Download Chapter 1 Notes - Sardis Secondary

o Biosphere: anywhere on Earth living things exist.
Biomes: regions with similar
biotic and similar abiotic
components
ex. BC and New Zealand
are similar biomes
Science 10 Honours
Biotic = living things
Miss Ego
Abiotic = non-living things
Biomes are classified based on many qualities,
such as:
water

o Temperature and precipitation are two of the most
important abiotic factors in determining the type of biome
availability
temperature
interactions between biotic and abiotic
factors.

There are eight types of biomes:

boreal forest

desert



temperate deciduous
forest
grassland

temperate rainforest
permanent ice

tropical rainforest

tundra
Which ones are
in Canada?
With a partner,
discuss what you
know about these
biomes already.
o Latitude, elevation and ocean currents also influence
the type of biome in an area
Latitude
o influences both temperature and precipitation.
Ex. The tropical zone has very warm
temperatures and high precipitation
because:
•
•
Elevation
o Higher elevations have less dense air so less heat
is retained Elevation is the height above sea level
o Windward sides of mountains are wet, leeward
sides are very dry.
Ocean Currents
o Carry warmth and moisture to coastal areas
the angle of the sun
warm air holds more moisture than cooler air
Climate:
o the average pattern of weather conditions over a period of several
years.
• A climatograph shows the average temperature and precipitation
for a location over a period of 30 years or more.
o Climatographs
can be used to help identify the biome
o Biomes are often identified with characteristic
biotic factors.
• Ex. a cactus in the desert, or a caribou on the tundra.
Adaptations:
1.
Structural adaptation - a physical feature that helps an
organism survive.
• ex. A wolf has large paws to help it run in snow.
2.
Physiological adaptation - a physical or chemical event inside
the body of an organism that allows it to survive.
3.
Behavioural adaptation - a behaviour that helps an
organism to survive.
• ex. A wolf maintains a constant body temperature.
• Many of these characteristic factors have special adaptations
that allow the organisms to better survive and reproduce in
that biome.
•
Abiotic Interactions in Ecosystems
1.2 Ecosystems
Ecosystem: a part of a biome in which abiotic
factors interact with biotic components
 Can
be many hectares of land, or the size of an
old log.

Within an ecosystem, there are many
habitats.
The habitat of the red fox often includes
the edges of forests or marshlands
ex. Wolves hunt in packs to capture large prey.
It is the abiotic components that allow the biotic
components to survive in an ecosystem.
•
Oxygen - produced by green plants & microorganisms.
•
•
•
•
Water - necessary for all life.
Nutrients - for growth.
Light - required for photosynthesis.
Soil - contains water and nutrients.
Biotic Interactions in Ecosystems
Community: all organisms that interact within an
ecosystem.
Population: all members of a certain species within an
ecosystem.
Species: all organisms within an ecosystem that have
the same structure & who can reproduce with each
other (and produce fertile offspring).
Species
Niches, Competition and Predation
Interactions in a Community
1. Symbiosis: an interaction between the members
of two different species.
• Commensalism: one species benefits, one is not
affected
Ex. the barnacles on a whale
Niche: the role an organism has within an ecosystem.
•
Competition: occurs when a limited resource is desired by
2 or more individuals in a niche
• Is negative for all organisms involved
• this limits the size & health of individual organisms, and perhaps
the population
• Mutualism: both species benefit
Ex. a bee gathering nectar from a flower
• Parasitism: one species benefits, the other is harmed
Ex. a hookworm living in dogs
also refers to the environment in which a species prospers
Predation: the relationship between the “eaters” and the “eaten”
•
•
Predators have adaptations to help them catch prey
Prey have adaptations to help avoid predators
• Ex. spines & shells, camouflage and mimicry
Biodiversity in Ecosystems
Biodiversity: the variety & number of different
individuals & 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.
• Ecological management programs try to balance
human progress with maintaining biodiversity.
An Environmental Issue Assignment
You and your group members have been hired as environmental consultants by
large company. You have been asked to research the reasons why citizens of
Chilliwack are concerned about the resource development that they are
proposing. Your job is to list the ways in which the environment will be
impacted negatively (and positively?), and propose sustainable solutions to
these problems. You will be marked on the following:

Use of Key Terms – incorporate all that connect to your topic (5)

Thorough analysis of the potential environmental impact - including creative and
feasible sustainable solutions (20)

Presentation Quality – 5min approx. (5)

Summary Report – to be handed in (10)