Ecology Exam 1

Front 1

physiognomy

Back 1

physical characteristics of the vegetation

Front 2

how classify biomes?

Back 2

combination of environmental factors and physiognomy

Front 3

hadley cell?

Back 3

0 to 30 degrees latitude N and S and comes from the trade winds

Front 4

deserts

Back 4

dominated by C4 and CAM plants, lots of wind erosion, pressure on desert grasslands from grazing

Front 5

two biggest classifiers of biomes

Back 5

average temperature and annual precipitation

Front 6

tundra

Back 6

shortest growing season, permafrost, strong soil freeze, no woody vegetation

Front 7

alpine tundra occurs at _____ altitude

Back 7

high

Front 8

artic tundra occurs at _____ altitude

Back 8

high

Front 9

temperate grasslands

Back 9

stature ranges from desert, short grass to tall grassland based on precipitation, converted to agriculture, fertile soils

Front 10

loss of grasslands

Back 10

agriculture, fire suppression

Front 11

woodlands

Back 11

transition from grassland to forest, evergreen and deciduous habit, fire prone

Front 12

boreal forests

Back 12

latitude > 50, 30 to 120 days > 10 C, only occurs in northern hemisphere, ground covered by bryophytes, wildfire natural, source of wood fiber, open forest canoopy with conical crowns, rich in iron ore underneath

Front 13

temperate broad-leaf forests deciduous

Back 13

nitrogen limited, heavily distrubed by humans, moderate to high growth rates, very diverse

Front 14

riparian forest

Back 14

subset of temperate broadlead deciduous, flooded for portion of year, fluted buttresses and knees

Front 15

temperate broad-leaf evergreen forests

Back 15

schlerophyllis (mediterranean, Asia), rainforests(NZ,chile,austrailia), most are heavily logged

Front 16

temperate needle-leaf evergreen

Back 16

conical architecture, many types

Front 17

management issues of temp. evergreen conifer forest

Back 17

logging, fire, drainage, insects

Front 18

tropical broad-leaf deciduous

Back 18

undergone greatest deforestation, lower biodiversity than tropical broadleaf evergreen, deciduous to avoid drought

Front 19

tropical evergreen

Back 19

high biodiversity, diverse in structure function and species composition, many stories,infertile soils, lots of precipitation

Front 20

tropical forest deforestation

Back 20

grazing, shifting agriculture, charcoal

Front 21

primary tree growth

Back 21

shoot elongation

Front 22

secondary tree growth

Back 22

expansion of stem and root, only in woody plants

Front 23

excurrent tree form

Back 23

terminal shoot exerts apical dominance over lateral shoots, common in northern latitudes, absorb more diffuse radiation

Front 24

decurrent tree form

Back 24

terminal shoot does not maintain apical dominance over lateral shoots, common in lower latitudes, absorb direct beam light

Front 25

what is the function of stem and branch structure?

Back 25

support photosynthetic machinery and transport water and sugars

Front 26

cambium-meristematic region is responsible for what type of growth?

Back 26

secondary

Front 27

xylem grows ____ and phloem grows ______

Back 27

inwardly; outwardly

Front 28

sapwood function

Back 28

transport of water

Front 29

heartwood function

Back 29

support, metabolic waste collection

Front 30

bark function

Back 30

protection; dead phloem

Front 31

phloem function

Back 31

food conducting tissue, smaller than xylem

Front 32

xylem function

Back 32

sapwood (water conduction) and hearwood (support),

Front 33

tracheids

Back 33

found in gymnosperms, smaller in diameter, less suceptible to cavitation, slow rate of water transport

Front 34

vessel elements

Back 34

found in angiosperms, larger in diameter, more susceptible to cavitation, faster water transport, more susceptible to disease

Front 35

diffuse porous

Back 35

diameter smaller and more uniform

Front 36

ring porous

Back 36

larger diameter and less uniform

Front 37

pipe theory model

Back 37

positive relationship between the sapwood and leaf area of a tree; better in mesic soil vs. xeric soil

Front 38

radial increment

Back 38

function of photosynthate production, occurs after fine root production

Front 39

function of shoots

Back 39

CO2 assimilation

Front 40

sun leaves

Back 40

smaller in size, more lobed, more stomate, less palisade layers

Front 41

shade leaves

Back 41

bigger in size, not as lobed, fewer stomate, less palisade layers

Front 42

why don't all plants support excessive amounts of sapwood?

Back 42

not enough tree support for sapwood, need balance autotrophic respiration, cost to maintain and repair tissue, carbon balance

Front 43

coarse roots

Back 43

anchor of trees, some nutrient transfer

Front 44

fine roots

Back 44

water and nutrient absoprtion, occur in first foot of soil for most trees

Front 45

when does fine root growth happen?

