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92 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the Koppen Climate Classification System? |
It's a system based on average monthly temp and precipitation for unique biomes (A, B, C, D, E, H) |
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What are biomes? |
They are ecosystems with a large, recognizable assemblage of plants and animals. |
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What is an Ecotone? |
It is a transition zone between biomes. |
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What does the climate "A" signify in the Koppen Climate system? |
A = Tropical Humid |
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What affects climates that are tropical humid areas? |
The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone |
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What is the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone? |
It is a belt of low pressure which circles the Earth generally near the equator where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together. |
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Which climate is warm and humid all year long? |
The Tropical Rainforest (wet) "AF" |
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What is Selva? |
It is broadleaf, evergreen, tropical rainforest vegetation, where plants compete for light. |
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What is an emergent? |
These are very tall trees which have grown to gain enough sunlight to stay alive, while being above the Canopy Layer. |
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What are epiphytes? |
They are plants with roots that do not reach the soil. |
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What type of agriculture is common in Selva forests? |
Slash and Burn agriculture |
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What is Ethnobotony? |
It is the study of plant use by native societies. |
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What determines species richness? |
# of species in a particular area |
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What determines species diversity? |
# of species & eveness of species in an area |
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Whis is Alpha Diversity? |
Diversity in a single plot of land |
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What is Beta Diversity? |
Comparing species diversity of one plot to another |
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What is Gamma Diversity? |
It is diversity of small ecosystems in a rainforest |
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Where are tall evergreen forests located? |
They are found in lowland tropics that are non-flooded areas. |
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Where are seasonally flooded forests located? |
They are found along streams. Riparian are found here. |
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What are riparian? |
They are streamside vegetation that are seasonally flooded. |
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Where are swamp forests located? |
They are in permanently flooded areas, or tropical rainforests (Igapo) |
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Where are heath forests located? |
They are tropical rainforests that are found within coastal areas on sandy soils. |
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What are endemic species? |
Species found in only one type of habitat and nowhere else. |
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Where are Montanne tropical rainforests located? |
They are located in high elevation, tropically humid climates. (cloud forests) |
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List all the types of Rainforests |
-Tall Evergreen -Seasonally Flooded Forests -Swamp Forests -Heath Forests -Montanne Tropical Rainforests |
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What are the reasons for complications of pollination in rainforests? |
-Species diversity -little wind in doldrums |
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What does xenogamy describe? |
the transfer of pollen between two individuals. (tropics) |
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What does autogamy describe? |
a plant that pollinates itself (mid-latitudes/not tropics) |
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What does monoecious describe? |
Male flowers and female flowers on the same plant (can pollinate itself) (xenogamous or autogamous) |
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What does dioecious describe? |
Either male or female plant, not both (highest % in rainforest) (only xenogamous) |
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What are birds attracted to regarding pollination? |
They are attracted to bright colors |
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What are bats attracted to regarding pollination? |
They are attracted to fleshy aromatic flowers |
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What are bees attracted to regarding pollination? |
Attracted to purple |
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What are butterlies and moths attracted to regarding pollination? |
They are attracted to white aromatic flowers |
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What are flies attracted to regarding pollination? |
They are attracted to foul aroma. |
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What types of seed dispersal are used by plants? |
-Attraction -Reward -Service |
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What is the exocarp? |
the outer layer of the pericarp of a fruit (attraction) |
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What is the mesocarp? |
the middle layer of the pericarp of a fruit (reward) |
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What is the endocarp? |
the innermost layer of the pericarp that surrounds a seed in a fruit (service) |
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What is a fruit pirate? |
Bad dispersers of pollination (parrots due to their big beaks) |
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What is a Tropical Savanna? |
Areas of climate north and south of rainforests. They have very wet and dry seasons. |
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What type of characteristics are associated to tropical monsoon climates? |
strong wet season and strong dry season |
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What is a monsoon? |
a seasonal reversal of wind and rain due to land and water contrast |
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What does the "B" Koppen climate classification signify? |
It signifies very dry climates BW = Desert BS = Steppe |
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What causes Desert climates? |
-low precipitation -a location beneath subtropical highs -located on the leeward side of a mountain (rain shadow effect) -far inland |
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What are the major deserts in North America? |
- Mojave Desert in CA - Sonoran Desert in AZ, NM, TX, & North Mexico |
