Ecology, Exam 1, Ch 4: Terrestrial Communities

Front 1

What determines species distributions?

Back 1

Physical environment to tolerance limits to biotic interaction; food, predators, competitors, parasites, diseases.

Front 2

What are the fundamental types of terrestrialcommunities?

Back 2

Biomes are the major types of terrestrial vegetation.

Each biome is characterized by a specific type of vegetation that is determined by the regional climate

Front 3

AbioticFactors Determining the Geographic Rangegoogle.com/GIAG2.crl

Back 3

Climate is a key component of the physical environment; Temperature & Precipitation

Soils

Front 4

LatitudinalVariation in Temperature

Back 4

Driven by the angle of the sun rays relative to theEarth surface

Front 5

SeasonalVariation in Temperatures

Back 5

Driven by the tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to theSun

Front 6

LatitudinalVariation in Precipitation

Back 6

Driven by the global air circulation

Atmospheric circulation: Hadley cells

Mid-latitude desertification:

World’s largest deserts are around 30° N & S

Front 7

LocalVariation in Precipitation driven by?

Back 7

Driven by major landscape features (e.g., mountainrain shadow) one side moist other side dry.

Front 8

EcologicalFiltering

Occurs when?

Back 8

Occurs when abiotic or biotic factors limit theexistence of species in a community

Front 9

Ecological Filtering

Abiotic Filters?

Back 9

Abiotic filters: Environmental conditions & Limiting resources

Front 10

Ecological Filtering

biotic Filters?

Back 10

Biotic filters: Competition , Predation & Parasitism

Front 11

How can disturbance function as an ecological filter?

Back 11

Disturbance can function as an ecological filter (byremoving a species) or influence other ecological filters (altering limitingresources)

Front 12

DistributionDepends on Evolutionary History

What types?

Back 12

Geological history

Historical shifts in climate

Phylogenetic history

Front 13

Geological History

Back 13

Continental drift

Glaciation (formation of the Bering Land Bridge)

Front 14

Phylogenetic history

Back 14

Species and their descendants have geographicaldistributions

Front 15

Typesof Terrestrial Communities: Large Scale

Back 15

Biogeographic realms:

Determined by evolutionary history, geologicalconnections, and regional climate

Front 16

Typesof Terrestrial Communities: Small Scale

Back 16

Biomes: ecosystemscharacterized by specific types of vegetation

Plant species may be different in the same biomes indifferent geographical regions

Deciduous forests in Europe vs. N. America orrainforests in Asia vs. S. America

Front 17

Biomes

Back 17

Tundra, Conifer Forest, Temperate Deciduous Forest, Temperate Grassland, Mediterranean Shrubland, Desert, Tropical Savanna, Tropical Rainforest.

Front 18

Determining factors of Biomes.

Back 18

Climate factors(temperature and precipitation) are the maindeterminants of biome plant life

Front 19

Rainforest

Features

Back 19

Leaf morphology toprevent water accumulation

Epiphytic habit

Trunk buttresses

Shallow root system

Front 20

TropicalSavanna

Features

Back 20

Deciduous habit (↓water loss duringthe dry season)

Grasses regrow from roots (↑growth after fire)

Thorns and spines (protection from grazers)

Front 21

Desert

Features

Back 21

Allelopathy (↓competitionfor water)

Reduced leaves (↓water loss)

Hairy leaves (↑shade, ↓wind)

Front 22

Mediterranean Shrubland

Feature

Back 22

Flammable oils (promotefires to ↓competition)

Resprout from roots(after fire)

Hard, needle-like leaves w/few stomata (↓water loss)?`@

Front 23

TemperateGrassland

Feature

Back 23

Deep root systems

Quick regrowth from roots

Meristem underground (prevent damage from grazing orfire)

High silica content (↓grazing)

Front 24

TemperateDeciduous Forest

Feature

Back 24

Deciduous habit (↓waterloss during winter dormancy)

Broad leaves to capture sunlight

Thick bark to protect from cold

Understory plants flower in the spring before canopy develops

Front 25

BorealForest

Feature

Back 25

Evergreen habit(↑photosynthesis)

Needle-like leaves (↓water loss and snow retention)

Dark color (↑heat absorption)

Drooping branches to shed excess snow

Front 26

ArcticTundra

Feature

Back 26

Small, low-growingplants

Shallow root system (permafrost)

Dark color (↑heat absorption)

Hairy stems & leaves (↓water loss)

Growth in clumps (protection from the wind and cold)

Front 27

Biomesare Linked to Climate Patterns

Back 27