Back 45

typically with non-frozen soil and with water and nutrients being highly available

Front 46

pneumatophores or knees

Back 46

roots used in low oxygen levels, end of it sits above water table line

Front 47

buttress roots

Back 47

better support in wetter soils

Front 48

mycorrhizae

Back 48

symbiotic relationship b/t the root and fungi present in all plants; essential for survival

Front 49

two types of mycorrhizae

Back 49

endomycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae

Front 50

endomycorrhizae

Back 50

most common; hyphae penetrate cortical cells

Front 51

ectomycorrhizae

Back 51

less common but many timbers have then, form mantle around roots

Front 52

how do plants help fungi and vice versa in mycorrhizae?

Back 52

plants supply the fungi with carbs and the fungi enhance the plant's ability to uptake nutrients and water

Front 53

how do mycorrhize help chemical uptake?

Back 53

facilitate chemical decomposition, uptake of organic forms of nutrients, release acid to help decomposition

Front 54

radiation

Back 54

transfer of energy as an electromagnetic wave

Front 55

types of solar radiation

Back 55

ultraviolet, visible and far-red/infra-red

Front 56

total incidence of ultraviolet, visible and far-red/infrared light

Back 56

10% UV 50% visible 40% far-red/IR

Front 57

Energy budget equation

Back 57

Solar radiation= reflected solar radiation+ convection+ conduction+ latency heat of vaporization+ photosynthesis

Front 58

photosynthetic active radiation (PAR)

Back 58

visible light; used to detect land cover and canopy structure

Front 59

reflected solar radiation (R)

Back 59

amount of short wavelengths sent back to the atmosphere plus long waves re-radiated

Front 60

albedo

Back 60

fraction of radiation reflected back to the atmosphere

Front 61

convection

Back 61

heating of the air and transfer of energy as air moves over a surface

Front 62

conduction

Back 62

transfer of energy through a solid

Front 63

latent heat of vaporization

Back 63

the amount of energy required to vaporize water, approximately 580 cal/g water @ 28C

Front 64

latent heat of vaporization in what cycles important for trees to balance?

Back 64

carbon (energy) and water cycles

Front 65

what are ideal conditions for trees to exhibit high rates of transpiration?

Back 65

good during wet and sunny days

Front 66

small leaves are advantageous for what climate?

Back 66

hot and sunny climate

Front 67

photosynthesis and how it relates to the energy budget

Back 67

small component of the budget

Front 68

bowen ratio

Back 68

the ratio of convection (C) : (LE) latent heat of evaporation; environmentalist use to characterize environmental conditions

Front 69

Douglas-fir forest vs. clear-cut forest: energy budget comparisons

Back 69

LE higher in DF because leaves have water for evaporization, C in CCF because no canopy to block warm air from warming the forest

Front 70

where is solar radiation the greatest in terms of latitude?

Back 70

between 30N and 30S degrees

Front 71

which aspects receive more radiation?

Back 71

southernly and westernly aspects receive more radiation

Front 72

does higher or lower altitude receive more radiation?

Back 72

higher altitude

Front 73

beer lambert law

Back 73

ln(IZ/I0) = -(k)(LAI)
where IZ =amount of light at some depth in the canopy
I0=light above canopy, -k=extinction coefficient, LAI= leaf area index

Front 74

plants convert what % of solar radiation into biomass

Back 74

1%

Front 75

light compensation point

Back 75

where photosynthesis = respiration or where carbon balance= 0

Front 76

light saturation point

Back 76

where photosynthesis will not increase with increased levels of light

Front 77

when phytochrome far-red is active it means the plant has/has not been exposed to light?

Back 77

exposed to light

Front 78

plants use ____ vs ______ to plan dormancy instead of temperature b/c it more reliable

Back 78

day light vs. no-light

Front 79

temperature is or is not the sole driver of vegetation

Back 79

not

Front 80

can unexpected temperatures kill plants?

Back 80

yes

Front 81

homeotherms

Back 81

organism that maintains a constant body temperature (warm-blooded)

Front 82

poikilotherms

Back 82

organism that doesn't regulate body temperature so it relies on the environment (cold-blooded)

Front 83

latitude effect on temperature

Back 83

temperature decreases from the equator because: increase angle of light incidence and increased thickness of the atmosphere

Front 84

elevation effect on temperature

Back 84

decrease with elevation; lapse rate is 4 C / 1000 meters

Front 85

aspect effect on temperature

Back 85

higher temps on southern and western aspects

Front 86

large bodies of water and temperature

Back 86

larger bodies have a greater capacity to store energy (conduction) and release (convection) back to the air; more moderate climate

Front 87

phanerophyte

Back 87

bud is greater than 25 cm above the ground

Front 88

chaemophyte

Back 88

bud less than 25 cm above the ground

Front 89

hemi-cryptophyte

Back 89

bud at soil surface

Front 90

geophyte

Back 90

bud below soil surface

Front 91

therophyte

Back 91

annual

Front 92

Q10

Back 92

an increase in metabolic rate in response to an increase in temperature of 10C

Front 93

three processes of concern with temperature

Back 93

photosynthesis, autotrophic respiration and heterotrophic respiration

Front 94

which is higher, the optimal temperature for photosynthesis or respiration rate?

