Term
|
Definition
scientific investigation of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment
-relatively new branch of biological sciences
-coadaptation of organic beings to each other and to their physical conditions of life |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-provides explanations of the perceptible, palpable world
-can often be observed
-encompasses the study of the movement of energy and nutrients through ecosystems |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a science that generates knowledge about interactions in the natural world, as a field of inquiry, not focused on human concerns |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| use of ecological knowledge, along with economics, ethics, and many other considerations, to inform both personal decisions and public policy relating to stewardship of natural resources and ecosystems |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| living components of ecosystems |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| physical and chemical components of ecosystems |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the networks of interacting organisms in an area and the physical environment they occupy |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| main concern of ecology was understanding the distribution and abundance of organisms |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
new tools have arrived that have change the face of this research
-mathematical models
-molecular techniques
-satellite imaging |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| to provide objective data on the interactions of the different components of the biotic and abiotic environments and, through analysis of the data, to understand these interactions and their various results |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| refer to atmospheric conditions--temp, humidity, precipitation, and wind direction and velocity---but refer to different time scales |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| short term state of atmospheric conditions at a particular place and time |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| refers to the avg atmospheric conditions, and the extent of their variation, at a particular place over a longer time |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| climate is what you expect |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
usually short term for organisms
-seeking shelter for sudden rainstorm |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
tend to be evolutionary adaptations that arise within populations over time and affect physiology, morphology, and behavior
-can't adapt to, animal won't be found there |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| determines the air's temp. and is the major determinant of climate |
|
|
Term
| intensity of solar radiation |
|
Definition
| varies over the course of a year and from place to place due to the shape of the earth, its orbit around the sun, and the tilt of its axis |
|
|
Term
| amount of solar energy reaching a given point on Earth's surface |
|
Definition
depends primarily on the angle of the sun's rays
-high latitudes (North and South poles) sunlight strikes Earth's surface at an angle, so solar energy is distributed over a larger area--LESS INTENSE than that of the equator, where sunlight strikes the surface perpendicularly |
|
|
Term
| sun's radiation at an angle |
|
Definition
| must pass through more of Earth's atmosphere, so more of its energy is absorbed or reflected before reaching the surface |
|
|
Term
| toward the poles (solar energy) |
|
Definition
| sun's rays are absorbed bc they must travel a longer distance through the atmosphere |
|
|
Term
| near equator (solar energy) |
|
Definition
| sunlight strikes Earth at a steep angle, delivering more heat and light per unit of area |
|
|
Term
| air temp Increase or Decrease with elevation |
|
Definition
| decrease, temp at sea level are warmer than temps on mountaintops at the same latitude |
|
|
Term
| what causes seasonal variation in temp and day length |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Air circulation in Earth's Atmosphere |
|
Definition
1-(Solar energy drives patterns of atmospheric circulation)-In the tropics, warm, moist air rises, expands and cools, drops its moisture, and flows poleward
2- (those patterns in turn, influence air temps worldwide)-the now cool, dry air warms and retains its moisture as it descends. It reaches Earth's surface at about 30N and 30S |
|
|
Term
| result when air is warmed |
|
Definition
| expands, becomes less dense, and rises, and then cools as it rises |
|
|
