Chapter 42 Opener

Concept 42.1 Ecological Systems Vary in Space and over Time

Discuss the validity of the following statement:

Ecological systems at the organism, population, community, and ecosystem scales differ from one another only with respect to geographic scale (size of land area or water volume involved).

Figure 42.1 The Hierarchy of Ecological Systems

Concept 42.1 Ecological Systems Vary in Space and over Time

Ecological systems at the organism, population, community, and ecosystem scales differ from one another only with respect to geographic scale (size of land area or water volume involved).

a. True

b. False

c. I don’t understand this question.

Figure 42.2 The Microbial Community of the Human Gut Depends on the Host’s Diet

Figure 42.2 The Microbial Community of the Human Gut Depends on the Host’s Diet

Figure 42.2 The Microbial Community of the Human Gut Depends on the Host’s Diet (Part 1)

Figure 42.2 The Microbial Community of the Human Gut Depends on the Host’s Diet (Part 2)

Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments

High latitudes are cooler than low latitudes because as a result of Earth’s spherical shape, high latitudes are farther away from the sun than low latitudes.

a. True

b. False

c. I don’t understand this question.

Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments

Discuss the validity of the following statement:

High latitudes are cooler than low latitudes because as a result of Earth’s spherical shape, high latitudes are farther away from the sun than low latitudes.

Figure 42.3 Solar Energy Input Varies with Latitude

Figure 42.3 Solar Energy Input Varies with Latitude

Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments

Winter and summer seasons occur because Earth is farther from the sun in winter and closer to it in summer.

a. True

b. False

c. I don’t understand the question.

Figure 42.4 The Tilt of Earth’s Axis of Rotation Causes the Seasons

Figure 42.4 The Tilt of Earth’s Axis of Rotation Causes the Seasons

Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments

Discuss the validity of the following statement:

Winter and summer seasons occur because Earth is farther from the sun in winter and closer to it in summer.

Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments

The direction of prevailing winds at Earth’s surface is determined solely by Hadley cell circulation in the atmosphere that results from latitudinal gradients in solar energy input.

a. True

b. False

c. I don’t understand this question.

Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments

Discuss the validity of the following statement:

The direction of prevailing winds at Earth’s surface is determined solely by Hadley cell circulation in the atmosphere.

Figure 42.5 Global Atmospheric Circulation

Figure 42.5 Global Atmospheric Circulation

Figure 42.6 Direction of Prevailing Surface Winds

Figure 42.6 Direction of Prevailing Surface Winds

Figure 42.7 Ocean Currents

Figure 42.8 Walter Climate Diagrams Summarize Climate in an Ecologically Relevant Way

Apply the Concept, Ch. 42, p. 829

Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments

Why are tropical latitudes and mountaintops wet?

a. As air rises, it cools.

b. Liquid water evaporates as it is warmed and water vapor condenses as it is cooled.

c. Both a and b are involved.

d. Neither a nor b is involved.

e. I don’t understand this question.

Figure 42.9 A Rain Shadow

Figure 42.9 A Rain Shadow

Concept 42.3 Physical Geography Provides the Template for Biogeography

Comparing these two Walter climate diagrams showing rainforest in two different locations, we can see that

a. the location depicted by diagram A is wetter in January than the location depicted in diagram B.

b. location A has more seasonal variation than location B.

c. location A is warmer than location B.

d. All of the above

e. None of the above

Concept 42.3 Physical Geography Provides the Template for Biogeography

With a partner or discussion group, compare the two Walter climate diagrams below, which show rainforests in two different locations.

Discuss their similarities and differences: Which is (a) wetter in January, (b) more seasonal, and (c) warmer?

Discuss where on Earth you would expect to find these two different rainforest biomes. Do you think they would both be found in the Northern Hemisphere?

Concept 42.3 Physical Geography Provides the Template for Biogeography

Temperate rainforest: Large amount of rainfall overall but more seasonal variation in both temperature and precipitation.

