Ecology Test 1

An Ecosystem consists of ____ and ____ factors

Biotic and Abiotic

Population

A group of individuals of the same species that occupy a given area

Community

1. Includes all populations of different species interacting in an ecosystem.

2. All living organisms interacting in an ecosystem

Ecosystem

All interactions between living and nonliving factors in an area

Landscape

An area of land or water composed of different communities and ecosystems

Biome

geographical regions with similar geological and climatic conditions

Biosphere

the thin layer surrounding the Earth that supports all life

Field Experiment

experimental tests applied in a natural setting

Laboratory Experiment

allow more control over environmental conditions

Categorical data/Qualitative data

data based on observations that fall into distinct categories

Numerical data/Quantitative data

data that are a set of numbers

Types of Categorical Data:

1. Nominal data: unordered categories (hair color, eye color)

2. Ordinal data

3. Binary data: when only two categories exist

(Numerical) Discrete Data

only certain values are possible

(Numerical) Continuous Data

any value within an interval is possible

Climate

the average of weather and temperatures in an area

Habitability

ability of the physical environment to support life

Weather

combination of atmospheric conditions occurring at a specific place and time

Why do higher latitudes on Earth have lower temperatures?

sunlight is spread over a larger area, sunlight hits at a steeper angle, and sunlight must pass through a deeper layer of air

When does solar radiation fall directly on the Equator?

During the spring and fall equinoxes

When does solar radiation fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer?

During the summer solstice

when does solar radiation fall directly on the Tropic of Capricorn?

during the winter solstice

Temperature _______ as altitude ________

decreases, increases

Atmospheric pressure _______ as altitude _______

decreases, increases

Regions of the Atmosphere:

TSMT; Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere

Which atmospheric layer contains the Ozone Layer?

Stratosphere

Wind currents in the North Hemisphere deflect which way as a result of the Coriolis Effect?

West / Right

Wind currents in the Southern Hemisphere deflect which way as a result of the Coriolis Effect?

East / Left

Westerlies move from ____ to ____ above the equator

West to East

Easterlies / Trade Winds move from ____ to ____ at the Equator

East to West

Polar Easterlies move from ____ to _____ at the North and South Poles

East to West

Ocean Currents move (Clockwise/Counterclockwise) in the Northern Hemisphere

Clockwise

Ocean currents move (Clockwise/Counterclockwise) in the Southern Hemisphere

Counterclockwise

Air is “saturated” when the _____ rate = the _______ rate

when the evaporation rate = condensation rate

Dew Point

The temperature that must be reached for moisture to come out of the air

Does cold air or warm air hold more moisture?

warm air holds more moisture

What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?

the region where the trade winds meet, characterized by high amounts of precipiataion

What is responsible for northern latitudes having wetter summers and southern latitudes having wetter winters?

The migration of the ITCZ

What wind patterns cause El-Nino? And how does El-Nino affect the Pacific?

El-Nino is caused by lack of Trade Winds, it warms up the Pacific Ocean

What wind patterns cause La-Nina? And how does La-Nina affect the Pacific?

La-Nina is caused by strong Trade Winds, it cools the Pacific Ocean

The conditions organisms live in is defined as…?

Microclimates

What is Interception in the Water Cycle?

The term for water that doesn’t reach the ground and evaporated directly back into the atmosphere.

Term for the total amount of evaporating water:

“Evapotranspiration”

Specific Heat

the energy required to raise 1 gram of water up by 1°C

At what temperature is water at its' highest density?

4°C

Cohesion

water molecule linkage due to hydrogen bonding

Adhesion

attraction between different substances (ex: water & plant cell walls)

Viscosity

the force needed to separate molecules

Buoyancy

the ability of something to float based on density

Adaptations resulting from lack of light:

1. Lack of pigment

2. Large eyes

3. Bioluminescence

Epilimnion

zone at the top of lakes - has warm, low-density water

Hypolimnion

zone at the bottom of lakes - has cold, high-density water

Thermocline

zone between Epilimnion and Hypolimnion

Diffusion

movement of molecules from high concentration area to low concentration area

Does cold or warm water contain more oxygen?

cold water

When does Spring Tide occur?

during Full & New Moons

When does Neap Tide occur?

during half-moon

Dessication

the loss of water from living organisms

What is LAI?

“Leaf Area Index”, the area of leaves per unit ground area

Beer’s Law:

Al_i=e ^{- LAI_i × k} estimates the vertical reduction of light through a stand of plants

What do each of the characters in Al_i = e ^{- LAI_i × k} represent?

Al_i = light reaching the top of the canopy

LAI_i = leaf area index above height i

k = light extinction coefficient

Regolith

the unconsolidated debris on top of unweathered rock

Weathering:

the destruction of rock materials into smaller particles

What are the 2 types of Weathering?

1. Mechanical Weathering

2. Chemical Weathering

5 Factors of Soil Formation:

1. Parent material

2. Biotic factors

3. Climate

4. Topography

5. Time

Soil Profiles’ 4 Horizons:

1. O Horizon,

2. A horizon, (contains E horizon)

3. B horizon

4. C horizon

Field Capacity of Soil

when water fills all the spaces in soil and is held by capillary forces