Download Ecosystems

Biomes
Are large regions that have similar abiotic and
biotic components throughout.
Biotic factors
are
“living”
components
They include:
animals
plants
fungi
protists
bacteria

.
Abiotic factors
are
“non-living” components
They include:
oxygen
water
nutrients
light
soil
If biotic and abiotic conditions are the same,
similar biomes can exist far apart.
Biosphere
Biomes
Ecosystems
Ecosystems are varying
regions (such as lakes,
rivers, mountains, forests
and fields) within a biome.
Within ecosystems are habitats.
A habitat is where an organism lives.
latitude-temperature
latitude-precipitation
elevation-temperature
elevation-precipitation
Temperature and precipitation are two of
the most important abiotic factors that
influence, and help to identify, biomes.
A climatograph shows the average
temperature and precipitation for a location
over a period of 30 years or more.
Game, Set … Match
In groups of 2-3 create a matching
question that compares the key biotic
and abiotic features of different biomes.
Include three “obvious” characteristics
that set each biome apart from others.
Rubric
5 marks - neatness/organization
15 marks - quality of defining characteristics
Other factors include latitude,
elevation, and ocean currents.
List the biomes in order from
the poles to the equator
Adaptations …
are traits that allow organisms to better survive
and reproduce in their specific environment
The abiotic factors of a biome will
influence the biotic factors.
Adaptations can be …
Structural
Behavioural
Something an
organism has
Something an
organism does
Examples include:
Examples include:
Webbed feet
Sharper claws
Longer neck
More fur
Brighter feathers
Migration
Mating rituals
Hibernation
Playing dead
Social dynamics
Mimicry allows one
animal to look,
sound, or act like
another animal to
fool predators into
thinking it is
poisonous or
dangerous.
Migration and hibernation are
types of behavioural adaptations
3 structural & 2 behavioral adaptations
2 structural & 1 behavioral adaptation
3 structural & 1 behavioral adaptation
3 structural & 1 behavioral adaptation of each
Symbiosis
is an interaction between members of two
different species that live together in a close
association. There are three types!
Types of symbiosis:
Mutualism - both species benefit
ex) a bee gathering nectar from a flower
Types of symbiosis:
Parasitism - one species benefits and the other
is harmed
ex) a tape worm living inside of a person
mountain pine beetle and pine trees
pine
beetle
damaged
forest
Types of symbiosis:
Commensalism - one species benefits, one is
not helped nor harmed
ex) the barnacles on a whale
Adaptations develop
through natural selection.
How do adaptations evolve through
natural selection?
Within a species there is variation
for all traits.
Speckled moths may be more white
or black in color
Organisms that have certain
varieties of a trait will have a
slightly better chance of surviving
and reproducing.
Moths born with more black pigment
are better likely to blend into the
dark background of tree bark and
therefore are less likely to be
eaten.
Traits are inherited from parents.
Those that will survive may pass on
their beneficial traits to their
offspring.
Surviving moths will reproduce and
pass on their traits to their
offspring.
The cycle continues and the
population changes … ADAPTIVE
RADIATION leads to EVOLUTION
through NATURAL SELECTION.
Over many generations the
population of moths evolves to
become darker. Making it better
adapted to its environment.
Biotic Interactions in Ecosystems
• A community = all the organisms that interact
within an ecosystem.
• A population of organisms refers to all of the
members of a certain species within an
ecosystem.
• A species refers to all of the organisms within
an ecosystem that have the same structure, and
who can reproduce with each other.
Different species
Different species within an ecosystem
A population consists of one species
A community consists of many populations
interacting in the same environment
• A niche refers to the role a species has within an
ecosystem.
 in other words … what it does. Includes how an
organism fits into its environment physically,
chemically and biologically.
Competition occurs when a resource is desired by
two or more individuals.
 Competition usually means resources are
limited
 This limits the size and health of that
individual, and perhaps that population
Predation is the
relationship between
the “eaters” and the
“eaten”.
Predators have
adaptations to
help them catch
their prey.
Prey have
adaptations
to help avoid
predators.
Examples of adaptations include spines,
shells, camouflage and mimicry.
The number of
predators and prey
influence each other.
Predator Prey Relationships
Biodiversity in Ecosystems
• Biodiversity refers to the the variety and number of
different individuals and species in an ecosystem.
 Healthy ecosystems generally have high biodiversity.
 Most biodiversity losses occur from the loss of habitat.
• Humans often have a negative impact on biodiversity.
 Many efforts are now made to lessen this impact in order to
maintain biodiversity.
 Ecological management programs try to balance human
progress with maintaining biodiversity.