Organism Tolerance Ranges Explained
The question highlights a key ecological principle: temperate organisms generally possess broader temperature tolerance ranges compared to tropical organisms. This means temperate species can withstand a wider variation in temperature, both higher and lower, than their tropical counterparts.
Impact of Temperature Rise on Organisms
A global temperature increase of $2^{\circ}C$ is considered significant in ecological terms. Given that tropical organisms have narrower tolerance ranges:
- A $2^{\circ}C$ rise is more likely to push temperatures beyond the upper limit of the tolerance range for tropical species.
- Temperate organisms, having wider ranges, might still remain within their tolerable limits or be less severely impacted by this specific increase.
Therefore, the limited tolerance of tropical organisms makes them more vulnerable to a relatively small increase in average global temperature.
Conclusion on Vulnerability
Consequently, tropical organisms are expected to experience more negative effects from a $2^{\circ}C$ temperature increase than temperate organisms because the change is more likely to exceed their physiological limits.
Important Questions from Abiotic factors
The table below lists potential environmental conditions in future climates, related to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations ($CO_2$) and mean annual temperature (MAT).
The table also lists potential outcomes with respect to whether conditions will favour grasses with C3 or C4 photosynthetic pathways.
Assuming no other changes in environmental conditions, match the options in the two columns.Environmental conditions Outcomes (P) Increased $CO_2$, no change in MAT (i) C3 performs better than C4 (Q) No change in $CO_2$, increased MAT (ii) C4 performs better than C3 (iii) C3 and C4 perform equally - Mean global temperature since pre-industrial times has increased approximately by
- Terrestrial plants conduct gas exchange through stomata. Having only few stomata on the leaf surface is a common adaptation to which one of the following conditions?
- Some air-breathing marine vertebrates such as whales, seals and marine turtles possess adaptations for long, deep dives. Which one or more of the following is/are examples of such adaptations?
- Which one or more of the following is/are greenhouse gas(es)?
