What is ecology?
The study of interactions between organisms and the environment. Determines the distribution and abundance of organisms.
Key points about climate
- Climate varies systematically on the planet
- Solar radiation ultimately drives variation in climate
- Climatic variation ultimately shapes broad-scale vegetation
What is a terrestrial biomes?
Large land area with characteristics groups of organisms adapted to their physical environment.
Climate vs. Weather
Climate: Long term pattern of weather, larger area, four major components (temperature, precipitation, sunlight, wind)
Weather: Short term state of the atmosphere, local
Climate and sunlight intensity
The angle at which the sunlight hits Earth affects its intensity
Equator: More photons per unit area, less atmosphere to pass through
Climate and latitudinal variation
High: Polar climates, one season (cold)
Middle: Temperate climate, 4 seasons
Low: Tropical Climate, 2 seasons (rainy, dry)
Climate and temporal variation
Seasonality at high latitudes is caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis of rotation and its annual passage around sun
Climate and atmospheric circulation
1) Temporal variation: day/night and seasonal
2) Large scale movement of air and the mechanisms that create their differences across the Earth
Climate and ocean currents
Water retains heat therefore movement of water= movement of heat.
Continentality
Effect of a location in a continent.
Close to large body of water means smaller difference in temperature.
Farther away from water means greater difference in temperature.
Climate and mountains
Mountains act as physical barriers to movement of air.
Elevation and vegetation
As elevation increases, there’s less gases and lower temp therefore less vegetation
types of biomes in N.A.
- Temperate deciduous forest (trees drop leaves)
- Boreal forest (coniferous trees keep their leaves)
- Tundra (permafrost, low growing plants)
Tropical rainforest characteristics, wet vs. dry
- Very high diversity (don’t need to adapt to cold)
- Mountain ranges separate forest into wet vs dry
- Costa Rica: tropical wet on the Caribbean side (east), tropical dry on the west
Aquatic biomes
Freshwater (rivers, streams, lakes, ponds)
Marine (Ocean)
Intermediate (wetland, estuary, intertidal zones)
What is dispersal?
The movement of individuals or gametes away from centres of high population density or area of origin
What are abiotic factor limiting distribution of species?
Physical barriers and chemical factors (temp, water, oxygen, salinity, sunlight, wind, rocks and soil)
What are biotic factors limiting species distribution?
limits to where a species can live (predation, herbivory, competition, mutualism, parasitism)
