unit 3 _ environmental heterogeneity

define climate

• the part of the physical (Abiotic) environments having the greatest impact on organisms

• long term ave pattern of weather

define weather

the combo of

• temp

• humidity

• precipitation

• wind

• cloudiness

at a specific place and time

diff btween weather and climate

• weather = combo of temp, precipitation, wind, cloudiness and humidits at a part. place and time

• climate = long term ave pattern of weather

define environmental heterogeneity

variability in abiotic factors across space

______ intercepts solar radiation, _________ generates prevailing wind and ocean currents. what does this generate

earths atmosphere,

earths rotation and movement

this generates global weather patterns

what generates global weather patterns?

• earths atmosphere which intercepts solar radiation

• earths rotation and movement which generates prevailing wind and ocean currents

what do global weather patterns result in?

environmental heterogeneity

t/f weather patterns differ at diff spatial scales

t

what are the diff spatial scales (list from biggest - smallest)? give egs of each

1. global (earth)

2. regional (canada/MB)

3. local (wpg)

4. micro (u of m campus)

global and regional climate patterns determine the _____ and _____ of organisms

distribution and abundance

t/f local climate matches climate patterns in larger regions

f. doesnt

____ and _____ climate patterns are actual enviro condis experiences by organisms

local and micro

t/f the aquatic enviro is the dominant enviro on earth, making up ~75% of the planets surf (most of which is ocean water)

t

relative to the terrestrial enviro, the aquatic enviro has a ____ (low/high) degree of microclimate variability in time and space

low

the aquatic enviro is divided by ____ and _____

salinity (saltwater and freshwater) and depth

what happens to solar radiation that hits the water

1. reflected back into enviro

2. absorbed or reflected by suspended particles (alive/dead)

3. absorbed by water

t/f solar radiation changes exponentially w depth

t

____ has the most influence on evolu of aquatic orgs

a. temp

b. decline in solar radiation w depth

c. salinity

d. space

b

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