Lecture 9

Question 1

________% of Earth’s total global water is fresh water, but most of it is ________ or ________.

Answer 1

2.5%, frozen (glaciers, ice caps, permafrozen), underground

Question 2

shallow vs. deep coral reefs

Answer 2

• shallow coral reefs are a natural barrier from storms, and home corals and symbiotic algae (Zooxanthellae)
• deep sea reefs build slower due to a lack of algae, and are found in colder, deeper waters

Question 3

lotic vs. lentic systems

Answer 3

• lotic system (flowing water): water flows consistently in one direction, with an upstream and downstream driven by gravity (flowing water; e.g. rivers)
• lentic system (still water): water flow varies over time due to wind and temperature, with no fixed direction (e.g. wetlands, ponds)

Question 4

permafrost

Answer 4

frozen soil

Question 5

Coral reefs are part of the ________ system.

Answer 5

neritic

Question 6

the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt

Answer 6

the global system of deep-ocean currents

Question 7

climograph of major biomes in North America

Answer 7

• annual precipitation and temperatures dictate where most terrestrial biomes are found, but some biomes can overlap
• which biome is present depends on disurbances

Question 8

the five divisions of lakes

Answer 8

divided based on water depth and light level

• littoral zone: shallow waters along the shoreline
• limnetic zone: offshore waters
• benthic zone: bottom of the lake
• photic zone: areas that receive light
• aphotic zone: areas that don’t receive light

Question 9

ocean gyres

Answer 9

large circulating ocean currents, driven by surface winds (and hence, insolation and the Coriolis effect)

Question 10

Hydrothermal vents are part of the…

Answer 10

deep sea

Question 11

the impact of water speed on oxygen and nutrient availability

Answer 11

• fast water is more oxygenated, but less nutrients accumulate near the shore
• slow water is less oxygenated, but more nutrients accumulate near the shore

Question 12

________ are the largest ecosystem.

Answer 12

Oceans

Question 13

the impact of topography on climate

Answer 13

• as air rises over a mountain, it cools, releasing moisture as precipitation
• as air descends down a mountain, it warms, taking up moisture

Question 14

________% of Earth’s surface is covered in saltwater, with ________% of all water found in oceans.

Answer 14

71%, 96.5%

Question 15

The benthic zone is often rich in…

Answer 15

nutrients

Question 16

the direction of surface waters

Answer 16

• surface winds push surface ocean currents around Earth
• water currents move heat away from the equator, as water carries more heat than air

Question 17

rain shadow

Answer 17

a patch of land that is dry due to being covered (e.g. via mountains) during precipitation

Question 18

biome

Answer 18

broad, ecologically uniform area whose characteristic species reflect regional climate

Question 19

Intertidal zones are part of the ________ system.

Answer 19

neritic

Question 20

climate vs. weather

Answer 20

• climate is long-term average weather, determined by solar radiation, global patterns of wind/ocean circulation, and topography
• weather is current conditions (temperature, rainfall, etc.) of an area

Question 21

the impact of abiotic conditions on evapotranspiration

Answer 21

• evaporation is higher in warmer soil
• transpiration is low in arid environments (lack of water)

Question 22

the six divisions of lakes

Answer 22

divided based on water depth and light level

• intertidal zone: beach exposed to air at low tide, but underwater at high tide
• neritic zone: from intertidal zone to a depth of 200 m (edge of the continental shelf)
• pelagic zone: open ocean beyond continental shelf
• benthic zone: bottom of the ocean
• photic zone: areas that don’t receive light
• aphotic zone: areas that don’t receive light

Question 23

the impact of nutrient availability on primary production in marine biomes

Answer 23

• primary production is highest in coastal areas and areas of upwelling
• primary production is lowest in central ocean gyres with little nutrients

Question 24

terrestrial biome

Answer 24

• large terrestrial communities defined by the dominant vegetation type which is largely based on abiotic conditions (e.g. climate, soil)
• plants can have similarities due to shared history (divergent evolution) or independent evolution (convergent evolution)

Question 25

the Coriolis effect

Answer 25

* the Earth rotates at the equator faster than at higher latitudes; this rotation causes the bending of winds and waters * winds bind to the right in the Northern hemisphere, and bind to the left in the Southern hemisphere

Question 26

the impact of tides on intertidal zones

Answer 26

* **rocky shores** have narrow littoral zones with compressed zones (organisms attach to rocks) * **sandy shores** have wider littoral zones (organisms survive by burrowing in substrate or moving with the tide)

Question 27

upwelling

Answer 27

* deep, cold water rises to the surface, bringing its nutrients with it * occurs when winds blow parallel to the coastline, pushing surface waters away from the coast

Question 28

the most important factor to determine the type of terrestrial biome

Answer 28

**water availability** (plays a role in the dominant vegetation type)

Question 29

ten major terrestrial biomes

Answer 29

* tundra * alpine * boreal (tiaga) forests * temperate coniferous forests * deciduous forests * temperate grasslands * deserts * temperate shrublands and woodlands (chaparral) * tropical seasonal forests/savannas * tropical rainforests

Question 30

three major challenges for organisms living in intertidal zones

Answer 30

* waves * dessication * extreme temperatures

Question 31

Aquatic biome distribution is impacted by... (in order)

Answer 31

1. sunlight availibility (very limiting) 2. nutrient and oxygen availibility 3. water depth and climate (water is not limiting)

Question 32

the most diverse oceanic biome

Answer 32

**coral reefs** (home 25% of all fish species)

Question 33

the impact of thermohaline circulation on water density

Answer 33

* **thermo-:** hot water is less dense than cold water * **-haline:** fresh water is less dense than saltwater

Question 34

the impact of climate on primary production in terrestrial biomes

Answer 34

global patterns of precipitation and evapotranspiration are similar to global patterns of primary production * primary production is **highest** in warm, wet, tropical climates * primary production is **lowest** in cold, dry climates

Question 35

evapotranspiration

Answer 35

* water vapour that enters the atmosphere as **evaporation** directly from the soil or bodies of water, and as **transpiration** from plants * evapotranspiration rates are higher in warm, moist climates * the ratio between precipitation and evapotranspiration is a major determinant of the dominant vegetation type

Question 36

the Coriolis effect and hurricanes

Answer 36

* in the **Northern hemisphere**, hurricanes spin counter-clockwise; winds moving towards the storm's eye deflect to the right, causing the spin * in the **Southern hemisphere**, hurricanes spin clockwise; winds moving towards the storm's eye deflect to the left, causing the spin