Biota- all of the living parts of the biosphere
Hydrosphere- all of the water in its various forms in the biosphere
Atmosphere- the air surround Earth’s surface
Geosphere- Earth’s surface and below
Year-to-year weather condition for a particular area Temperature and Precipitation Day-to-day conditions are called weather
Microclimate- small area with a different climate than the areas surrounding it ex: cave
Three Main Climate Regions (controlled by latitude) Polar Temperate Tropic
Groups of ecosystems with similar climates and similar communities
Tolerance- range of conditions that plants and animals can survive
Terrestrial Tundra Taiga Deciduous
Forest
Aquatic Ocean Estuaries Wetlands
Marsh Swamp Bogs
•Rainforest•Grassland•Desert•Savannah
•Freshwater–Ponds–Lakes–Streams–Rivers
Study of the size of human populations
Human Carrying capacity Number is increasing with new technologies and medicines Cannot increase forever
Human population used to be low and relatively stable Limited by resources and disease
Past 500 years Exponential growth Occasional dips such as Middle Ages with Bubonic Plague
Non-renewable- cannot be remade (or only can be remade over a very long time period)
Renewable- can be remade
Habitat Loss Deforestation
Habitat Fragmentation
Pollution
Introduction of Invasive species
Other Human Activities
All or part of habitat is destroyed
Organism move or die
Decreases biodiversity in the area
Deforestation (removal of forests) is an example
Smaller area usually hold less individuals and less species (less types of habitat in them)
A fragmented area = decrease in biodiversity
Give clues to the health of the ecosystem
Very susceptible to pollution
Example: frogs in aquatic ecosystems Skin is water-permeable so toxins have direct access
Responsible for creating temperatures on Earth that can sustain life
Trap the sun’s heat through atmospheric gases like CO2
CO2 levels cycled in the past due to natural climate cycles
Rising levels of CO2 have created a greater greenhouse effect producing global warming
Chemical pollutant becomes more concentrated as it moves up the trophic levels within a food chain or web
Very dangerous for top level predators
Also called non-native species
Introduced to new habitat Often grows without check because of lack of natural predators or disease in the area
Outcompetes other native species for resources
Populations are depleted because of humans Overhunting or overfishing Over-collection
Otherwise renewable resources can become nonrenewable as population levels go down
Population Levels Decrease due to Habitat Loss Loss of Resources (through pollution or resource being
removed/damaged) Illness/Death (from pollution or lack or resources) Other Human Activities
As population levels decrease, genetic diversity goes down
Populations cannot adapt or respond to changes in their environment
Becomes unhealthy and more likely to become extinct
As numbers decline, organisms fall into these categories
Threatened Many elephant species Polar bear
Endangered Giant Panda Many Marine Mammals
Extinct Dodo Passenger Pigeon
As species are lost in an ecosystem, the ecosystem becomes less stable
The loss of one species affects other species as well
Using renewable resources in sustainable ways (sustainable development)
Protecting threatened and endangered species Reintroduction programs Conserving resources for their use
Minimizing pollution
Minimizing habit loss/habitat fragmentation Lowering ecological footprint Bridges between habitat fragments
Protection against introduction of invasive species
Controlling invasive species already introduced Removal Introduction of a predator
Keeping/increasing biodiversity in an area