Chapter 4 Ecology

Desiccation

removal or loss of moisture

Water balance

maintaining balance of water between organisms and their surroundings environment

Gravitational forces

the need to remain erect gravitational forces in terrestial environments

Cellulose and Lignin

the kelp cannot support its own weight under the forces of gravity

80%

The percentage of its biomass to supportive and conductive tissues

Variability

temperature that is higher in air than water

Solar Radiation

the amount if light at any depth in the canopy is affected by the number of leaves above

Soil

medium for plants and controls the fate of water

SoiL

stratum below the vegetation and above hard rock

Mechanical Weathering

water, wind, and temperature without influencing their composition

Chemical Weathering

H2O, O2 and acids fom soil organisms and organic matter

5 factors of Chemical Weathering

Parent Material

Climate

Biotic Factors

Topography

Time

Parent Material

From which soil develops

Parent MateriaL

underlying bedrock; glacial deposits; sand and wind gravity sediments

Climate, temp, precipitation, and wind

responsible for breaking down parent material

Leaching

movement of solutes through the soil and movements of weathered materials

Topography

influences the weathering process

Topography Time

Accumulation

Decomposition

Mineralization of Organic Material

Loss of minerals from the upper surface

Downward movement of minerals

Color

can indicate the chemical composition of the rocks and minerals from which the soil was formed

Texture

partly inherited from parent material and partly a result of the soil-forming process

TexturE

affects oire space in the soil and movement of air and water

Depth

organic matter added to the soil

Soil Horizons

Organic

Topsoil

Eluviation Layer

Subsoil

Parent Rock

Bedrock

Topsoil

Mineral with humus

Eluviation Layer

Leached minerals and organic matter

Subsoil

deposited materials and metal salts

Parent Rock

Partly weathered rock

Bedrock

unweathered parent rock