Global Systems, Climate, and Biomes

What is Ecology?

The scientific study of interactions between organisms and their physical environment.

What are the ecological levels of organization?

Species, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biome, Biosphere.

What are Biotic Factors?

Living components of the environment.

What are Abiotic Factors?

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment.

What determines climate patterns?

Mainly temperature and precipitation.

What causes seasons on Earth?

The tilt of the Earth relative to its orbit around the sun.

How does latitude affect solar radiation?

Solar radiation differs with latitude, leading to uneven heating of the Earth's surface.

What are prevailing winds?

The predominant wind direction for a specific location or season.

What is zonation in ecosystems?

A gradient of different types of ecosystems due to elevation or resource differences.

What is a biome?

An area that has similar patterns of temperature and precipitation.

How do ocean currents affect climate?

Cold and warm water currents interact with landforms, affecting atmospheric conditions.

What impact do global rain and wind patterns have?

They determine precipitation levels and weather patterns in different regions.