Download Organisms and Their Environment

Organisms and Their
Environment
Science Foundations
Environment and Ecology
► Everything
that surrounds a living thing
makes up its environment.
► Living things are affected by their
environments, and also have an impact on
their environments.
► The study of the interaction between
organisms and their environment is called
ecology.
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is composed of all living and
nonliving things in a particular location.
Examples:
► Forest
► Pond
► Meadow
► Any place where living things interact with the
nonliving environment.
Biotic Factors
The living things are called biotic factors.
(bio = living)
Examples:
► Microorganisms
► Plants
► Animals
Abiotic Factors
The nonliving things are called abiotic
factors.
Examples:
► Climate
► Soil
► Rocks
► Wind
► Rain
Species
A biological species is a group of organisms
having a genetic makeup that is similar enough
that they can mate and produce fertile
offspring.
Populations
A population is made up of all members of a
particular species living in a particular area at
the same time.
Example:
All of the deer living on Kennesaw Mountain
Another Example:
All the ducks of a certain species living in a
pond would be a population. Within that
population, individual ducks may vary in many
traits, such as size. However, most members of
the duck population could be described by an
average size.
Community
All of the populations living in the same area
make up a community. It includes all the
different kinds of living things, which all live
together.
Example:
The frogs, lizards, birds, ducks,
spiders, mosquitoes, flies, etc., that
live in your backyard.
Habitat
A habitat is the physical surroundings, or the
place, in which an organism lives.
Niche
A niche includes all aspects of an animal’s
lifestyle, especially its feeding patterns. A niche
also refers to the job or role that each organism
has in the community. Animals that live in the
same place, but do not feed in the same way,
do not fill the same niche and do not compete
with each other.
Biosphere
The biosphere is the part of the Earth where
life exists. It consists of the thin envelope
around the Earth made up of atmosphere, land
and water. The biosphere has elements that are
constantly used and reused in the ecosystems.
The Elements
The elements used and reused in the biosphere
are Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen.
They are provided in cycles so they can be used
and then reformed to keep the elements
constant in our environment.
Water Cycle
The water cycle provides water which is
necessary for organisms to live. Water
evaporates from the surface of the earth,
whether from water sources or moist land. As
much as 2/3 of all precipitation evaporates into
the atmosphere. Water vapor condenses and
clouds form. Precipitation in the form of snow,
ice, or rain falls to the earth. Eventually that
precipitation will again evaporate.
Water Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle is needed to supply amino acids
which are the building blocks of proteins. Nitrogen gas
is 80% of our atmosphere. Some organisms can only
use nitrogen in the form of ammonia. When nitrogen
in the air is converted to ammonia it is called Nitrogen
Fixation. Some bacteria convert nitrogen on plant
roots so that nitrogen is eaten in the plant and the
consumers use it to make protein. Nitrogen is also
found in our waste products and in decaying matter.
When organisms die,
Nitrogen Cycle
Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle provides carbon, an element
present in every living organism. Carbon is in
our atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide.
In organisms carbon dioxide is breathed out in
respiration and is released in the decomposition
of matter. Plants use carbon dioxide in
photosynthesis and make sugars and oxygen.
Carbon Cycle
Biomes of North America
Biomes are parts of the biosphere
characterized by large regions that can be
identified by the types of plants and animals
that live there.
Biomes:
► Tundra
► Desert
► Grassland
► Tropical Rain Forest
► Temperate (Deciduous) Forest
► Taiga (Coniferous Forest)
Biomes
A number of climatic factors interact in
creating a biome.
► Temperature
► Precipitation
► Length of growing season
Tundra
Regions – Arctic/Antarctic areas
Plant life – grass and wildflowers
Animal life – reindeer, caribou
Description – thin soil, permafrost
Taiga
Regions – Northern forests
Plant life – conifers
Animal life – wolves, rabbits, elk
Description – long, cold winters
Deciduous Forest
Regions – NE/mideastern US; Western Europe
Plant life – deciduous trees
Animal life – deer, birds, small animals, bears
Description – average precipitation, warm
summers, cold winters
Grassland
Regions – Mid-western US; Eurasia, Africa
Plant life – grasses
Animal life – prairie dogs, ferrets, snakes
Description – hot summers, cold winters,
rainfall unpredictable
Desert
Regions – Western US; N. and SW Africa
Plant life – cacti, succulents
Animal life – jackrabbits, lizards, rats
Description – arid; extreme daily temperatures
Tropical Rainforest
Regions – Central America, Central Africa, SE
Asia
Plant life – diverse plants
Animal life – monkeys, leopards
Description – high rainfall and temperature