bio 2 biosphere

Sunlight

Provides raw energy for life to exist

Ocean circulation patterns

Currents that isolate Antarctica

Angle of sunlight and orbital tilt

Progression of the seasons

Air circulation patterns

Dryness that permits deserts to form

Biome

a major ecosystem type

Microclimate

highly localized sets of climate conditions

Biosphere

all biological communities and the environment

Elevation gradient

Ecosystems change from forest to alpine along this

Monsoon

Seasonally shifting winds that impact rainfall patterns to terrible effect

Rain Shadow

Air loses moisture as it climbs mountains resulting in dry and wet environments on opposite sides of the mountain

Factors that define biome conditions

Temperature and precipitation

Desert

Defined by lack of rainfall

Temperate forests

Mild but seasonal climates

Grassland

Adapted to regular low intensity fire

Tropical rainforest

Most diverse terrestrial ecosystem

Diffuse pollution

Runoff from human activities pollutes wetlands

Water pollution

Sewage treatment plants impact freshwater habitats

Greenhouse gas emissions

Rising global temperatures

Deforestation

Loss of rainforest habitat

Burning that results in dissolved CO2

Increasing ocean acidification

effects on species and ecosystems from human impacts

Increased severity and frequency of fires, floods, and droughts

Shifts in species ranges

Coral reef bleaching

Changes to migration patterns

Loss of suitable habitat

thermal stratification in aquatic habitats

Water has different densities at different temperatures leading to cycling of water within aquatic habitats

True statents regarding ocean habitats

Coral reef ecosystems contribute substantially to total ocean productivity

Special habitats occur where ocean water meets freshwater

Open oceans have very low productivity per unit area

Continental shelf ecosystems have very high productivity

Angle of Incidence

The angle at which sunlight hits the Earth's surface, affecting how much solar energy a location gets and influencing climate patterns at different latitudes

elevation

How high land is above sea level; as elevation increases, temperature and other conditions usually get colder

rain shadow

A dry area on the side of a mountain where air loses moisture as it rises and rains on the other side, making this side drier

Thermal Stratification

The layering of water in lakes and ponds, where warm water stays on top and cold water stays below because of their different temperatures and densities

thermocline

A transition layer in a lake or pond where the temperature changes rapidly with depth, separating the warmer surface layer (epilimnion) from the colder bottom layer (hypolimnion)

Oligotrophic Lake

A lake with clear water, low nutrients, and lots of oxygen

Eutrophic Lake

A lake with lots of nutrients, lots of algae and plant growth, and low oxygen in the summer

Continental Shelf Ecosystems

Shallow ocean areas near the coast that are full of life and very productive.

Estuaries

Areas where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean, creating brackish water

Hydrothermal Vents

Openings on the ocean floor that release hot water, creating deep-sea ecosystems that rely on special bacteria (not sunlight) for energy.

DDT

A strong insect killer that became famous for causing harm to wildlife through biomagnification

Biomagnification

When harmful substances, like pesticides or metals, build up more and more in animals as you go higher up the food chain

Point Source Pollution

Pollution that comes from one clear place, like a pipe or factory.

Diffuse Pollution

Pollution that comes from many scattered sources, like farm runoff or city streets.

Eutrophication

When a body of water gets too many nutrients, causing too much algae and low oxygen levels.

Zoonotic Disease

A disease that spreads from animals to humans.

Ocean Acidification

The ocean becoming more acidic because it’s absorbing too much carbon dioxide from the air.