Biology II - Chapter 44 Study Set

organismal ecology

the study of the adaptations that enable individuals to live in specific habitats; adaptations can be morphological, physiological, and behavioral

population ecology

the focus on the number of individuals in an area and how and why population size changes

community ecology

the study of the processes driving interactions between species, as well as their consequences

ecosystem ecology

the study of the storage and movement of nutrients and energy among organisms and the surrounding atmosphere, soil, and water

biogeography

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

endemic

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

generalists

species which live in a wide variety of geographic areas

1. energy sources

2. temperature

3. presence, type, and changes in water

4. nutrients and inorganic materials

abiotic factors of biogeography

ocean upwelling

a process that recycles nutrients and energy in the ocean via wind pushing water offshore that causes water from the ocean bottom to move to the surface, bringing up nutrients from the ocean depths; is a form of an energy source

1. desert

2. grassland

3. shrub land/shrub forest

4. coniferous/boreal forest (taiga)

5. tropical rainforest

6. tundra

7. savanna

types of terrestrial biomes

1. hot (>30°C) in the day

2. cold (<0°C) at night

temperature of a desert

rainfall in a desert

1. low precipitation

2. less than 30cm per year

vegetation of a desert

1. xerophytes (specialized plants that can survive in arid conditions, ex: succulents)

2. adapted to water conservation

warm (20-30°C)

temperature of grasslands

rainfall in grasslands

1. seasonal droughts common

2. medium amounts of moisture

vegetation of grasslands

1. grassy lands widely spaced trees

2. fires prevent trees from invading

moderate (15-25°C)

temperature of a shrub land/shrub forest

rainfall in a shrub land/shrub forest

1. rainy winters

2. dry summers

vegetation of a shrub land/shrub forest

1. dry, woody shrubs

2. regrow quickly (fire a constant threat)

cold (0-15°C)

temperature of a coniferous/boreal forest (taiga)

rainfall in a coniferous/boreal forest (taiga)

1. small amount of precipitation

2. wet due to lack of evaporation

vegetation of a coniferous/boreal forest (taiga)

1. coniferous trees that are densely packed

2. little variation in species

hot (25-30°C)

temperature of a tropical rainforest

rainfall in a tropical rainforest

1. very high precipitation

2. more than 250cm per year

vegetation of a tropical rainforest

1. epiphytes(plants that grow on other plants), tall trees and undergrowth

2. large diversity in species

freezing (<0°C)

temperature of a tundra

rainfall in a tundra

little precipitation

vegetation of a tundra

1. small, close to the ground (ex: moss)

2. perennial plants grow in summer

hot, tropical (24-29°C)

temperature of a savanna

rainfall in a savanna

10-40cm with an extensive dry season

vegetation of a savanna

few trees, grasses and forbs (flowering plants)

pelagic realm/zone

a zone of the ocean that is all of the ocean’s open water

benthic realm/zone

a zone of the ocean that extends along the ocean bottom from the shoreline to the deepest parts of the ocean floor

photic zone

a zone of the ocean where light can penetrate

aphotic zone

a zone of the ocean for depths greater than 200m where light cannot penetrate

intertidal zone

a zone of the ocean located between high and low tides; environment is variable and echinodermata and mollusca can be found here

coral reefs

ocean ridges formed by marine invertebrates; is mostly comprised of cnidaria and mollusca

climate

the long-term, predictable atmospheric conditions of a specific area

weather

the conditions of the atmosphere during a short period of time