ecology - ANSWER the scientific study of the interactions between organisms
and the environment
biosphere - ANSWER the global ecosystem—the sum of all the planet's
ecosystems and landscapes
List the levels of ecology from organisms thru biosphere. - ANSWER Global
Lanscape
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Organismal
Global Ecology - ANSWER examines how the regional exchange of energy
and materials influences the functioning and distribution of organisms across
the biosphere
Lanscape Ecology - ANSWER a landscape (or seascape) is a mosaic of
connected ecosystems. Research in landscape ecology focuses on the factors
controlling exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple
ecosystems.
Ecosystem Ecology - ANSWER An ecosystem is the community of organisms
in an area and the physical factors with which those organisms interact.
Ecosystem ecology emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling between
organisms and the environment.
Community Ecology - ANSWER A community is a group of populations of
different species in an area. Community ecology examines how interactions
between species, such as predation and competitions, affect community
structure and organizations.
,Population Ecology - ANSWER A population is a group of individuals of the
same species living in an area. Population ecology analyzes factors that affect
population size and how and why it changes through time.
Organismal Ecology - ANSWER Organismal ecology, which includes the
subdisciplines of physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology, is
concerned with how an organism's structure, physiology, and behavior meet the
challenges posed by its environment.
What is climate and what factors contribute to it? - ANSWER the long-term
prevailing weather conditions in an area
biotic factors - ANSWER the other organisms that make up the living
component of the environment
abiotic factors - ANSWER the nonliving chemical and physical attributes
four major abiotic components of climate:
-temperature
-precipitation
-sunlight
-wind
What determines global climate patterns? - ANSWER largely by solar energy
and the planet's movement in space
How does the sun's radiation on a spherical earth cause latitudinal variations in
climate? - ANSWER -Latitudinal variation in sunlight intensity is caused by
the curved shape of Earth
-Sunlight strikes the tropics, most directly
-At higher latitudes, where sunlight strikes Earth at an oblique angle, light is
more diffuse
How are the sun and Earth's axis responsible for seasons? - ANSWER
Seasonal variations of light and temperature increase steadily toward the poles.
Seasonality at high latitudes is caused by the tilt of Earth's axis of rotation and
its annual passage around the sun. June solstice: Northern hemisphere receive
direct sunlight but the southern hemisphere and the season is summer. The
southern hemisphere receives slanting sunlight and its winter.
, How do bodies of water regulate temperatures in the surrounding area? -
ANSWER -During the day, air rises over warm land and draws a cool breeze
from the water across the land.
-As the land cools at night, air rises over the warmer water and draws cooler air
from land back over the water, which is replaced by warmer air from offshore
-The California Current carries cold water southward along western North
America, help produce California's costal fog. The Gulf Stream carries warm
water from the equator to the North Atlantic and warms Europe.
climograph - ANSWER plots the temperature and precipitation in a region
What is an ecotone? - ANSWER The area where different terrestrial biomes
merge without sharp boundaries
Tropical Forest Biome - ANSWER -Distribution: Equatorial and sub-
equatorial regions
-Temperature: Averages 25-29 oC.
-Rainfall: Tropical rain forest: 200-400 cm annually; tropical dry forests 150-
200 cm (monsoons) with a six to seven month dry period.
-Organisms: Greatest species diversity; 5-30 million insect spps, animals
adapted to the vertical layers
-Human Impact: Rapid human population growth is now destroying many
tropical forests
Savanna Biome - ANSWER Distribution: Equatorial and sub-equatorial
regions
Temperature: Averages 24-29 oC but is more seasonally variable than in the
tropics.
Rainfall: 20-30 cm annually but is more seasonally variable
Organisms: Scattered trees adapted to drier conditions, fires are common.
Mammals such as wildebeests, zebras, lions, and hyenas
Human Impact: Fires set by humans may help maintain this biome. Cattle
ranching and over-hunting reducing large mammal populations.
