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Processes
4.1 Life on Land Imposes Unique Constraints o Long term influence on
evolution and distribution of
Desiccation
o Greatest constraint imposed by plants and animals
terrestrial environments 4.2 Plant Cover Influences the Vertical
Air is less dense than water
Distribution of Light
o Results in lower drag (frictional
resistance) on movement of Vertical Gradient of Light
organisms o Affected by absorption and
o Increases constraint imposed by reflection of solar radiation by
gravitational forces plants
o Another constraint in terrestrial Leaves
environments o Affect light that comes in
Diffusion o Shape of leaves and orientation
o Process where water readily affect it
evaporates from the surfaces of o Measure of leaves would be
cells Leaf Area Index
o Doesnt happen if air is m2 leaf area / m2 ground
saturated with moisture area
Water Balance the greater the LAI, the
o Balance of water between lower the quantity of light
organisms and their surrounding reaching that surface
environment LAI increases as you
o Major factor in evolution of life move from the canopy to
on land the ground of the forest
- Adaptations of plants: Beers law
o Aerial parts of most plants Describes
Stems and leaves are
relationship of Light
coated with a waxy
and LAI
cuticle Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Prevents water loss
(PAR)
Waxy cuticle prevents
o Wavelengths used by plants as a
gas exchange
source of energy in
Terrestrial plants
photosynthesis
have pores on o Varies through plant canopy
surface o Visible light (400 700 nm)
(stomata) that o Transmittance of PAR is less
allows gases to than 10%
diffuse o Transmittance of Far-Red
- Terrestrial Animals Radiation (730 nm) is greater
o Acquire water through Ratio of red to far-red
eating/drinking radiation decreases
- Terrestrial Plants through canopy
o Passive process of acquiring
This shift in
water
spectral quality of
Kelp Forests
light affects
o Grows in dense stands
o Anchored to the bottom production of
sediments Phytochrome
o Afloat by gas-filled bladders
attached to each blade Phytochrome
Temperature & Moisture
o Pigment that allows a plant to Action of living
perceive shading by other plants organisms
o Influences patterns of growth Natural body of earth
and allocation composed of:
Angle of Leaf Mineral
o Affects amount of light it Organic matter
absorbs Supports plant
o Perpendicular Leaf growth
Absorbs 1 unit of light o Accdg to Hans Jenny the Pioneer
energy (per unit leaf of modern Soil Studies (waw
area/time) nerd alert hahah jk)
o 60 degree leaf Soil is the Stratum below
0.5 units the vegetation and above
o Angle of leaf may affect in
hard rock
various forms depending on No formal definition
location o Soil is not abiotic since it has life
High-Latitude Regolith
environments o Layer of unconsolidated debris
Sunlight angles are over hard unweathered rock
low; canopies o Where soil is formed
displayed at angle
will absorb more 4.4 Formation of Soil Begins With Weathering
light
Soil Formation
Tropical Areas
o Begins with weathering of rocks
Angled leaves are
and minerals
also ideal to reduce
o Weathering
great water loss in Mechanical destruction of
the afternoon rock materials into
Seasons may also affect the Leaf Area
smaller particles as well
o Dry Season
Increased light availability as chemical modification
Mechanical Weathering
at ground level
o From interaction of several
o Spring
Leaves are just forces
o Combined action of wind, water
expanding, incoming light
and temperatures
in forest floor greater
Water freezes and cracks
4.3 Soil is the Foundation upon Which All rocks
Terrestrial Life Depends Wind wear away the
surface
Soil o Rock surfaces flake and peel
o Medium for plant growth away
o Principal factor controlling fate o Break down into small particles
of water Chemical Weathering
o Natures recycling system o Presence of water, oxygen and
Breaks down waste acids from organisms and
products of plants and organic matter
animals
o Formal Definition
Natural product formed
4.5 Soil Formation Involves Five Interrelated
and synthesized by
Factors
Weathering of rocks
5 Factors of Soil Formation
o Parent Material o Topography
o Climate o Time
o Biotic factors
o Cations o Anion
Positive charge Negative charge
In soil (Mg2+ , Ca2+, NH4 + ) In Soil (NO3 - , SO4 2- )
Ion Exchange Capacity Smaller the ion, the greater its positive
o Total Number of Charged Sites charge, the more tightly it is held
on Soil Particles within a Volume Lyotropic Series of Major Cations
of Soil according to their strength of bonding
Ability of ions to bind on to the cation exchange sites
surface of soil depends on o Al3+ > H+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ =
charged sites NH4+ > Na+
Colloids o Higher conc of soil can
o Negatively charged particles in overcome these affinities in this
the soil prevalent in temperate series
zones (why cation exchange
dominates the area) More Hydrogen makes the soil acidic
Cation Exchange Capacity o More Al3+ also means the soil is
o Total number of negatively acidic (toxic to plants)
charged sites located on edges Result is reduced nutrient
of clay particles and humus uptake
o Negative charge enable soil to o More than pH 7 = Basic
prevent leaching of positively o Less than pH 5.6 = Acidic
charged cations
o Fewer negatively charged sites 4.10 Basic Soil Formation Processes
in soil Produce Different Soils
Nitrate and phosphate
Pedogenesis
(both anions) are not o Soil formation
retained 5 Processes that give rise to the
different classes of soil
o Laterization o Podzolization
o Calcification o Gleization
o Salinization