-
2 Factors of classifying an ecosystem
- 1. Average annual precipitation
- 2. Average annual temperature
-
Define Ecology
The scientific relationship between organisms and their environment
-
Characteristics of Tropical Wet Forest
- 1. low variation in temperature
- 2. always wet
- 3. high biodiversity
- 4. high productivity
-
Define Epiphyte
plant growing on another plant
-
Characterisrics of Subtropical Desert
- 1. seasonal variation in temperature
- 2. low precipitation
- 3. low biodiversity
- 4. low productivity
-
Define Subsidence
land sinks "sink holes"
-
Define Rain Shadow
area in shadow od mountains being hit by dry air coming over mountains and being blocked from moisture by mountains
-
Characteristics of Grasslands
- 1. seasonal variation in temperature (cooler)
- 2. low precipitation (> desert)
- 3. intermediate biodiversity
- 4. intermediate productivty
-
Characteristics of Temperate Deciduous Forest
- 1. seasonal variation in temperature (cooler)
- 2. intermediate to high precipitation
- 3. intermediate biodiversity
- 4. intermediate productivity
-
Characteristics of Boreal Forest (Tiaga)
- 1. seasonal variation in temperature (short summer)
- 2. intermediate precipitaion (mostly frozen)
- 3. intermediate to low biodiversity
- 4. intermediate to low productivity
-
Characteristics of Arctic Tundra
- 1. seasonal variation in temperature (low, below freezing most of year)
- 2. low precipitation
- 3. low biodiversity
- 4. low productivity
-
3 Types of Aquatic Ecosystems
- 1. lakes & ponds
- 2. wetlands
- 3. streams
-
Difference Between Lakes and Ponds
- lakes: light can NOT reach the bottom
- ponds: light can reach the bottom
-
Define the Photic Zone
depth where there is enough light for photosythesis to occur
-
Define the Aphotic Zone
not enough light for photosythesis to occur
-
Define the Littoral Zone
edge of lake with emergent vegetation
-
Define the Limnetic Zone
area of lake there algae, fish, and zooplankton are able to live
-
Define the Profundal Zone
low oxygen, lower light, fish can swim this zone
-
Define the Benthic Zone
bottom of pond where scavengers & decomposers live
-
3 Types of Wetlands
- 1. marshes
- 2. bogs
- 3. swamps
-
Characteristics of Marsh
have non - woody plants, good water current running through
-
Characteristics of Swamp
woody plants, low current
-
Characteristics of Bog
stagnant, acidic, very slow to no decomposition
-
Define the Source of a Stream
beginning of a stream, fast-moving, cold, high oxygen
-
Define an Estuary
point where fresh and salt water mix
-
What are the 2 Ocean Provinces?
- 1. Benthic province
- 2. Pelagic province
-
Name and describe the two Benthic province life zones
- 1. Interdidal Zone: where the tide comes in and out
- 2. Abyssal Plain: the bottom of the ocean, high water pressure, cold, scavengers, no light, includes ocean floor at higher elevation
-
Name and describe the two Pelagic province life zones
- 1. Neritic Zone: water that sits on continental shelf, most productive part of ocean, major fisheries
- 2. Oceanic Zone: all open water not on continental shelf, one of most unproductive sections of ocean
-
Define upwelling
where nutrients come from bottom of ocean to surface
-
Name and Define the 2 Types of Food Chains
- 1. Grazer: begins with photosythentic organisms
- 2. Decomposer: begins with waste and remains
-
Define Food Web
series of interconnected food chains
-
What are the 2 Phases of Nutrient Cycling?
- 1. Organismic: tied up in the body of an organism
- 2. Environmental: can be sedimentary or gaseous
-
Define Food Chain
depiction of the trophic structure of a community; a portrait of who eats whom.
-
How is Carbon returned to atmosphere
decomposition, respiration
-
How are humans impacting the Carbon Cycle
burning fossil fuels, deforestaion
-
What are examples of Greenhouse Gases
CO2, Methane, H2O vapor
-
2 Factors to Determoning Freshwater Ecosystems
- 1. water depth
- 2. How fast water is moving
-
Global Warming
accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activity (global climate chage)
-
2 groups of organisms that do nitrogen fixation
- 1. bacteria that live in nodules on roots of legumes
- 2. cynobacteria in aquatic ecosystems (blue-green algae)
-
How is Nitrogen returned to atmosphere?
dentrified by bacteria and released
-
How are humans impacting the Nitrogen Cycle
burning fossil fuels, municipal sewage treatment, large scale livestock production waste, over use of fertilizers
|
|