Download the earth and the natural places

THE EARTH AND ITS NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT
EARTH SYSTEM
ABIOTIC FACTORS
( hydrosphere – atmosphere – lithosphere)
ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENT
BIOTIC FACTORS
(Biosphere)
BIOSPHERE
The parts of the land, sea, and atmosphere in which organisms are able to live.
The biosphere is an irregularly shaped, relatively thin zone in which life is
concentrated on or near the Earth's surface and throughout its waters.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
1° level : population
The individuals/organisms
belonging to the same species and
living in the same geographical area
2° level : community
In ecology, a community is an
assemblage of two or more
populations of different species
living in the same geographical
area.
3° level : ecosystem
is the biological environment which
consists of all organisms living in a
particular area, as well as the
physical elements such as air, soil,
water, and sunlight with which
those organisms interact.
4° level : biosphere
All the Earth's interactive
ecosystems considered as a single,
self-sustaining unit.
Natural Environment:
The environment which
includes all living and
non-living things
naturally coexisting on
Earth. It also implies the
interaction of all living
species
Ecology* :
The study of interactions
that living organisms have
each other and their
surrounding environment
*(from Greek οἶκος, "house"; - λογία,
"study of")
Biodiversity:
The degree of diversity of life forms
within a certain ecosystem, biome, or an
entire planet. Biodiversity is a way to
asses the health of ecosystems.
Habitat
The area or environment where
an organism or a community
normally lives
The ecological Niche:
The relational position of a species or
population in its ecosystem to each other.
It illustrates how an organism makes a
living particularly when reacting to the
distribution of resources and possible
contenders
Protected areas
1872
Yellowstone Park
Parks in Italy
-
National parks
- Regional Parks
- Natural Reserve
- Oasis
Natural oasis of Guardiaregia
The natural Oasis of Guardiaregia and
Campochiaro is totally situated inside
the territory of the respective
municipalities on the slope of the Matese
massif. The area that stretches out for
2187 hectares includes 3 big different
sights : Mount Mutria, Saint Nicola’s
falls and the canyon along the river
Quirino. Walking through the reserve
you’ll meet three secular beeches named
“Tre Frati” and the grotto “Pozzo della
Neve” one of Italy’s most deep gorge
with its 1,045 meters depth. Its fauna is
rich in wild animals, being the wolf the
more present, but an amphibious, the
salamander, became this WWF reserve
symbol. The place also abounds of birds:
the kite, the buzzard, the hawk and the
water black bird.
Salamandra: http://www.fotografieitalia.it/foto/2539/MONTE%20MUTRIA_2539-08-17-10-3504.jpg
Natural Oasis of “Le Mortine”
The oasis “Le Mortine” was
officially opened in September
2001 thanks to an agreement
between WWF Italy and ENEL
(an energy company). It covers
an area of 32 hectares and is
situated in a district alongside the
river Volturno. The oasis is part
of a wider wet area characterised
by an amazing river wood rich in
a large variety of peculiar flora
and fauna.
Regional natural reserve of Punta Aderci
Punta Aderci is a naturalistic reserve which
safeguards the most important coastline of the
region Abruzzo, from a naturalistic point of
view. It stretches out for about 5 km of coast,
covering an area of about 285 hectares.
This wonderful reserve consists of a series of
sandy and stony beaches, rural landscapes and
Mediterranean maquis, green and blue sea,
unspoiled dunes and stunning colourful sunsets
brightening the back of the mountains of three
National parks, Maiella, Gran Sasso and Monti
Sibillini.
Punta Aderci is to be discovered step by step,
by walking, cycling or simply enjoying the
quietness of its seashores.
The symbols of the reserve are the Kentish
plover and esparto grass, which characterise its
prevailing flora and fauna.