Ecology and Biomes

What is known as the scientific study between organisms and their interactions with the environment around them? Ecology

Name the six levels of ecological research. Organismal Ecology, Population Ecology, Community Ecology, Ecosystem Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Global Ecology

Can ecological changes lead to evolutionary changes? Yes

The goal of ecology is to protect all aspects of nature. True/False

Give an example of a biotic factor and an abiotic facter. Biotic is living, Abiotic is nonliving

Movement away from high population centers is known as dispersal.

What is climate? What is the difference between a macroclimate and microclimate? Climate- the prevailing weather pattern in an area; Macroclimate are climate patterns of a large scale (Midwest, Ames, China, etc) Microclimate is the pattern in an organism’s community (Inside a tree, a pond, under a rock)

What causes the seasonal variations on Earth? The planet’s tilt

The tropics experience sunlight more directly than other areas of the planet, so they end up getting more heat and light. True/False

A equinox occurs when the sun is directly above the equator, while the solstices occur when the Earth’s tilt is the greatest.

Describe the rain shadow effect. Warm, moist air approaches a mountain and it rises. The air then cools and releases its moisture. As the air moves to the other side, it absorbs the surrounding moisture.

A major terrestrial or aquatic life zone is known as a biome.

Describe the levels of stratification in a lake. Littoral zone- close to shore, allows for rooted plants; Limnetic zone- open water that is too deep for rooted plants but supports phytoplankton; Photic zone- area with enough light for photosynthesis; Apotic zone- lacks enough light for photosynthesis; Benthic zone- bottom made of a mix of sand and sediment

What is the collective name of organisms that live in the benthic zone and eat detritus? benthos

Oligotrophic lakes are nutrient rich but oxygen poor. True/False A thermocline occurs when there is a dramatic temperature change in a narrow layer of a body of water.

Describe the levels of stratification in the ocean. Photic zone- enough light for photosynthesis; Aphotic- not enough light; Intertidal- land that is periodically submerged by tides, closest to or is shore; Neritic- farther from shore, continental shelf; Oceanic- “open” ocean, farthest from shore; Pelagic- open water; Benthic- bottom of the ocean above 2000m; Abyssal- bottom below 2000m

Name the aquatic and terrestrial biomes discussed in class. Aquatic- Lake, wetland, estuary, stream/river, coral reef, benthos, intertidal zone, pelagic zone Terrestrial- Tropical forest, desert, savanna, chaparral, temperate grassland, temperate broadleaf forest, tundra, taiga

Oxification is when nutrient rich bottom water is exchanged with the oxygen rich top water in a lake. True/False

What is the area of gradual change between biomes called? Ecotone

A plot of temperature and precipitation over a region is called a climograph.

Name the layer of permanently frozen soil in the tundra. Permafrost

The highest layer in a forest is called the top. True/False