for about __________ of the water on earth
95%
Coral reefs exist
Near the shore where the water is warm and sunlight can penetrate
Ecosystems
A biological community
Which of the following is not an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
Plants
What are two things that are used during photosynthesis?
Carbon Dioxide and Water
The limnetic zone is characterized by
Lack of plants
The angler fish lives deep in the ocean where sunlight does not penetrate. What is this area called?
Aphotic zone
What is an example of an adaption?
A rabbit
Latitudes affect climate zones how?
Temperatures increases as you move to the equator.
Which factors make terrestrial biomes unique from each other?
Temperature, precipitation, types of plants/animals
Adaptation
A special skills that allows animals to survive
Note 
Flashcard (79)