Temperature and Species Distribution
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a primary way organisms can escape unfavorable conditions?

  • Migration to more suitable environments
  • Evolutionary adaptation over generations
  • Increased food consumption (correct)
  • Hibernation during harsh periods

How does acclimation primarily affect an organism's lethal temperature limits?

  • Acclimation can shift the upper and lower lethal temperature limits. (correct)
  • Acclimation always raises both the upper and lower lethal temperature limits.
  • Acclimation only affects the optimum temperature, not the lethal limits.
  • Acclimation has no effect on lethal temperature limits; these are genetically fixed.

Which life stage is generally most sensitive to temperature effects, potentially limiting species distributions?

  • All life stages are equally sensitive to temperature.
  • Reproductive stage due to the high energy demands.
  • Developmental stage (young) (correct)
  • Adult stage, due to higher energy demands

How might temperature affect a species' ability to compete with other species near the limits of its temperature tolerance?

<p>Reduced tolerance increases susceptibility to disease, predation, or parasitism. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following aspects of temperature is LEAST relevant to limitations on species distributions?

<p>The speed which organisms can migrate to new habitants (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the Eastern phoebe distribution map, which temperature characteristic appears to most directly influence the winter distribution of this species?

<p>Minimum temperature (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The distribution of native vegetation around the globe is primarily determined by local climate. What single factor has the biggest influence?

<p>Adaptations to water availability (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A plant species exhibits stomatal closure and reduced leaf surface area. Which environmental challenge is this plant most likely adapted to?

<p>Drought conditions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are deciduous trees generally less drought-resistant than conifers?

<p>Deciduous trees lose their leaves during dry periods, leading to increased water loss. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following strategies would a xerophyte most likely employ to survive in an arid environment?

<p>Storing water in specialized tissues and reducing leaf surface area. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between frost drought and soil drought?

<p>Frost drought occurs when the ground is frozen preventing water absorption, while soil drought is due to a lack of water in the soil. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Based on the description of the distribution limits for Loblolly pine. What can be inferred?

<p>Loblolly pine distribution is influenced by specific climatic factors. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Water tupelo and sycamore seedlings exhibit flooding resistance. Which of the following mechanisms would NOT likely contribute to their survival in flooded conditions?

<p>Increased root respiration rate to combat anaerobic conditions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which environmental factor, if excessively prolonged through the summer, would most directly inhibit tree growth at alpine treelines?

<p>Excessive snow cover (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which plants in temperate zones achieve cold hardiness?

<p>Initiating metabolic changes triggered by shortening day length (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the transplant experiments with Achillea lanulosa ecotypes demonstrate genetic adaptation?

<p>Transplanted ecotypes maintained their distinct growth forms even under identical conditions, indicating genetic determination. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most accurate description of the role of ecotypic variation in plant adaptation?

<p>Ecotypic variation refers to genetically distinct populations within a species that are adapted to specific local environmental conditions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is LEAST likely to be a primary determinant of tree lines?

<p>Consistent, year-round humidity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do poikilotherms typically adapt to seasonal climate changes?

<p>By acclimating through adjustments to their upper and lower lethal temperature limits. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which adaptation would be MOST beneficial for a plant species to survive in an area with excessive snow lasting through the summer?

<p>Rapid growth and early flowering (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which metabolic process is least likely to contribute to a plant's cold hardiness?

<p>Enhanced photosynthetic activity during winter (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A fish species that cannot acclimate to changing water temperatures, like the chum salmon, would likely exhibit what characteristic?

<p>Migration patterns that avoid areas with extreme temperature fluctuations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of shifting water to the outside of plant cells during cold acclimation?

<p>To prevent intracellular freezing (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the angle of incoming solar radiation affect the distribution of heat energy on Earth?

<p>Solar radiation strikes the equator directly, resulting in more heat energy per unit area compared to the poles. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of low temperatures on cell organelles?

<p>Ice formation and destruction of organelles (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Q10 effect in the context of temperature and metabolic rate?

<p>A 10°C increase in temperature leads to a 2-4x increase in metabolic rate. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is liquid water considered fundamental to the evolution of life on Earth?

