ecology slide deck 2 (climate and other abiotic factors affecting species distribution)

the physical environment influences organisms over what two timescales?

many generations and shorter periods

is weather a long-term average or specific time/place?

specific time/place

is climate a long-term average or specific time/place?

long-term average

weather/climate: which influences reproduction in plant populations?

weather

weather/climate: which influences succession from prairie to a forest?

climate

weather patterns are influenced by two factors, which are...

solar radiation and earth's rotation/movement

what kind of energy is solar radiation?

electromagnetic energy

the hotter an object, the _________ (longer/shorter) the wavelength of energy it emits.

shorter

shorter wavelength =

higher energy

average net radiation =

zero

what is earth's energy budget? hint: where does each half of solar radiation go towards?

1/2 absorbed by atmosphere, 1/2 reflected/scattered by atmosphere and clouds

amount of solar radiation reaching surface varies with what?

latitude

solar radiation strikes earth's surface at a _______ angle with _________ latitudes.

steeper; higher

solar radiation strikes earth's surface at a _______ angle over a ________ distance.

direct; shorter

it takes _____ day(s) for earth to rate on its axis.

one

it takes _________ year(s) for the earth to orbit once around the sun.

one

the earth's axis has a tilt of how many degrees?

23

the higher the latitude the more/less seasonal variation?

more

what is a diurnal cycle?

hours of daylight and dark

the diurnal cycle varies with seasons everywhere except at the equator with _______ hrs day/night throughout the whole year

12

day length changes with ____________.

seasonality

day length greatly affects what?

activities of organisms and seasonal productivity

day length can influence ____________ time in winter

foraging

in winter, what is the average difference in minutes in day length along latitudinal ranges?

10.5 minutes

temperate birds reproduce in which season?

spring

does day length increase or decrease in spring?

increase

what can cause seasonal differences in appearance?

seasonal variations

in warm-blooded vertebrates, individuals from cold climates are often ________ than those from warm climates.

larger

what is bergmann's rule?

small size/volume ratios conserve body heat in cooler climates. large size/volume ratios allow heat to be dissipated in warm climates.

small size/volume ratio favors _______ animals

larger

large size/volume ratio favors _______ animals

smaller

________ size/volume ratios conserve body heat in cooler climates

small

_______ size/volume ratios allow heat to be dissipated in warm climates

high

what does bermann's rule mainly apply to?

birds and mammals

body size changes with __________.

latitude

what can affect latitudinal and color distribution of insects?

climate

climate can affect latitudinal and color distribution of _______.

insects

climate can affect __________ and __________ distribution of insects.

latitudinal and color

__________ use wing color to regulate body temperature.

butterflies

butterflies use wing color to regulate _________ _________________.

body temperature

butterflies: warmer climate =

lighter wings

butterflies: cooler climate =

darker wings

_______ and _______ levels can affect any stage in organism life cycles.

temperature and moisture

what are the organism life cycle stages?

survival, reproduction, development of young, interactions with other organisms

which organism life cycle stage has most important effect on distribution?

no answer, difficult to determine

what are examples of other abiotic factors, besides climate, that can affect species' distribution?

pH, nutrient availability, salinity

what is a microclimate?

important determinant of distribution on a local scale

examples of microclimates?

soil temperature, moisture, wind movement

which kind of experiment? no manipulation of variables involved, choose site to study. collect data on various variables

natural experiment

which kind of experiment? natural communities. manipulation of one or a few factors (e.g. introductions/removals)

field experiment

which kind of experiment? synthetic habitat or communities. control abiotic environment and biotic environment

lab experiment

which experimental approach is best?

combination of all three often needed to determine patterns and processes