Back 94

respiration rate

Front 95

affects of low temperature

Back 95

decreased root membrane, frost cracks, frost heaving or ripping roots, desiccation

Front 96

adaptation to cold temperature

Back 96

dormancy, thick bark, germination bud place underground, complete life cycle in one growing season, remove free water from bud and load with salt

Front 97

affects of high temperature

Back 97

protein degradation, dehydration, excessive respiration, stem girdling (killing) from hot soil surface

Front 98

adaptations to hot temperature

Back 98

deciduous leaf habit, small foliage, thick bark, leaf structures to reflect solar radiation, leaf orientation

Front 99

factors influencing the hydrologic cycle

Back 99

climate pattern, vegetation, radiation and humans

Front 100

percentage of total global water that is fresh water

Back 100

less than 3%

Front 101

water balance equation

Back 101

precipitation (P) - (runoff (R) + subsurface or deep drainage (S) + evaporation (E) + transpiration (T) = water balance (W)

Front 102

how does the type of precipitation influence the hydrologic cycle?

Back 102

amount of moisture in the air is inversely related to temperature, i.e. rain vs mist, rain provides more water and mist provides cooling

Front 103

patterns of precipitation

Back 103

orographic, frontal, convective storms

Front 104

orographic precipitation

Back 104

caused by topographic pattern of land; precipitation is greater on windward side relative to the leeward side of the mountain due to cooling of air which causes the air to lose its ability to hold moisture

Front 105

frontal precipitation

Back 105

warm front = low intensity, cold front = high intensity

Front 106

convective storms

Back 106

heating of air mass, intense but brief, local distribution

Front 107

factors influencing evaporation/interception

Back 107

available water, rainfall intensity, solar radiation input, forest floor, LAI or canopy architecture (higher interception with higher density), leaf habit (conifers have greater interception)

Front 108

transpiration

Back 108

the loss of water vapor due through the stomata of plants

Front 109

soil plant atmosphere continuum model (SPAC)

Back 109

as plant opens stomate, plant starts losing water, water concentration is higher in the leaf than in the atmosphere, creates tension in water-xylem transport system

Front 110

higher LAI = _____ transpiration rate

Back 110

higher

Front 111

factors influencing transpiration

Back 111

leaf area, solar radiation (creates energy gradient), stomata behavior and stomatal conductance (ex. hot dry weather means stomata closed)

Front 112

environmental controls on stomata

Back 112

hot, dry air reduces stomata conductance; and lower internal water reduces stomata conductance

Front 113

runoff affect on hydrologic cycle, when does it occur?

Back 113

occurs when precipitation > infiltration and transpiration rates; helps contribute to erosion and pollution of other ecosystems

Front 114

subsurface flow

Back 114

movement of water below the mineral soil

Front 115

influences on subsurface flow

Back 115

soil texture, storm intensity, forest floor, and soil bulk density

Front 116

influence of water availability on structure of forests/trees

Back 116

the ratio of leaf area: sapwood area, rooting (more rooting in water limited areas) and LAI

Front 117

influence of water availability on function

Back 117

more water means more LAI; productivity of forests determined by site water balance; more LAI means more biomass production

Front 118

how does fire and harvesting affect the hydrologic cycle?

Back 118

fire can create a hydrophobic layer in the soil thus decreasing infiltration rate and LAI; harvesting increases stream flow

Front 119

hydrophytes

Back 119

spongy tissue to store oxygen, portions of roots abover water line and need low amts of oxygen

Front 120

mesophytes

Back 120

plants adapted for moderate water

Front 121

xerophytes

Back 121

adapted for low amounts of water, deeply rooted, thick tissue, large root/shoot ratio, small leaves, thick cuticle

Front 122

Three components of soil

Back 122

unconsolidated organic matter, miner soil and pores containing water and gas

Front 123

five major factors that influence formation of soil

Back 123

climate, topography, time, biota and parent material

Front 124

soil horizons

Back 124

physical layers of soil that differ in physical, chemical and hydrologic properties; formed from pedegonic process

Front 125

forest floor is composed of?

Back 125

organic matter

Front 126

mor forest floor

Back 126

develops beneath conifer forest

Front 127

mull forest floor

Back 127

develops beneath a hardwood forest

Front 128

mineral soil is derived from?

