Back to Topic 2.8 — Biomes, zonation, succession

2.8.2ESS SL15 flashcards

Zonation

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Define zonation.

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All 15 Flashcards — Zonation

Card 1example

Question

Define zonation.

Answer

Zonation is a change in species composition across space along an environmental gradient.

💡 Hint

Across space.

Card 2example

Question

In one line, what is zonation?

Answer

A change in species composition across space along an environmental gradient.

💡 Hint

Across space.

Card 3example

Question

Name four common environmental gradients.

Answer

Altitude, latitude, tidal level, and soil depth.

💡 Hint

A-L-T-S.

Card 4example

Question

What generally happens to biodiversity with increasing altitude?

Answer

Biodiversity generally decreases as altitude increases because conditions become colder, windier, and growing seasons shorten.

💡 Hint

Higher = harsher.

Card 5example

Question

What is an environmental gradient?

Answer

A gradual change in an abiotic factor across space (e.g., tidal exposure, altitude, moisture, light).

💡 Hint

Gradual abiotic change.

Card 6example

Question

List the three core reasons zonation occurs.

Answer

Abiotic conditions change, species have tolerance limits, and competition affects where species survive.

💡 Hint

Abiotic + tolerance + competition.

Card 7example

Question

Which tidal zone usually has the highest biodiversity and why?

Answer

The low tide zone, because it is submerged most of the time and conditions are more stable.

💡 Hint

More stable.

Card 8example

Question

Give one example of a zonation gradient.

Answer

Tidal level on a rocky shore (high tide zone → mid tide → low tide).

💡 Hint

Rocky shore.

Card 9example

Question

Which fieldwork method is used to study zonation?

Answer

Transects (often with quadrats at intervals) to record changes across a gradient.

💡 Hint

Line + samples.

Card 10example

Question

Why does zonation occur?

Answer

Because abiotic conditions change across space, species have tolerance limits, and competition excludes less adapted species from some zones.

💡 Hint

Tolerance + competition.

Card 11example

Question

In kite diagrams, what does width represent?

Answer

Abundance (number of organisms).

💡 Hint

Width = abundance.

Card 12example

Question

Define a transect.

Answer

A transect is a straight line laid across an environmental gradient along which observations are made at intervals.

💡 Hint

Line across gradient.

Card 13example

Question

What does a kite diagram show?

Answer

Species distribution and abundance along a transect; kite width indicates abundance and position shows where the species occurs.

💡 Hint

Width = abundance.

Card 14example

Question

What does “tolerance limits” mean?

Answer

The range of abiotic conditions a species can survive and reproduce in; outside the range it cannot persist.

💡 Hint

Range of survival.

Card 15example

Question

Zonation occurs at what two scales?

Answer

Local scale (e.g., rocky shores, forests) and global scale (e.g., climate zones and biomes).

💡 Hint

Local + global.

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Biomes, zonation, succession

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