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What are the major deserts in South America? |
The Atacama Desert in Chile |
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What are the major deserts in Northern Africa? |
The Sahara Desert |
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What are the major deserts in Asia? |
- The Arabian Desert in South East Asia - The Taklanmakan Desert in North West China - The Gobi Desert in North China and South Mongolia |
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What are the major deserts in Southern Africa? |
- The Namib Desert - The Kalahari Desert |
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Waht are the major deserts in Australia |
The Outback |
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What is xerophytic vegetation? |
It is vegetation thats adapated to extreme drought climates |
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What are annuals? |
They perish during climatic stress (fire) leaving behind seeds |
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What are perennials? |
They are plants that live all year (these plants find water very deep below the water table using tap roots) |
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What are succulents? |
They are plants that store water |
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What is type of succulent is the oldest tree on Earth? |
The Joshua tree |
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Which region calls Steppe climate "Sahel"? |
N. Africa |
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Which region calls Steppe climate "Praries"? |
N. America |
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Which region calls Steppe climate "Pampas"? |
Argentina |
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Which region calls Steppe climates "Veldt"? |
South Africa & Steppe Asia |
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What does the "C" classification of the Koppen Climate system indicate? |
It indicates mid latitude climate. |
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What are characteristics of Mediterranean climates? |
They have hot, dry summers & mild, wet winters --Due to cold ocean currents & westerly winds (30-40deg latitude on the west sides of continents) |
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Mediterranean climates are located where? |
-Southern CA -Land surrounding the mediterranean sea -Central Chile -Cape Town, South Africa -Perth, Australia |
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What is scelorphyllous vegetation? |
It is vegetation that has adapted to summer drought and wild fires |
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What are characteristics of Marine west coast climates? |
They are near relatively warm ocean curretns westerly winds They are cool & foggy, cloudy, & rainy year round Contains beautiful forests and conifers |
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Where are Marine west coast climates located? |
-Pacific NW; NorCal, Oregan, Washington, & BC -Western Europe -Southern Chile -New Zealand -Tasmania, Southern Australia |
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What does the "D" Koppen Climate classification indicate? |
Severe Mid latitude climates |
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What are the charactersitics of a humid continental climates? |
-inland or on east sides of continents -large annual temp ranges due to continental air masses -strong well developed seasons -deciduous vegetation |
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Where are humid continental climates located? |
-Chicago -New York -Central Europe -Western Russia -Northern China -Northern Japan |
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What are the characteristics of Sub Arctic Climates? |
-Mostly inland or east coast -Strong continental influence -Largest Annual Temp. Range -Contains Boreal Forests |
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What are boreal forests? |
They are forests of conifers with low species diversity in subarctic climates |
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What is permafrost? |
It is permanentaly frozen soil or subsoil |
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Where are sub arctic climates located? |
-North Canada & Alaska -N. Europe -N. Russia & W. Russia (Siberia) |
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What does the "E" Koppen Climate classification indicate? |
Polar climates |
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What are the characteristics of Polar climates? |
there are no monthly average temps over 50degF |
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What declares the boundary between D&E climates? |
The nerthern limit of tree growth |
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What does the EF climate classification indicate? |
It indicates the climate where Ice Sheets occur. -No month exceeds highs of 35degF within this climate |
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What does the "H" Koppen Climate calssification indicate? |
It indicates highland climates. |
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What are the controls of Highland climates? |
-Elevation -Slope Aspect (Ubac vs Adret) -Exposure to wind affects vegetation |
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What is changeability? |
The rapid change in temperatures |
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What is a Ubac slope? |
The side of the mountain facing away from the sun |
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What is the Adret slope? |
The side of the mountain receives most sunlight |
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What is Krummholtz? |
Causes trees to become misshapen ex: Bristlecone Pines |
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What is the tree line? |
The elevation above which trees are no longer found |
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What is the snow line? |
The line of permanent snow cover |
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Which plants use spores to reproduce?
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Bryophytes & Pteridophytes |
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What are Bryophytes? |
They are non vascular plants which use spores ex: mosses, liverworts, hornworts |
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What are Pteridophytes? |
They are vascular plants, which use spores ex: Ferns & horsetails |
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What are plants that use seeds to reproduce? |
Angiosperms & Gymnosperms |
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What are angiosperms? |
They are plants with seeds that have a protective coating (nut, fruit, pod) |
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What are gymnosperms? |
They are plants with seed that don't have a protective coating (conifers) |
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What does the pleistocene refugial theory describe? |
It helps describe species diversity in tropical rainforests, due to habitat fragmentation of tucan populations through millions of years of ice ages |
