Environmental Heterogeneity

climate

• part of the physical envr having the greatest impact on organisms

• long term avg weather patterns

weather

combination of temp, humidity, precipitation, wind, clouds at a specific time and place

environmental heterogeneity

variability of abiotic factors across space

what patterns are actual environmental conditions experienced by organisms

local and microclimate

aquatic envr has a ___ degree of microclimate variability

low

aquatic envr is divided by

salinity and depth

solar radiation that hits water is

reflected back into atmosphere, absorbed or reflected by suspended particles, absorbed by water

what has had a major influence on the evolution of aquatic organisms

solar radiation with depth

solar radiation declines ____ with depth

exponentially

direct impact of light on plants

plants require sunlight for photosynthesis so they are restricted to the top 100m

indirect impact of light on animals

herbivores are restricted to depths where plants reside

animals inhabiting deep waters have adaptations like lack of pigment, large eyes and organs that produce light

thermocline

region of most rapid temperature change

thermal stratification

a change in temp at different depths of a water body

as water cools, it becomes ___ dense until 4°C

more

what happens in the fall to lakes

surface waters cool, become more dense, sink, creates mixing

what happens in the winter to lakes

surface waters are less dense (less than 4°C), cold water stays at surface and freezes, warmer water below

terrestrial envr has a ___ degree of microclimate variability

high

__ is the foundation upon which all terrestrial life depends on. why

soil. habitat for decomposers, vertical structure for animals, controls fate of water

__ has had a major influence on the evolution of terrestrial organisms

maintaining water balance

what causes variation in the soil moisture holding capacity

climate, type of parent material, topography (sloped vs level), aspect (angle of sun), presence/absence and type of vegetation

encounter a range of distinct__ along the earth’s surface = __

microclimates, envr heterogeneity

___is how an ind responds to envr conditions and adaptations of a population over generations

physiological ecology