<p>Life processes occur in aqueous media, and water has unique thermal and solvent properties. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the rate of temperature change differ between land and water masses, and what effect does this have on organisms?

<p>Land heats and cools more rapidly than water, causing greater daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations for terrestrial organisms. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which area on Earth generally receives the highest amount of rainfall?

<p>Around the equator (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'rain shadow' effect, and where does it typically occur?

<p>Reduced rainfall on the leeward sides of mountains (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two primary options organisms have for dealing with temperature and moisture conditions in their habitats?

<p>Acclimation (individuals) and adaptation (populations) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do the solvent properties of water contribute to its importance for living systems?

<p>Water readily dissolves inorganic compounds, making them available to living systems. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an effect of high temperatures on cell membranes and nucleic acids?

<p>Dissociation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between acclimation and adaptation in the context of how organisms deal with environmental conditions?

<p>Acclimation is a short-term physiological adjustment, while adaptation is a long-term evolutionary change. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do aquatic environments and organisms tend to have relatively constant temperatures?

<p>Heat travels rapidly through water, and water changes temperature slowly. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does precipitation over oceans compare to precipitation over land?

<p>Precipitation over oceans is greater than precipitation over land. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to enzymes at high temperatures?

<p>They become less stable and cease to function. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the annual temperature flux experienced in the temperate zone over land?

<p>50°C (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which adaptation strategy is LEAST effective for a desert-dwelling mammal in maintaining water balance?

<p>Developing numerous sweat glands for evaporative cooling (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the exoskeleton of insects primarily aid in water balance?

<p>By providing a hard chitinous layer covered by a waxy cuticle to minimize water loss (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following metabolic waste elimination strategies is most suitable for an organism living in an arid terrestrial environment?

<p>Converting ammonia into insoluble uric acid and guanine (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A terrestrial crustacean is found to excrete ammonia as its primary nitrogenous waste. What does this suggest about its habitat?

<p>It has ready access to water. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do reptiles achieve effective water conservation in desert environments?

<p>By possessing dry, scaled skin and excreting uric acid. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do camels use heat storage as an adaptation to extreme heat?

<p>By allowing their body temperature to fluctuate, storing heat during the day and dissipating it at night. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What physiological adaptation allows Antarctic fish to survive in icy waters?

<p>Glycoprotein molecules in tissue fluids that lower the freezing point. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a primary adaptation of birds to conserve energy in cold environments?

<p>Increasing metabolic rate to generate more heat. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following animals is most likely to use evaporative cooling as a primary means of thermoregulation?

<p>Humans in a temperate climate (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do isopods excrete ammonia gas as metabolic waste, while crustaceans, centipedes, and millipedes excrete ammonia in water?

<p>Isopods are adapted to conserve water more effectively than crustaceans, centipedes, and millipedes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the presence of hollow hairs contribute to the adaptation of certain mammals in cold environments?

<p>By providing insulation, trapping air, and reducing heat loss. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the compensation point in aquatic ecosystems regarding light penetration?

<p>The depth at which the rate of photosynthesis equals the rate of respiration. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do serotinous cones, such as those found in jack pines and lodgepole pines, demonstrate adaptation to fire regimes?

<p>They require the heat of a forest fire to open and release their seeds. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction between stenohaline and euryhaline organisms in terms of salinity?

<p>Euryhaline organisms can tolerate a wide range of salinities, while stenohaline organisms have a narrow tolerance. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key characteristic of plants that utilize Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM)?

<p>They open their stomata primarily at night to minimize water loss. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do changes in plant species distributions serve as indicators of the effects of climate change?

<p>They provide a delayed indication because long-lived species can persist in unsuitable conditions for extended periods. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the inefficiency of photosynthesis (0.5-1% of incoming radiation captured) affect ecosystem dynamics?

<p>It necessitates large primary producer populations to support the energy needs of consumers. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do bogs, characterized by low pH and low nitrogen levels, influence the distribution of plant species?

<p>They favor species that are adapted to low-nitrogen conditions or are capable of nitrogen fixation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is oxygen availability considered a limiting factor for the distribution of aquatic species?

<p>Because oxygen concentrations in water are lower and more variable compared to air, depending on salinity and temperature. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do frequent fires play in maintaining North American prairies?

