Ecology CELS review

Ecology definition

Ecology is the study of relationships among organisms and between organisms and the environment

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather is short term changes at a given location in various conditions and climate is a general pattern of weather conditions in a region over long time periods.

What is the Coriolis effect?

The earths rotation causes objects to travel in a curve pattern, rather than a straight line.

In circulation cells, what does dry air do?

As it descends It takes up what water is there and leaves behind a desert

In circulation cells, what does moist air do

As it rises, it creates a moist, tropical climate

What form surface currents across oceans?

Atmospheric winds and the Coriolis effect

How does global water circulation between the surface and deep oceans redistribute heat? What is this called?

When warm surface water cools, it releases heat to the atmosphere and land. Then sinks and becomes Deepwater. This is called thermohaline circulation.

Define altitude

Thinner atmosphere and low atmospheric pressure , colder temperatures

How does ground color affect micro climate?

Darker colors absorb more visible light

How does water flow affect microclimate

Mixing causes temperature to be more constant

True or false is soil dirt?

False it is a mixture of organic and inorganic material

How is soil formed?

Climate, parent, material, topography, time and organisms

What are the layers of soil?/soil horizons.

O A.B C

How are different types of aquatic systems broadly classified?

Salinity and movement

Explain the difference between lentic versus lotic water

Lentic is Stillwater like a lake or pond lotic is moving water like a river or creek

How many ocean basins are there and what are their names?

Five arctic Atlantic, Indian, pacific, southern

What are the classifications of oceanic zone's moving horizontally away from land?

Intertidal neritic oceanic

What are the zones of the ocean classified vertically from service to depth

Epipelagic mesopelagic bathypelagic abyssal Hadal

Define thermocline

zone of rapid temperature change

Define pycnocline

abrupt change of density with depth

Where do coral reefs typically exist and what is important about them

They typically exist in warm areas near the tropics, and in waters without much salt runoff from rivers near the coast.

What happens when corals are bleached?

Zooxanthellae expelled

What are corals composed of

They are composed of polyps and calcium carbonate

Where do kelp forest normally exist?

Temperate latitudes, and found among coast lines in rocky shores

Why are kelp important?

They are strong enough to withstand water movement with stipes, and they can create a food source as well as home for many organisms. They help reduce greenhouse gases and decrease ocean acidification, as well as protect the coast lines.

True or false mangroves are in cooler areas

False mangroves are in warmer areas, whereas salt marshes are in cooler areas

What is an estuary?

A partially enclosed body of water formed where freshwater from rivers streams and ground water flows to the ocean. The major influences on estuaries or tides in freshwater and put the water in estuaries can range from salty to brackish to fresh.

Define river structure with zones and channels

Riparian zone, active channel wetted channel hyporheic zone phreatic zone

What is the temperature like in lakes?

Temperature tends to be thermal stratified