04/26/06

Micro vs. Macroclimates and Importance of Scale

1. Altitude: temperature decreases as altitude increases

2. Rising air expands due to reduced atmospheric pressure thus temperature decreases. (PV=NRT)

3. Precipitation is greater on windwardside of mountains.

Mountain shadow causes a dry climate area on non-wayward side.
Slopes facing sun get more solar radiation (North slopes in Northern hemisphere, South slopes in Southern hemisphere)
Evolution Canyon (Israel)
- 100 m between bottoms, 400 meters between tops
- South facing gets 300 - 600 more solar radiation.
- Increase of temperature on south slope lowers the water levels
- More variationon the south slope than north slope; explained by:
  - North slope has a more homogenous environment, hence more homogenous species set

4. Vegetation: shade, leaf litter, windbreaks, relative humidity, evapotranspiration

5. Ground Color: important in environs with bare ground.

6. Boulders etc.

Water habitat temp is less variable than air
- Water absorbes a lot more heat (higher specific heat = amount of energy it takes to heat one volumic unit by one temperature unit)
- Water resists a change of state
- Water conducts heat rapidly
Most variable Water Habitats are tidal pools, marshes, etc.
- More susceptible to pH, salinity, and O2 level changes.

Drosophila
- FAst, loose, die fast lifestyle
- 6 days of mature life
Elephants
- Like us, mature at age 15, one partner, 80 years of life
Clown fish
- Female has harem of men
- When she dies, the most powerful man becomes a female
Angler fish
- Male bites female; male's organs decay; female supports him as their blood systems fuse together; male just provides sperm.

Reflect age-specific allocation of energy to growth, development, reproduction, maintenance (repair), and storage
Size and age at sexual maturity
- Growth = getting bigger; development = new tissues
Offspring # = fundicity
Offspring size
Lifespand - a reflection of maintenance investment.