<p>Fires prevent the establishment of large tree species, maintaining the dominance of grasses. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does soil type influence plant distributions?

<p>Soil type affects plant distributions due to its physical and chemical properties, influencing water and nutrient availability. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do osmoregulators maintain salt balance in their bodies?

<p>By actively excreting or concentrating salts as needed to maintain a stable internal environment. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following nutrients is a structural component of chlorophyll and involved in the function of many enzymes?

<p>Magnesium (Mg) (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of light as a limiting factor, what is photoperiodism?

<p>The response of organisms to seasonal changes in day length, affecting processes like reproduction and migration. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the black-capped chickadee's ability to enter regulated hypothermia aid its survival in winter?

<p>By conserving energy and allowing them to store fat for the winter. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Temperature restrictions

Limits on organism distributions due to temperature variations.

Upper and lower lethal temperatures

Extreme temperatures beyond which an organism cannot survive.

Role of acclimation

Organisms adjusting to changes in their environment over time.

Survival effects

How temperature limits impact an organism's ability to live.

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Temperature's impact on reproduction

Temperature influences the reproductive success of organisms.

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Maximum temperature

The highest temperature recorded during a given period.

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Minimum temperature

The lowest temperature recorded during a given period.

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Average temperature

The mean temperature calculated over a specific time period.

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Drought resistance

The ability of plants to survive with limited water supply.

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Flooding tolerance

The ability of plants to withstand conditions of excess water.

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Stomatal closure

The process where plant stomata close to reduce water loss.

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Xerophytes

Plants specially adapted to survive in dry environments.

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Frost drought vs Soil drought

Different types of drought affecting plants; frost drought is caused by freezing conditions, soil drought by low soil moisture.

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Abiotic Factors

Non-living components that influence ecosystem distributions, such as temperature and moisture.

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Temperature's Role

Temperature affects physiological processes and life distribution.

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Liquid Water Range

Water remains liquid between 0°C and 100°C, crucial for life.

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Q10 Effect

A 10°C increase in temperature can result in a 2-4x increase in metabolic rate.

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Poikilotherms vs Homeotherms

Poikilotherms have variable body temperatures; homeotherms maintain constant body heat.

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Enzyme Stability

Enzymes can become unstable and cease function at high temperatures.

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Moisture's Importance

All life processes require water; it plays a key role in metabolism.

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Thermal Properties of Water

Water heats and cools slowly, keeping temperatures stable in aquatic environments.

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Global Precipitation Patterns

Rainfall is highest near the equator, also influenced by mountains and land-water distribution.

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Temperature Fluctuations

Land heats and cools rapidly compared to water, causing temperature variations.

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Acclimation

Physiological adjustment of an individual to changing environmental conditions.

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Adaptation

Changes in a population over generations to better suit environmental conditions.

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Rain Shadows

Areas of low precipitation on the leeward side of mountains due to orographic lift.

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Solar Radiation Impact

Solar energy distribution affects global temperatures, hitting directly at the equator, obliquely at poles.

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Aquatic vs Terrestrial Organisms

Aquatic organisms depend on dissolved oxygen in water; terrestrial ones need water from food/drink.

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Water loss adaptations in arthropods

Characteristics in arthropods to reduce water loss, like waxy cuticle.

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Metabolic waste elimination in arthropods

Varied methods of waste disposal: ammonia in water or gas for isopods.

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Adaptations of kangaroo rats

Kangaroo rats survive without drinking by using air-dried food and scavenging moisture.

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Physiological adaptations in vertebrates

Adaptations like concentrated urine and low feces water content in desert vertebrates.

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Reptiles as desert vertebrates

Reptiles, with dry skin and uric acid excretion, are efficient at conserving water.

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Nocturnal adaptations

Active nighttime habits in mammals and reptiles to avoid heat during the day.

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Evaporative cooling

Cooling method in mammals, though not used by desert species.

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Temperature storage in camels

Camels can raise their body temperatures during the day and lower at night.

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Cold adaptations in Antarctic fish

Antarctic fish use glycoproteins to lower freezing points in icy waters.

