Ecological Scale & the Physical Environment

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to ecological scale and the physical environment.

Ecology

Study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Biome

A large geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Community

Consists of populations of different species that interact with each other within a particular area.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area at the same time.

Individual

A single organism.

Biosphere

A thin zone surrounding the Earth where all life exists.

Abiotic factors

Nonliving chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

Biotic factors

Living components of the environment that affect organisms.

Climate

The prevailing long-term weather conditions found in an area.

Weather

Specific short-term atmospheric conditions of temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind.

Hadley cells

Cyclic movements of air that create regions of precipitation and aridity around the globe.

Greenhouse gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, such as CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide.

Solar radiation

Energy emitted by the sun, primarily in the form of visible light and heat.

Tropics

Regions of the Earth surrounding the Equator, characterized by warm temperatures.

Temperate regions

Regions of Earth that experience moderate temperatures, typically between the tropics and polar areas.

Seasons

Regular, annual fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, or both caused by the tilt of the Earth.

Evapotranspiration

The process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.

Rain shadow

A region with little precipitation because it is sheltered from prevailing rain-bearing winds by a mountain range.

Circulatory patterns

Global air circulation patterns that impact climate and weather conditions.

Air density

The mass of air per unit volume, influencing how air behaves in the atmosphere.

Latitude

The measurement of distance north or south of the Equator.

Longitude

The measurement of distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Desert

A barren area of land where little precipitation occurs, and consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life.

Grassland

A biome characterized by open spaces with grass and few trees, often found in regions with moderate rainfall.

Tundra

A cold, treeless region where the ground is permanently frozen.

Temperate forest

A biome characterized by trees that lose their leaves in the fall and have distinct seasons.

Montane grassland

Grassland found in mountainous regions.

Flooded grassland

Grasslands that are periodically flooded, supporting specific plant and animal communities.

Climate zone

A region classified by its climate, often including factors such as temperature and precipitation.

Global climate system

The interconnected climatic conditions of the Earth influenced by solar energy, air circulation, and more.

Energy absorption

The capacity of the Earth's surface and atmosphere to absorb energy from sunlight.

Niche

The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem, including its habitat and its relationships with other organisms.

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Evolutionary processes

Natural processes that lead to changes in the characteristics of species over generations.

Geography's influence on climate

How physical features of the Earth, such as mountains and oceans, affect weather and climate.

Oceans' moderating influence

The ability of oceans to stabilize temperatures in coastal regions due to their high heat capacity.

Mountain range impact

The effect of mountain ranges on local climates, often resulting in varied weather patterns.

Energy flow in ecosystems

The transfer of energy through food webs from producers to consumers.

Carbon cycle

The biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Food web

A complex network of feeding interactions among species in an ecosystem.

Adaptation

Changes in an organism's structure or behavior that allow it to survive in its environment.

Global warming

An increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen from male anthers to female stigma in flowers.

Fungal pathogens

Fungi that cause diseases in plants or animals.

Biodiversity

The variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or on the entire Earth.

Thermal inertia

The delay in response of temperature to changes in energy inputs or outputs.

Eutrophication

The process by which a body of water becomes enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae.