2256911662 | Cycles and Patterns in the Biosphere | boundaries hard to pin down, most of organisms exist at the interface between the atmosphere and lithosphere, native plants widespread in sparsely populated areas of world, however much of the vegetation in populated areas has been removed, and much that persists has been modified by human introduction | 0 | |
2258876577 | Geographic Approach to Study of Organisms | study of the distribution patterns of living organisms and how these patterns change over time -geographers look for and explain patterns in biosphere, one of the most significant components of these patterns is biodiversity -declining biodiversity in a location is often an indication that the overall health of the natural is in decline | 1 | |
2258880323 | Biogeography | number of different kinds of organisms present in a location (high, low) -interested in the relationships between different organisms in a location, and in the relationships between those organisms and the surrounding environment | 2 | |
2258881966 | Biota | total complex of plant and animal life | 3 | |
2258882770 | Flora/Fauna | basic subdivision of biota separates flora from fauna, our primary focus is terrestrial biota vs oceanic | 4 | |
2258888358 | Biomes | large, recognizable assemblages of plants and animals living in a functional relationship with the environment -most appropriate scale for understanding world distribution patterns -collection of plants and animals over a large area that have broadly similar adaptations and relationships with the environment and climate -usually identified and names on the basis of its dominant vegetation | 5 | |
2258888973 | Ecosystem | used to describe all the organisms in an area and their interaction with the immediate environment -an association of plants and animals along with the surrounding nonliving environment and all the interactions in which the organisms take part | 6 | |
2258894106 | Biogeochemical Cycles | web of life comprises a great variety of organisms coexisting in a diversity of ecosystems, organisms survive sustained by flows of energy water and nutrients -flows are different in different parts of the world, in different seasons of year, and under various local circumstances -biogeochemical cycles: flow of energy, hydrologic cycle, carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, mineral cycles -if the biosphere is to function properly its chemical substances must be recycled continually through these cycles -for some components this conversion can be accomplished in less than a decade, for others it may require hundreds of millions of years | 7 | |
2258901187 | Flow of energy | -sun is the basic energy source on which all life depends -solar energy drives life processes in the biosphere through photosynthesis -open system because some energy from the sun is lost | 8 | |
2258909111 | Photosynthesis | light energy and carbon dioxide and water = carbs and oxygen -energy is stored as sugar (carbs). chlorophyll traps light energy to make food -chlorophyll is found within organelles in leaf cells called chloroplasts -chlorophyll absorbs certain wavelengths of visible light, while prominently reflecting green light -photochemical reaction takes CO2 from air and combines with water to form the energy rich carbohydrate compounds we know as sugars while also releasing molecular oxygen -in this process, energy from sunlight is stored as chemical energy in the sugars -sun gives chlorophyll energy and plant converts it to CO2 which enters through the stomata, oxygen is released into the air, water comes up through the roots -leaves absorb the sun energy | 9 | |
2258911007 | Respiration | carbs and oxygen = carbon dioxide and water and energy (heat). takes place in mitochondria. animal takes in glucose and oxygen and creates energy -stored energy in carbohydrates in oxidized, releasing water, carbon dioxide and heat energy -oxygen is taken in from the air, organism takes in carbs (glucose), mitochondria breaks down the carbs and releases carbon dioxide into the air and water vapor as well as energy released into the cell | 10 | |
2258921797 | Net Primary Productivity | -varies widely from environment to environment around the world -land: highest within tropics where both high precipitation and high insolation are available for plant growth, diminishes poleward -ocean: strongly influenced by nutrient content of water, off west coasts of continents in midlatitudes, upwelling cold, nutrient-rich water -plant growth depensd on a surplus of carbohydrate production | 11 | |
2258926288 | Net photosynthesis | the difference between the amount of carbohydrate produced in photosynthesis and that lost in plant respiration | 12 | |
2258927788 | Annual net primary productivity | describes the net photosynthesis of a plant community over a period of one year (units of grams of carbon per square meter per year) -biomass: measure of the amount of chemical energy stored in a plant community and is reflected in the dry weight of organic material | 13 | |
2258947302 | Hydrologic Cycle | every living thing depends on water supply, water dissolves nutrients and carries them to all parts of the organism, two ways water is found in biosphere: in residence- chemically bound to plant and animal tissue, in transit- part of transpiration/respiration | 14 | |
2258950770 | Carbon Cycle | -one of basic elements of life/part of all living things -transfer of carbon from CO2 to living matter and back to CO2 -relatively rapid process -fossil fuels increase CO2 -complex of interlocking cycles in which carbon moves constantly from inorganic reservoir to living system and back again | 15 | |
2258961948 | Oxygen Cycle | -building block in most organic molecules -released into atmosphere through photosynthesis, taken up by living organisms in respiration, or react chemically with rocks -occurs in many chemical forms and is released into atmosphere in variety of ways | 16 | |
2258965832 | Nitrogen Cycle/nitrogen fixation | -for vast majority of living organisms, atmospheric nitrogen is usable only after it has been converted to nitrogen components (nitrates) than can be used by plants. this is called nitrogen fixation -it is nitrogen-fixing bacteria living in the soil and associated plant root nodules that provides most of the usable nitrogen for earth's biosphere | 17 | |
2258971661 | Dentrification | -other bacteria convert some of the nitrates to nitrogen gas, and the gas becomes part of the atmosphere -Synthetic manufacture of nitrogeneous fertilizers and widespread introduction of nitrogen-fixing crops (alfalfa, clover, soybeans) have significantly changed balance between fixation and dentrification. Short-term result has been an excessive accumulation of nitrogen compounds in many lakes and streams. This buildup of nitrogen depletes the oxygen supply of water and upsets the natural balance. | 18 | |
2258976978 | Food Chain | -direct passage from one organism to another of nutrients -more accurate to think of this energy transfer process as a web with interconnected parts or links -fundamental unit- producers (autotrophs), self feeders -producers eaten by consumers (heterotrophs) -decomposers begin the food pyramid again -energy is inefficiently consumed between different food pyramid levels -pollutants in the food chain (biological amplification, chemical pesticides and heavy metals, irrigation-related issues) | 19 | |
2258979321 | Herbivores | primary consumers | 20 | |
2258979774 | Carnivores | Secondary consumers | 21 | |
2259018541 | How many kilograms of plankton does it take to produce 25 kilograms of invertebrates? | (25 kg invert) x (100 kg plankton/100 kg invert) = 250 kg plankton | 22 | |
2259020227 | How many kg invert does it take to produce 5 kg of fish? | (5 kg fish) x (100 kg invert/10 kg fish) = 50 kg invert | 23 | |
2260868272 | Biological Factors and Natural Distributions | -natural distribution of any species or group of organisms is determined by several primarily biological factors -four basic conditions are: evolutionary development, migration and dispersal, reproductive success (pollution die-off and extinction), and plant succession EMRA- Elena makes real plants | 24 | |
2260888778 | Evolutionary Development | -survival of the fittest -where did the genus (closely related organism group) evolve? -some localized -several scattered localities of the same genus -example: contrast in apparent origin of two important groups of plants -acacias: an extensive genus of shrubs and low-growing trees represented by numerous species found in low-latitude portions of every continent that extends into the tropics or subtropics. evolves prior to separation of continents and are now present throughout southern hemisphere -eucalyptus is a genus of trees native only to australia and a few islands. evolved after australian continent was isolated and only occurs naturally in australia | 25 | |
2260904074 | Migration and dispersal | -organisms have always moved from one place to another: animals possess active mechanisms for locomotion and plants move through seed dispersal (wind, water, and animals are principal natural mechanism) -distribution pattern of organisms results from natural migration or dispersal from the original developmental center -Example - Coconut Palms Originated in southeastern Asia and adjacent Melanesian islands. Now extraordinarily widespread along the coasts of tropical continents and islands all over the world Dispersion? Come about because the coconut (large, hard-shelled seeds of the plant) can float in the ocean for months or years without losing their fertility. | 26 | |
2260917550 | Reproductive Success | -key factor in continued survival of any biotic population -ability of organisms to reproduce affects distribution -factors resulting in poor reproductive success (heavy predation, food supply failure, changing environmental conditions, climate change) -range of a species can be diminished by the dying out of some or all of the population | 27 | |
2260921860 | Extinction | -species is extinct over the entire world, eliminated forever from landscape -example: american bison. once nearly exterminated, now occur in large numbers in areas of suitable habitat. under natural conditions they have a high level of reproductive success -range diminution -small areal changes -mass extinction | 28 | |
2260932487 | Plant Succession | -most localized examples of species change over time -one vegetation type replaced naturally by another -occur after catastrophic events -primary succession- pioneer community -secondary succession -extinction versus succession | 29 | |
2285488261 | Physical Factors in Geographic Dispersal | temperature, availability of water, other climatic factors, distribution of soils, and landforms... TAODL | 30 | |
2285503105 | Biotic factors | competition for resources such as food and light, ammensalism in which growth of one species is inhibited by another, predation for any case in which individuals of one species feed on another species, mutualism in which individuals of two species interact to their mutual benefit | 31 | |
2260938448 | Environmental Factors | -survival of plants and animals depends on a set of environmental factors -specific influence varies from species to species 1) influence of climate 2) edaphic influences 3) Topographic influences 4) Wildfire IETW | 32 | |
2260947890 | 1) Influence of climate | Light (green plants need light to survive, light changes shapes of plants, photoperiodism- stimulates seasonal plant behavior) Moisture (distribution of biota governed more by moisture than any other factor besides light, biota evolution dictated by adaptation to moistue conditions) Temperature (different species can survive in different temperatures, plants have limited cold temperature tolerance. animals) Wind (effects generally limited, principle negative effect of wind is that it causes excessive drying by increasing evaporation from exposed surfaces. strong winds can be destructive to biota. positive- sometimes aid in dispersal of biota by carrying pollen, seeds, lightweight organisms, flying creatures) | 33 | |
2260965011 | 2) Edaphic Influence | -soil characteristics (known as edaphic factors) influence biota distribution -soil is a major component of the habitat of any vegetation, and its characteristics significantly affect rooting capabilities and nutrient supply -significant characteristics include: soil texture, soil structure, human content, chemical composition, abundant soil organisms | 34 | |
2260985501 | 3) Topographic Influences | -in global distribution of plants and animals, general topographic characteristics are the most important factor affecting distribution -plants and animals in a plains region vastly different from a mountainous region -slope and drainage | 35 | |
2260989046 | 4) Wildfires | Most environmental factors that effect the distribution of plants and animals are passive, and their influences are slow and gradual. Occasionally abrupt and catastrophic events play a significant role. Events such as floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, insect infestations, and drought Result in complete or partial devastation of plant life and death or driving away of animals Can be helpful for regrowth and maintaining of plant type | 36 | |
2260992625 | Terrestrial Flora and Fauna | turn our attention to investigating the geographic distribution of plants and animals | 37 | |
2260994795 | Ecotone | transition zone of completion in which the typical species of one biome intermingles with those of another | 38 | |
2270899644 | ECOSYSTEM | an association of plants and animals along with the surrounding nonliving environment and all the interactions in which the organisms take part | 39 | |
2270902372 | biome | most appropriate scale for understanding world distribution patterns, biome is a collection of plants and animals over a large area that have broadly similar adaptations and relationships with the environment and climate -usually identified and named on basis of its dominant vegetation -Biome is defined as any large, recognizable assemblage of plants and animals in functional interaction with its environment. | 40 | |
2261011392 | Characteristics of Plants | -plants endure seasonal fluctuations or perish and leave behind (perennials come back every year/annuals) -whether or not a plant loses its leaves (evergreen doesn't lose its leaves/deciduous) -leaf shape (broadleaf/needleleaf) | 41 | |
2261013961 | Evergreen | sheds its leaves on a sporadic or successive basis, but always appears to be fully leaved | 42 | |
2261014858 | Deciduous | experiences an annual period in which all leaves die and fall | 43 | |
2261016216 | Broadleaf | leaves that are flat and expansive in shape | 44 | |
2261017267 | Needleleaf | adorned with thin silvers of tough, leathery, waxy needles | 45 | |
2261018319 | Environmental Adaptations | -tolerance limits govern plant survival, distribution, and dispersal -plants have evolved a variety of protective mechanisms to shield against harsh environmental conditions and to enlarge their tolerance limits -xerophytic adaptations/hygrophytic adaptations | 46 | |
2261022418 | Xerophytic adaptations | Structurally adapted to withstand protracted dry conditions Roots modified in shape or size to enable them to seek widely for moisture (taproots, thin hairlike rootlets) Fleshy, spongy structure to store moisture (succulents) Leaf modification (hard and waxy to inhibit water loss, white and shiny to reflect insolation, tiny leaves or no leaves at all) | 47 | |
2261028046 | Hygrophytics adaptations | Particularly suited to wet environment Extensive root systems to anchor in soft ground Widened, flaring trunk near ground to provide better support | 48 | |
2261029273 | Vertical Zonation | -mountainous areas often have a distinct pattern of vertical zonation in vegetation patterns -largely due to the effects of elevation on temperature and precipitation -elevation latitude relationship (elevation latitude graph for the southern hemisphere is different from the northern hemisphere, reason for this discrepancy is not completely understood) | 49 | |
2261032821 | Local Variations | -exposure to sunlight, valley-bottom location | 50 | |
2261035463 | Characteristics of animals | -invertebrates: animals without backbones (90% of animal species -vertebrates -environmental adaptations (physiological- fox ears, behavioral- hibernation, reproductive- marsupials) | 51 | |
2261039530 | World's terrestrial biomes | 1) Tropical Rainforest 2) tropical deciduous forest 3) tropical scrub 4) tropical savanna 5) desert 6) mediterranean woodland and shrub 7) midlatitude grassland 8) midlatitude deciduous forest 9) boreal forest 10) tundra | 52 | |
2282702956 | Tropical Rainforest | -found around the band of the equator -lots of animal/plant species -low latitude -vegetation is dominated by tall, closely spaced evergreen trees, is a teeming arena of life that is home to a great number and diversity of both plant and animal species -solar radiation is high year-round -sunlight is captured by tall trees -leaf litter that falls to the rainforest floor is rapidly decomposed in this warm, humid environment -many epiphytes actually draw nutrients and water from leaf litter trapped in hollows in the trunk or branches of large trees -tall, closely spaced evergreen trees -soils are ultisols and oxisols | 53 | |
2285603977 | Monsoon rainforests | included in this biome even though they differ somewhat from tropical rainforests -established in areas with a dry season, where pronounced many trees deciduous, vegetation lower and less dense | 54 | |
2285607468 | Tropical Savanna | encompasses a transitional environment between the tropical rainforest and the desert, consisting of tropical grassland with widely spaced trees -periodic burning plays a significant role in limiting tree growth -thorn forests predominate -africa, south america, northern australia, india -thorn forests -deciduous trees -alfisols and ultisols -transitional environment between tropical rainforest and desert, developed because of seasonally wet and dry climates -periodic burning | 55 | |
2285624867 | Desert Biome | characterized by sparse vegetation or even its complete absence -many of these plants complete their entire life cycle during a single growing season -arid/semiarid climate -drought resistant plants, many plants ephemeral completing entire life cycle during single growing season -perennial plants dormant much of year -aridisols and entisols -water/infertile soil | 56 | |
2285646299 | Temperate Grassland | -generally occurs over large areas of continental interiors -highly susceptible to human influence -tall grass prairie of the midwestern US exists only in scattered remnants, even in the dry short-grass steppes of the western great plains -mollisols -perennial and sod-forming grasses -grazing animals -climate is most important | 57 | |
2285664865 | Temperate Forest | Temperate Deciduous Forest -Biome occurs in the eastern US, Europe, and eastern China mainly in humid temperate climates with no dry season -outstanding characteristic is similarity of plants -large human population Temperate Evergreen Forest -Biomes are found on western coasts in temperate latitudes where abundant precipitation is the norm -soils varied -needle leaf forests | 58 | |
2285696699 | Mediterranean Scrub | hot dry summers and cool moist winters, vegetation of this biome consists of widely spaced evergreen or deciduous trees -mediterranean regions are among the world's most densely populated and most intensively cultivated -alfisols and mollisols, steep hillsides inceptisols and entisols -spaced evergreen or deciduous -thick waxy leaves well adapted to long hot dry summers -wildfires common | 59 | |
2285702807 | Northern coniferous forest biome | -called north america boreal forest, russia taiga or snowforest -humid cold climates -spodosols characteristic soil, except in cold northern reaches where permafrost is present/gelisols form -trees are dense near southern margins where summer longer/warmer, short and more openly spaced near northern margins -harsh climate, slow plant growth -large herbivorous mammals -birds are numerous | 60 | |
2285717739 | Tundra Biome | the most continuous of all the biomes, and it occurs almost unbroken along the poleward margins of the northern continents -only cold-tolerant plants can survive -fauna is varied considering the small biomass available -shallow pools of water at the surface become the home of large insects -cold polar climate, short summers/shallow pools of water become home of insect populations -gelisols -net primary productivity almost as low as in deserts | 61 | |
2285727707 | Animal range | focus is usually on the animal's spatial distribution- the area in which it occurs | 62 | |
2285731757 | habitat | particular environment it normally occupies within its geographic range | 63 | |
2285732889 | ecological niche | environmental space within which an organism operates most effeciently or to which it is most effectively adapted | 64 | |
2285740990 | natural selection | genetic information from each parent joins in such a way as to combine a small degree of randomness with a high degree of specification | 65 | |
2285743092 | Mutations | continually add to the random component, inheritable changes in the DNA of a gene | 66 | |
2285745979 | Wallace's Line | lay between Borneo and Sulawesi and between the first and second islands east of java | 67 | |
2285747223 | Zoogeographic realms | broad regions of the world in which animals tend to share common evolutionary origins. often coincide with natural barriers to animal migration | 68 | |
2285752415 | Convergent evolution | holds that organisms in widely separated biogeographic realms, though descended from diverse ancestors, develop similar adaptations to similar ecological niches | 69 | |
2285754844 | Ecological zoogeography | focuses on animals' interactions with their physical environment and other animal or plant species | 70 | |
2297215752 | Summary | -vegetation changes with latitude and altitude -temperature decreases with increasing latitude and altitude -triangle in book | 71 |
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