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Bird adaptations for cold

Birds fluff feathers or reduce metabolic rate to conserve heat.

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Tree line determinants

Factors affecting the altitude of tree lines including soil availability and weather conditions.

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Ecotypic variation

Genetic differences among populations of the same species based on environmental conditions.

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Yarrow example

Achillea lanulosa shows different ecotypes based on altitude and climate.

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Transplant experiments

Studies that show ecotype characteristics don’t change even in ideal conditions.

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Cold hardiness

The ability of temperate perennials to survive winter temperatures.

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Day-shortening effect

Environmental signal that triggers metabolic changes in plants for cold resistance.

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Poikilotherms

Animals that cannot regulate their body temperature, must acclimate to changes.

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Zones of tolerance

Ranges within which poikilotherms can survive varying temperatures.

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Acclimation ability

The capacity of species to adjust to temperature changes over time.

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Chum salmon resilience

An example of a fish species that struggles with temperature acclimation.

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Regulated hypothermia

A method birds use to lower their body temperature to conserve energy.

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Temperature adaptations in mammals

Animals develop thicker fur or hollow hairs to survive in cold conditions.

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Light as a limiting factor

Light is essential for timing biological processes and photosynthesis in plants.

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Photosynthesis equation

The process plants use to convert CO2 and water into glucose using sunlight.

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C3 photosynthesis

The most common form of photosynthesis, involving a 3-carbon sugar without special adaptations.

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C4 photosynthesis

An efficient process using a 4-carbon sugar, allowing plants to better absorb CO2.

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CAM plants

Plants that open stomata at night to conserve water, such as cacti.

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Soil composition influences

Different soil types affect plant growth due to their physical and chemical nature.

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Stenohaline organisms

Species that require a narrow range of salinity.

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Euryhaline organisms

Species capable of surviving a wide range of salinity levels.

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Nutrient functions in living organisms

Key nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are vital for growth and metabolism.

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Oxygen as a limiting factor

Low oxygen levels in water can restrict which species can thrive.

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Serpentine soils

Soils that are often sterile due to their unusual chemical composition, limiting plant growth.

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Fire regime influence

Some plants need fire for seed germination, impacting ecosystem dynamics.

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Climate change effects on species

Changes in climate slowly alter plant distributions and survival rates.

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Study Notes

Ecology Unit 4: Abiotic Factors Limiting Distributions

  • This unit explores abiotic factors that limit the distribution of species.
  • Abiotic factors are non-living elements like temperature, moisture, light, nutrients, soil type, salinity, oxygen availability, and fire regimes.
  • Krebs Chapter 6 provides further information on the subject.
  • Species distributions are affected by factors like dispersal limitations, habitat selection, and interactions with other species.
  • Physical and chemical factors significantly restrict the range of species.
  • Temperature and physiology: Life processes require liquid water between 0°C and 100°C. High temperatures lead to cell membrane and nucleic acid dissociation, while low temperatures cause ice formation, damaging cell structures.
  • Q10: A 10°C increase in temperature can produce a 2-4x increase in the organism's metabolic rate.
  • Poikilotherms vs. Homeotherms: Poikilotherms (cold-blooded) are less stable with temperature changes, in contrast to homeotherms (warm-blooded) which regulate their internal temperature.
  • Moisture and physiology: All life processes operate in an aqueous environment. All terrestrial organisms need water for metabolism and excretion.
  • Liquid water is critical for the evolution of life on earth.
  • Thermal properties: Liquid water changes temperature slowly, enabling stability in aquatic habitats. Temperatures in aquatic environments and organisms are relatively constant.
  • Water's solvent properties dissolved inorganic compounds, making them available to living organisms.
  • Global distribution of precipitation: Rainfall patterns – highest rainfall around the equator and secondary belts between latitudes 45 and 55. Rainfall over oceans is greater than on land. Mountain ranges and plateaus lead to rain shadows with less rainfall on the leeward side.

