Biology 2483A Final: Very Thorough Ecology Exam Study Notes
Document Summary
No population can increase in size forever: 4. Finite energy and resources result in tradeoffs: 5. Communities and ecosystems change over time: 7. Biosphere > ecosystem > community > population > organism. Net primary productivity (npp) energy captured by produces, minus the amount lost as heat in cellular respiration. Climate is characterized by average conditions; but extreme conditions are also important because they can contribute to mortality. Without greenhouse gases (water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) earth"s climate would be about 33 degrees cooler. Warm air rising because it is less dense than cool air is called uplift. Air pressure decreases with altitude so the rising air expands and cools. Three major climatic zones in each hemisphere: tropical, temperate, polar. Areas of high and low pressure created by the circulation cells result in air movements called prevailing winds: winds appear to be deflected due to the rotation of the earth the coriolis effect.