Tropical rainforest: Generally warm and wet year-round.

Figure 42.10 Temperature and Precipitation Gradients Determine Terrestrial Biomes

Figure 42.11 Global Terrestrial Biomes

Figure 42.12 Same Biome, Different Continents

Figure 42.12 Same Biome, Different Continents (Part 1)

Figure 42.12 Same Biome, Different Continents (Part 2)

Figure 42.12 Same Biome, Different Continents (Part 3)

Figure 42.12 Same Biome, Different Continents (Part 4)

Concept 42.4 Geological History Has Shaped the Distributions of Organisms

 Referring to the figure below, discuss the likelihood of finding closely related organisms in the following pairs of regions:

• Europe and Asia

• North and South America

• Africa and South America

Concept 42.4 Geological History Has Shaped the Distributions of Organisms

 Referring to the figure above, the likelihood of finding closely related organisms is greatest in which of the following pair of regions?

a. Australia and New Zealand

b. North and South America

c. Africa and South America

d. The likelihood is the same for each pair.

e. I don’t understand this question.

Concept 42.3 Physical Geography Provides the Template for Biogeography

 Do the same set of factors determine characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic biomes?

a. Yes

b. No

Table 42.1 Major Aquatic Biomes

Figure 42.13 Water-Depth Zones

Figure 42.13 Water-Depth Zones

Figure 42.13 Water-Depth Zones (Part 1)

Figure 42.13 Water-Depth Zones (Part 2)

Alfred Russel Wallace proposed that a line (now known as Wallace’s line) separates two distinct faunal regions in Southeast Asia, between Bali and Lombok.

Discuss the reasons for the faunal differences between these two islands.

Concept 42.4 Geological History Has Shaped the Distributions of Organisms

Alfred Russel Wallace proposed that a line (now known as Wallace’s line) separates two distinct faunal regions in Southeast Asia, between Bali and Lombok. We now know that distinctive “line” is a boundary because of

a. distance between the islands.

b. depth of the ocean trench between the islands.

c. climate differences.

d. soil differences.

e. All of the above

Concept 42.4 Geological History Has Shaped the Distributions of Organisms

Figure 42.14 Wallace’s Line

Figure 42.14 Wallace’s Line

Figure 42.15 Movement of the Continents Shaped Earth’s Biogeographic Regions

Figure 42.15 Movement of the Continents Shaped Earth’s Biogeographic Regions

Figure 42.16 Distribution of Nothofagus

Figure 42.16 Distribution of Nothofagus

Figure 42.16 Distribution of Nothofagus (Part 1)

Figure 42.16 Distribution of Nothofagus (Part 2)

Apply the Concept, Ch. 42, p. 837

Figure 42.17 Human Agricultural Practices Produce a Uniform Landscape

Figure 42.18 Harmonious Grazers

Referring to Concept 42.5 of the textbook, which of the following human activities do you think are most strongly blurring biogeographic boundaries?

a. The moving of organisms on purpose or by accident

b. The clearing of land for agriculture

c. The fragmentation of habitats

d. I don’t understand this question.

Concept 42.5 Human Activities Affect Ecological Systems on a Global Scale

One way to investigate the impacts of atmospheric greenhouse gases on Earth’s climate would be to have several Earths where we burn fossil fuels to increase atmospheric carbon dioxide, and several more Earths as controls where the atmospheric CO2 composition is held constant. Why might modeling be a better way to assess the potential impacts of greenhouse gases on Earth’s climate?

a. Models are useful in addressing complex problems.

b. We only have one Earth, and no replicates or controls are available.

c. Modeling allows us to predict effects of CO2 on climate without having to wait for experimental results.

d. An experiment that affected the whole planet might be difficult to get approved, very expensive, and might have undesirable or irreversible impacts.

e. All of the above

Concept 42.6 Ecological Investigation Depends on Natural History Knowledge and Modeling

Model Predictions Real World Data

Concept 42.6 Ecological Investigation Depends on Natural History Knowledge and Modeling