Untitled Quiz

Levels of Organization of Ecological Systems

• Individual: A single organism (plant, animal, or single-celled life form).
• Population: A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.
• Community: Different populations of different species interacting in a given area.
• Ecosystem: A system of interacting communities and its non-living environment.
• Biome: Large geographical areas with similar climates and communities.
• Biosphere: All parts of Earth where organisms can live, including land, ocean, and atmosphere.

The Biome Concept

• Communities: Interacting populations of different species living in the same place.
• Biomes: Series of communities or ecosystems over a large geographic area.
• Common Characteristics: Plants and animals in a biome have adaptations suited to the environment.
• Biomes are not limited to specific continents: They are influenced by shared abiotic factors.
• Terrestrial Biomes: Occur on land.
• Aquatic Biomes: Occur in freshwater and marine habitats.

World’s Climate Zones

• Equator: 0° latitude.
• Tropic of Cancer: 23°26’ N.
• Tropic of Capricorn: 23°26’ S.
• Tropics: Area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• Temperate: Zones between the tropics and the polar regions.
• Polar: Regions around the North and South Poles.

Differential Heating of Earth’s Surface by the Sun

• Curvature of the Earth: The amount of solar radiation reaching an area varies with latitude.
• Low angle of incoming radiation: More diffuse heating, resulting in cooler climates.
• Direct solar radiation at the equator: More concentrated heating, resulting in warmer climates.

Global Distribution of Precipitation

• Precipitation: Any liquid or frozen water falling from the atmosphere to Earth.
• Highest precipitation: Around the equator.

Biomes Vary with Temperature and Precipitation

• Biomes change based on: Average precipitation and temperature.
• Wet and hot: Biomes located in areas with high precipitation and high temperatures.
• Dry and hot: Biomes located in areas with low precipitation and high temperatures.
• Wet and cold: Biomes located in areas with high precipitation and low temperatures.
• Dry and cold: Biomes located in areas with low precipitation and low temperatures.

Biomes Vary with Latitude

• Latitude: Distance north or south of the equator.
• Boreal forests: Found in Canada, Europe, and Siberia.
• Tropical forests: Found near the equator.
• Deserts: Found around 30°N and 30°S latitude.
• Tropical Rainforests: Occur between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.
• Arctic Tundra: Found near or above the Arctic Circle (66.6°N).
• Other factors besides temperature: Biomes are not exactly the same as climate zones.

Vertical Zonation by Elevation

• Elevation: Height above sea level.
• Mountains: Cooler and wetter than lower elevations.
• Vertical Zonation: Different vegetation types occur at different elevations.

How to Interpret Climate Graphs

• X-axis: Months of the year.
• Left Y-axis: Temperature (°C).
• Right Y-axis: Precipitation (mm).
• Dry Months: Shaded yellow.
• Wet Months: Mid-blue.
• Average annual temperature and total precipitation: Shown at the top of the graph.

Tropical Seasonal Forests

• Distinct wet and dry seasons: Though temperatures remain warm-hot year-round.
• Often called dry tropical forests: Dry for much of the year.
• Dry season: Brown and dormant vegetation.
• Rainy season: Vivid green vegetation.
• Drought-tolerant deciduous trees: Drop leaves during the dry season to conserve water.
• Soils: Have higher levels of nutrients than tropical rainforests.

Deciduous Versus Evergreen Trees

• Deciduous: Trees that drop all their leaves seasonally to conserve water.
• Evergreen: Trees that remain green year-round, shedding only a few leaves at a time.