Desert Biome - ANSWER Distribution: occur in bands near 30o north and
south of the equator and in the interior of continents
and the environment
biosphere - ANSWER the global ecosystem—the sum of all the planet's
ecosystems and landscapes
List the levels of ecology from organisms thru biosphere. - ANSWER Global
Lanscape
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Organismal
Global Ecology - ANSWER examines how the regional exchange of energy
and materials influences the functioning and distribution of organisms across
the biosphere
Lanscape Ecology - ANSWER a landscape (or seascape) is a mosaic of
connected ecosystems. Research in landscape ecology focuses on the factors
controlling exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple
ecosystems.
Ecosystem Ecology - ANSWER An ecosystem is the community of organisms
in an area and the physical factors with which those organisms interact.
Ecosystem ecology emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling between
organisms and the environment.
Community Ecology - ANSWER A community is a group of populations of
different species in an area. Community ecology examines how interactions
between species, such as predation and competitions, affect community
structure and organizations.
,Population Ecology - ANSWER A population is a group of individuals of the
same species living in an area. Population ecology analyzes factors that affect
population size and how and why it changes through time.
Organismal Ecology - ANSWER Organismal ecology, which includes the
subdisciplines of physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology, is
concerned with how an organism's structure, physiology, and behavior meet the
challenges posed by its environment.
What is climate and what factors contribute to it? - ANSWER the long-term
prevailing weather conditions in an area
biotic factors - ANSWER the other organisms that make up the living
component of the environment
abiotic factors - ANSWER the nonliving chemical and physical attributes
four major abiotic components of climate:
-temperature
-precipitation
-sunlight
-wind
What determines global climate patterns? - ANSWER largely by solar energy
and the planet's movement in space
How does the sun's radiation on a spherical earth cause latitudinal variations in
climate? - ANSWER -Latitudinal variation in sunlight intensity is caused by
the curved shape of Earth
-Sunlight strikes the tropics, most directly
-At higher latitudes, where sunlight strikes Earth at an oblique angle, light is
more diffuse
How are the sun and Earth's axis responsible for seasons? - ANSWER
Seasonal variations of light and temperature increase steadily toward the poles.
Seasonality at high latitudes is caused by the tilt of Earth's axis of rotation and
its annual passage around the sun. June solstice: Northern hemisphere receive
direct sunlight but the southern hemisphere and the season is summer. The
southern hemisphere receives slanting sunlight and its winter.
, How do bodies of water regulate temperatures in the surrounding area? -
ANSWER -During the day, air rises over warm land and draws a cool breeze
from the water across the land.
-As the land cools at night, air rises over the warmer water and draws cooler air
from land back over the water, which is replaced by warmer air from offshore
-The California Current carries cold water southward along western North
America, help produce California's costal fog. The Gulf Stream carries warm
water from the equator to the North Atlantic and warms Europe.
climograph - ANSWER plots the temperature and precipitation in a region
What is an ecotone? - ANSWER The area where different terrestrial biomes
merge without sharp boundaries
Tropical Forest Biome - ANSWER -Distribution: Equatorial and sub-
equatorial regions
-Temperature: Averages 25-29 oC.
-Rainfall: Tropical rain forest: 200-400 cm annually; tropical dry forests 150-
200 cm (monsoons) with a six to seven month dry period.
-Organisms: Greatest species diversity; 5-30 million insect spps, animals
adapted to the vertical layers
-Human Impact: Rapid human population growth is now destroying many
tropical forests
Savanna Biome - ANSWER Distribution: Equatorial and sub-equatorial
regions
Temperature: Averages 24-29 oC but is more seasonally variable than in the
tropics.
Rainfall: 20-30 cm annually but is more seasonally variable
Organisms: Scattered trees adapted to drier conditions, fires are common.
Mammals such as wildebeests, zebras, lions, and hyenas
Human Impact: Fires set by humans may help maintain this biome. Cattle
ranching and over-hunting reducing large mammal populations.
Desert Biome - ANSWER Distribution: occur in bands near 30o north and
south of the equator and in the interior of continents