Back 128

decomposed parent material

Front 129

order of soil layers

Back 129

o horizon, a horizon, ab or e horizon, b horizon and then c horizon

Front 130

o horizon

Back 130

organic matter

Front 131

a horizon

Back 131

mineral soil, zone of eluviation (move out of soil and down levels)

Front 132

ab or e horizon

Back 132

transitional level

Front 133

b horizon

Back 133

zone of illuviation where minerals and other particles move into this level

Front 134

c horizon

Back 134

unconsolidated parent material

Front 135

gelisols

Back 135

tundra soils, permafrost w/in 2 m of the soil surface, decomposition is slow

Front 136

histisols

Back 136

organic soils, not very decomposable

Front 137

spodosols

Back 137

developed from accumulation of humus, Al and Fe oxides, occur under conifer forests, in cool and moist climates

Front 138

andisols

Back 138

volcanic soils, form from volcanic soils, holds lots of water and fixed phosphorous

Front 139

entisols

Back 139

youngest soils, no horizons, sandy soils

Front 140

inceptisols

Back 140

soil w/ younger age, mountainous regions, seen in many forests

Front 141

alfisols

Back 141

most fertile forest soils, most soil in wisconsin, lower base saturation

Front 142

ultisols

Back 142

mostly in SE U.S., in warmer temps and moister places, pedegonic process of leaching of nutrients and miners down the horizons, oxides seen

Front 143

oxisols

Back 143

most highly weather soils, only occur in tropical soils, most infertile soils b/c of weathering, not all tropical soils are oxisols, high amt of Fe and Al oxides

Front 144

vertisols

Back 144

clay rich, shrink and swell very badly do to wetting and drying

Front 145

aridisols

Back 145

desert soils

Front 146

mollisols

Back 146

prarie soils or grassland soils, deep A horizon development, very rich in organic matter

Front 147

soil texture

Back 147

relative proportions of the different size mineral particles in the soil

Front 148

order these particles in size biggest to smallest

Back 148

rock, sand, silt, clay

Front 149

bulk density

Back 149

mass per unit volume of soil, how dense the soil is

Front 150

can bulk density be changed? how about soil texture

Back 150

bulk density can be changed by human effects (compaction makes soil more dense) and soil texture cannot be changed

Front 151

what can affect bulk density?

Back 151

soil compaction, skid trails from harvesting equipment, grazing by farm animals

Front 152

affect of bulk density and soil compaction on infiltration rate and?

Back 152

reduces infiltration rates, reduces the ability for roots to explore the soil for more minerals, no regrowth

Front 153

how to reverse compaction?

Back 153

freeze-thaw action, burrowing animals, earthworms, roots, rip the soil with machines

Front 154

field capacity

Back 154

the graviational water contain in the macropores that has drained from the soil due to gravity

Front 155

available water

Back 155

the capillary water that is retained in the capillary or micro-pores in the soil and around soil particles by cohesion and adhesion

Front 156

unavailable water

Back 156

the hygroscopic water that is held strongly as a thin layer around individual soil particles , which is unavailable to plants

Front 157

which soil particles have higher water holding capacity?

Back 157

loams and silts; sand and clay are bad

Front 158

soil acidity is dependent on?

Back 158

H ion concentations

Front 159

most natural soils are basic or acidic?

Back 159

acidic

Front 160

natural sources of acidity

Back 160

organic acids, bicarbonate and nitrate

Front 161

effects of soil acidity on plant growth

Back 161

altered nutrient availability, adversely affect root membrane permeability,

Front 162

cation exchange capacity (CEC)

Back 162

the capacity of a soil to attract and hold positively charged ions to the net negatively charged sufrace of clay or organic matter particles

Front 163

factors that influence CEC

Back 163

% organic matter, soil texture, clay type and pH

Front 164

CEC (increases/decreases) as pH increases

Back 164

increases

Front 165

isomorphic substitution

Back 165

the substitution of one element for another in the mineral structure of a clay particle without changing the crystal structure, charge will change

Front 166

base saturation

Back 166

the percentage of the CEC that is occupied by exchangeable bases relative to all bases

Front 167

exchangeable bases

Back 167

Ca, Mg, K, and Na

Front 168

% B.S.

Back 168

Ca + Mg + K + Na / (Ca + Mg + K + Na + H + Al)

Front 169

heavily weathered soils have exchangeable/non-exchangeable bases

Back 169

nonexchangeable (H and Al) because they are highly weathered

Front 170

anion exchange capacity

Back 170

exact same as CEC but with anions, has net positive charge, has nitrates, chlorides and phosphates, temperate forest don't use AEC, most plants can't take up anions so more are leached

Front 171

deficiency zone

Back 171

growth increases with addition of nutrient

Front 172

transition zone

Back 172

growth response declines, nutrient generally is no longer limiting

Front 173

luxury consumption

Back 173

excess uptake of nutrient, concentration. Increases in growth

Front 174

toxicity

Back 174

high concentration of nutrient adversly affect growth or may kill plant