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Transcript
Ecosystems and Communities The Role of Climate O Weather- Condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place O Climate- Determined by temperature and moisture O Temperature- Determined by latitude and altitude O Greenhouse Effect O Ozone lets sunlight through but retains the heat it generates O Adding CO2 to the air increases the greenhouse effect O Removal of CO2 from the air by photosynthesizing plants and algae decreases the effect The Role of Climate O Winds O Winds are driven by uneven heating of Earth’s surface O Hot air near equator rises- Cold air over poles sinks O The curved paths of some winds are caused by Earth’s rotation (Coriolis Effect) O Currents: O Currents- Similar patterns of heating and cooling occur in Earth’s oceans- Cold water near poles sink- Water rises in warmer regions The Role of Climate O Geography Affects Climate O Mountains cause moist air to rise- the air mass cools, moisture condenses, precipitation occurs, far side of mountain is dryer resulting in fewer plants Ecological Relationships O Habitat O A habitat is the place where an organism lives out its life O Niche O A niche is the role or position a species has in its environment- how it meets its specific needs for food and shelter, how and where it survives, and where it reproduces in its environment Ecological Relationships O Niche O Competitive Exclusion Principle- No two different species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time O Fundamental Niche includes resources an organism could theoretically use (if no competition) O Realized Niche includes resources it actually does use given competition from other species Ecological Relationships O Interspecific Interactions O Interspecific interactions are interactions that occur between populations of same species living together in a community O There are 4 major interspecific interactions: Predation (and parasitism), Competition, Commensalism & Mutualism O Predation (parasitism) O The interaction is beneficial to one species and detrimental to the other Ecological Relationships O Predation O Predation: When a predator eats its prey O Parasitism: Predators that live in/on their hosts, usually feeding off their body tissues or fluids O Usually do not kill their hosts O Defense Against Predation O Animals defend themselves against predators passively (hiding) or actively (fleeing) Ecological Relationships O Defense Against Predation O Disruptive coloration (camouflage) makes prey difficult to spot O Aposematic coloration (warning coloration) warns predators not to each animals that may be toxic or may sting O Mimicry- When a species “imitates” or “mimics” another O Batesian mimicry: When one edible or harmless species mimics an bad tasting (unpalatable) or harmful species O Mullerian mimicry: Two species, both of which are unpalatable (taste bad) or harmful, resemble each other Ecological Relationships O Symbiosis O Living together O The relationship in which there is a close and permanent association between organisms of different species is called symbiosis Type of Symbiosis Definition Mutualism Both benefit Commensalism One benefits, one no effect Parasitism One benefits, one harmed Examples Ecological Relationships O Succession: Changes over Time O The orderly natural changes and species changes that take place in an ecosystem is succession O Succession occurs in stages. At each stage, different species of plants and animals may be present O As succession progresses, new organisms move in O Others may die out or move out Ecological Relationships O Primary Succession O The colonization of new land by communities of organisms is called primary succession O The first species to take hold in an area like this are called pioneer species, usually lichens O Decaying lichens, along with bits of sediment in cracks and crevices of rock, make up the first stage of soil development O New soil makes it possible for small weedy plants, small ferns, fungi, and insects to become established Ecological Relationships O Primary Succession O After some time primary succession slows down and the community becomes fairly stable, or reaches equilibrium O A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species is a climax community Ecological Relationships O Secondary Succession O The sequence of changes that takes place after an existing community is severely damaged in some way O Secondary succession, however, occurs in areas that previously contained life, and on land that still contains soil O Because soil already exists, secondary succession may take less time than primary to reach a climax community Ecological Relationships O What is a Biome? O A biome is a large group of ecosystems that share the qualities of climax community O Ranges of Tolerance O The ability of an organism to withstand variations in biotic and abiotic environmental factors is known as tolerance Biomes- Tundra Biome Tundra Climate Cold and dry Treeless Permafrost- area of soil that remains frozen year round Short, cool summers Flora (Plants) low shrubs, mosses, flowers, lichen Fauna (Animals) caribou, hares , foxes, wolves, and polar bears Biomes- Taiga Taiga Boreal Forest Long cold winters, short, mild summers More rainfall than the tundra Taiga= Spruce- Moose Biome spruce, fir, moss bear, eagle, wolf, owl, otter Biomes- Temperate Deciduous Forest Temperate Deciduous Forest Cold winters Warm summers Moderate rainfall oak tree, pine tree, flower, grass eagle, bear, deer, squirrel Biomes- Grassland Grassland Low rainfall Long dry periods Occasional fires Few trees grasses, flowers coyote, prairie dog, Biomes- Desert Desert Low rainfall Usually have high temperatures but may be cold Growing season occurs after it rains cacti lizard, rat, owl Biomes- Tropical Rain Forest Tropical Rain Forest High temperatures High levels of rainfall High humidity Dense growth of vegetation that does NOT shed its leaves Most of the nutrients are tied up in living material Most productive biome Most diverse biome bamboo , trees, figs bat, monkey, sloth, snake Biomes- Chaparral Chaparral-Temperate Shrubland Winter, rainy season Summer draught Shrubby trees sage brush, low shrubs foxes, rabbit, roadrunner Ecological Relationships O Aquatic Biomes O More than 70% of earth’s surface is covered with water O Most of that water is salt water O Freshwater is confined to rivers, streams, ponds, and most lakes O Most of earth’s food and O2 production (photosynthesis) takes place in the water Ecological Relationships O Aquatic Biomes O Most stable ecosystems on Earth. The amount of O2 and CO2 available, amount of suspended or dissolved materials are stable over very large areas and show little tendency to change Ecological Relationships O 3 Types of Fresh Water Biomes O Moving Water- rivers, streams O Standing Water- lakes, ponds O Wetlands- ecosystem where water saturates the soil O Marshes- shallow wetlands along rivers O Swamps- presence of trees and shrubs distinguishes swamps from marshes O Bogs- typically form in depressions where water … O Estuary- shallow area where a river meets the sea and fresh water and salt water mix (brackish) Ecological Relationships O The Chesapeake Bay O The largest Estuary in the U.S. O Home to more than 3,600 species O Serves as a spawning and nursery grounds for fish O Main producers are submerged aquatic vegetation Ecological Relationships O Marine Biome Zones O Photic Zone- area where light penetrates into O O O O the water (about 200m) Aphotic Zone- no light Intertidal Zone- area between low tide and high tide Neritic Zone- shallow area on continental shelf that is always covered with water Benthic Zone- bottom surface