Effects of Temperature and Moisture on Species Distribution

  • Large temperature differences across Earth's surface are influenced by incoming solar radiation.
  • Direct radiation at the equator vs. oblique radiation at the poles impacts temperatures.
  • Less heat energy reaches the poles.
  • Land heats and cools faster than water, leading to more seasonal temperature fluctuations in terrestrial settings versus aquatic ones. Water heats and cools slower, experiencing less variability.
  • Vertical mixing moderates temperature fluctuations in water environments.

Effects of Temperature and Moisture on Species Distribution: Additional Factors

  • Global distribution of precipitation: Rain distribution follows latitudinal patterns, with highest rainfall at the equator and secondary belts around latitudes of 45-55 degrees.
  • Various plants and animals are adapted to specific conditions to thrive.
  • Acclimation and adaptation: Species can adjust physiologically for better survival in new environments, or adapt through evolutionary changes (like migration or hibernation).
  • Tolerance zones: Species vary in their tolerance to temperature or moisture ranges. Some survive within a species' range, while others are outside the species' range.
  • Temperature restrictions: Upper and lower lethal temperatures are important influences, affecting survival, reproduction and development, and competitive abilities.
  • Cold hardiness: Temperature resistance in perennial plants with reliance on non-growth seasons, day length, and metabolic pathways for frost resistance.

Temperature and Moisture Adaptations in Plants

  • Distribution patterns are influenced by local climate, primarily adaptations to water availability.
  • Drought resistance: Plants adapt for prolonged dry conditions. Mechanisms include improved uptake, reduced water loss, leaf surface reduction, and water storage.
  • Flooding tolerance: Plants must adapt to excessive moisture.

Drought Resistance in Plants

  • Frost drought vs. soil drought: Factors affecting resistance include improved uptake, decreased water loss (through stomatal closure), and reduction of leaf surface and water storage.
  • Deciduous trees vs. conifer trees: Deciduous trees are generally less drought-resistant than conifers.
  • Xerophytes: specialized plants adapted to withstand drought conditions.

Tree Lines

  • Factors limiting the growth limit include lack of soil, desiccation of leaves, short growing seasons, lack of snow exposure, excessive snow through summer, mechanical challenges from winds, rapid heat loss, excessive soil temperatures, and drought.

Genetic Adaptations in Plants

  • Ecotypic variation: Geographical variation in plant traits (e.g., Yarrow).
  • Transplant experiments: Showing consistent genetic adaptations.
  • Cold hardiness in temperature zone perennials: plants adapt to withstand winter temperatures, through non-growth cycles, day shortening and metabolic changes.

Temperature and Moisture Adaptations in Animals

  • Poikilotherms: Must acclimate to seasonal climate changes.
  • Acclimation ability of different species: Some, like salmon, cannot acclimate.
  • Examples of adaptable species: bullhead fish.
  • Acclimation/adaptation examples: some change their behaviors, for instance to be nocturnal. Others may hibernate.
  • Reptiles: Desert reptiles are adapted to lose less water and excrete uric acid.

Other Limiting Factors

  • Light: Crucial for photosynthesis in plants and influences feeding and activity cycles in animals. Light intensity diminishes in depth in water.
  • Nutrients: Plants and animals need various nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, and silicon.
  • Soil type: Physical and chemical characteristics limit plant growth.
  • Salinity: Maintaining salt balance is vital for organisms, with freshwater and marine species having different adaptations.
  • Oxygen availability: Essential for metabolism; aquatic species face lower concentrations compared to air
  • Fire regime: Natural fires affect the establishment of some species like jack pines and lodgepole pines

Water balance in terrestrial animals

  • Preventative adaptations in arthropods include: exoskeletons, waxy cuticles. Water balance in terrestrial crustaceans/centipedes/millipedes involves losing water via integuments (skin) and behavioral adaptations. Terrestrial arthropods excrete ammonia (in water), ammonia gas (with less water) or insoluble forms of uric acid/guanine (no water at all). Many vertebrates have similar ways to address this challenge.

Effect of climate change on species distributions

  • Indicators of change: Changes in plant species distributions.
  • Slow change in distribution of plant species: Long-lived species versus short-lived species.
  • Possible change in species distribution if time is a factor.

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Explore the influence of temperature on species distribution. Understand acclimation, sensitive life stages, and competitive abilities. Analyze the effects of temperature on plant adaptations and species distributions.

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