Download Ecology and Biomes The study of the interactions of organism with

Ecology and Biomes
The study of the interactions of organism
with their environment
H. Biology
What is Ecology?
• The study of organisms and their interactions
with each other and the environment.
Earth Spheres
• Four major parts of Earth work together as a
complex system: land, water, air, and life.
• These parts can be broken into 4 spheres of
the Earth:
– Geosphere – Land
– Hydrosphere – Water
– Atmosphere – Air
– Biosphere – Life
Geosphere and Hydrosphere
Geosphere –Land
Hydrosphere - Water
•
Sometimes called the Lithosphere (which
is a the top most layer of the earth)
•
More specifically all land and/or rock
formations(29% of the earth is terrestrial)
including features such as soil, mountains,
valleys, and deserts
• 71% of the earth is covered by
water. 97% of this water is salty
and only 3% non-salty freshwater.
Atmosphere and Biosphere
Atmosphere - Air
• From the earth’s surface to
10,000 km above. The upper
atmosphere’s ozone protects the
earth from harmful UV rays
Biosphere - Life
•
Includes all living organisms;
microorganisms, plants, and animals.
How is the Biosphere Organized?
• In ecology we can organize life (from small to
large) :
LEAST inclusive
(SPECIFIC)
MOST inclusive
(BROADEST)
– Organism – 1 individual living thing: made of
cells/DNA
– Species-group of the same organisms that can
interbred
– Population – group of the same organisms living in
the same place at the same time that can
interbreed.
– Community –group of the DIFFERENT organisms
(populations) living in the same place at the same
time.
– Ecosystem (includes BIOMES) – All abiotic (nonliving)
and biotic (living) factors in an area
– Biosphere – all ecosystems taken together on Earth
(includes all living organisms globally)
What are
Ecosystems?
• Just by identifying their location in the
world, we can make many
assumptions about the ecosystems
that make up the biomes.
• Ecosystems consist of :
– Biotic factors – living organisms
– Abiotic factors - non-living factors:
• Rocks, minerals, soil
• Temperature, precipitation
Can you identify the abiotic and biotic factors in these ecosystems?
Abiotic and Biotic Factors
Tropical Rainforest
• Abiotic Factors: hot and wet yearround; thin, nutrient-poor soils
• Biotic Factors: Ferns, Orchids,
Monkeys, Frogs, etc.
Tundra 
 Abiotic Factors: strong winds; low
precipitation; short and soggy
summers; long, cold, and dark
winters;. poorly developed soils;
permafrost
 Biotic Factors: Mosses, Polar
Bears
Biomes
• A biome can be thought of as many similar ecosystems
throughout the world grouped together
• Usually characterized by the climate conditions and plant
communities that thrive there.
• Identified by biotic and abiotic factors
• Major Biomes:
- Water
– Terrestrial (Land)
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Tundra
Tropical Rain Forest
Temperate Rain Forest
Taiga (Boreal or Coniferous Forest)
Desert
Grasslands (Prairie or Savannah)
Temperate (Deciduous) Forest
• Freshwater
• Marine
Biomes
What is Biodiversity?
• Biodiversity is the assortment or variety of
living things in an ecosystem.
• What is an example of a biome with HIGH
biodiversity?
• Why is biodiversity important?
Biomes are determined by the Climate
Conditions
• What is climate?
– Long-term patterns of
weather conditions
– Includes average temperature
and precipitation levels
• How is it different than
weather?
– Day-to day versus long-term
• What is a microclimate?
– Climate of a small-specific
place within a larger area
What determines Climate?
• Influence of Sunlight
– Three Main Climate Zones
• Polar
• Temperate
• Tropical
– Why do these zones exist?
What determines Climate?
• Air and Water Movement
– Air and Water are also heated by the sun
– Warm air rises and cools leading to
precipitation and water currents
• Landmasses
– Waterbodies - Areas closer to bodies of
water generally have more evaporation,
thus higher humidity and more
precipitation
– Mountains – Mountains cause air to rise
and cool causing precipitation on one
side. Far side of mountains usually has a
rain shadow.
What is a Community, Population,
and Individual?
• An ecological community is
various populations living
and interacting in the same
place called a habitat (Milo
& Me)
• A population is a group of
living organisms of the same
kind living in the same place
(habitat) at the same time
(our class)
• The habitat must supply the
needs of organisms, such as
food, water, temperature,
oxygen, and minerals.
Habitat & Niche
• Habitat is the
place a plant or
animal lives
–“the address”
• Niche is an
organism’s role in
life
–“its address and
its job”
–All resources
used by that
organism
What are Population Niches?
• Populations live along with other
populations in a habitat with
many resources
• A niche is how a population
responds to its resources and
enemies. In other words, an
environment that has all the
things that a particular plant or
animal needs in order to live.
– Fundamental niche – all the
resources that COULD be used by
a population
– Realized niche – the ACTUAL
resources used by a population
Why are there different niches
for each bird?
What resources are available
for the birds?
Warbler Niches
What might prevent them from obtaining or using all those resources?