ecosystems and communities chapter 4. weather day-to-day conditions of earth’s atmosphere

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Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4

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Page 1: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Ecosystems and Communities

Chapter 4

Page 2: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

WeatherDay-to-day conditions of Earth’s

atmosphere.

Page 3: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Climate

Average conditions over long periods.

Page 4: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Regional climate

Year-after-year patterns of temperature and precipitation

Page 5: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Microclimates

Environmental conditions that can vary over small distances

e.g. south- facing side of trees and buildings receive more sunlight, and are often warmer

and drier than north-facing sides.

Page 6: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Factors That Affect Climate• Solar energy trapped in the biosphere

– Greenhouse Effect

• Latitude• Transport of Heat by winds• Ocean Currents

Page 7: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Solar Energy

• Main force that affects climate-Solar Energy (sunlight)• Reflected back into space• Absorbed• Converted into heat

Page 8: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Earth’s average temperature

Balance b/w heat that stays in biosphere and heat lost to space

Page 9: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Balance controlled by concentrations of:

• Carbon Dioxide• Methane• Water Vapor

Greenhouse Gases-Function like glass in a greenhouse;

allow visible light to enter but trap heat.

Page 10: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Greenhouse Effect

Process in which gases trap sunlight energy in Earth’s atmosphere as heat.

Heat trapped-temps to riseHeat escapes-temps cool

Page 11: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 12: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Latitude

A measure of relative position north or south on the Earth's surface, measured in degrees from the equator, which has a latitude of 0°, with the poles having a latitude of 90° north

and south. www.dictionary .com

Page 13: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Solar Energy

• Equator-Sun almost directly overhead at noon all year long-generally warm

• Poles-Receive less intense solar energy, less heat-cooler

• Differences in heat distribution create climate zones (tropical, temperate, and polar).

Page 14: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 15: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Tropic Zone• Equator• B/w 23.5° North and 23.5 ° South Latitudes• Direct sunlight all year

Page 16: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Temperate Zone

• B/w 23.5°and 66.5 ° North and South Latitudes

Page 17: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Polar Zone

• B/w 66.5°and 90 ° North and South Latitudes

Page 18: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Climates

• Varied amounts of solar energy at different times of year because of Earth’s axis is tilted

• As earth revolves around sun, solar radiation strikes different regions at angles that vary from summer to winter.

• Winter-sun lower in sky; shorter days and solar energy less.

Page 19: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Heat transport in the biosphere

• Unequal distribution of heat across globe create winds and ocean currents; transport heat and moisture

Page 20: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Creation of winds

• Warm air less dense and rises• Cool air more dense and sinks• Air heated by warm area of Earth’s Surface

(equator) rises.• Warm air rises-spreads north and south,

losing heat along way. Cool air sinks

Page 21: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Creation of Winds

• (Same time) Cooler regions (poles)-chilled air sinks towards earth surface; pushing air at surface outward

• Air warms as travels over surface; as warms it rises.

• Upward and downward movement of air creates winds.

Page 22: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Winds

• Winds transport heat• Warm air rises• Cool air sinks• Earth’s rotation causes winds to blow

generally from • west to east-temperate zones• East to west over tropics and the poles

Page 23: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 24: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Heating and Cooling in Oceans• Surface water pushed by winds.• Currents carry lots of heat• Warm surface currents add moisture and

heat to air; Cool surface currents cool air-affecting climate and weather of nearby land.

Page 25: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

CurrentsDeep ocean currents caused by cold water near the

poles sink and flowing along ocean floor.Water rises in warmer regions through a process

called upwelling.

Page 26: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 27: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 28: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Niches and Community Interactions

Page 29: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Species Success

• Each species has a range of conditions under which it can grow and reproduce.

• Conditions define where and how an organism lives.

Page 30: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Tolerance

Species ability to survive and reproduce under a range of

environmental circumstances.(RANGE)

Page 31: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Tolerance Graphs

Shows the response of an organism to different values of a single environmental variable

Page 32: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Tolerance Graphs

Zone of Tolerance•Optimal Range (center) organisms most likely to be most abundant•Physiological stress zone (edges of curve) organisms stressed and numbers decline

– Expend more energy to maintain homeostasis– Less energy available for growth and reproduction

Zone of Intolerance•Outside tolerance zone; No organisms

Page 33: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Intolerance Zone

Page 34: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Habitat

• General place where an organism lives.• Determined by species tolerance for specific

environmental conditions

Page 35: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Niche (organisms occupation)

The range of physical and biological conditions in which a species lives and the ways the species obtains what it

needs to survive and reproduce.

Page 36: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Aspect = parts

Two aspects of an organism’s niche•Physical

•Biological

Page 37: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Niches

• Resources – Necessity of life such as food, water, light, nutrients or space.– Plants- sunlight, water and soil nutrients– Animals- nesting, space, shelter, food, places to feed

• Physical Aspects – Abiotic factors it requires for survival. E.g amphibians lose and absorb water through skin::must live in moist places.

• Biological – Biotic factors required for survival. E.g. when/how reproduces, food it eats, way obtains food.

Page 38: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Competition

• Community-more than one kind of organism attempting to use various essential resources.

• Same resources at same time and place = competition

• Intraspecific competition-same species competing

• Interspecific competition- competing b/w different species.

What do you think these two males are fighting over?

Page 39: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Direct Competition

• Competition = almost always a winner and loser (losing species dies out)

Page 40: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Competitive Exclusion Principle

States no two species can occupy exactly the same niche in exactly the same habitat at

exactly the same time.

Page 41: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Species with same niche

One species will be better at competing for limited resources and will eventually exclude other species.

Page 42: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Dividing Resources

• Instead of competing resources divided• By causing species to divide resources,

competition helps determine the number and kinds of species in a community and the niche each species occupies.

Page 43: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

What would happen if two of the warlber species tried to occupy the same niche in the same tree at the same time?

Page 44: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Predation, Herbivory, and Keystone Species

Page 45: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

PredationAn interaction in which one animal

(the predator) captures and feeds on another animal (the prey)

Page 46: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Predation• Predators can affect prey population in a

community• Can determine the places prey can live and

feed.– E.g. birds can play important role in regulating

mouse population sizes

Page 47: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Herbivore-Plant Relationship

An interaction in which one animal (herbivore) feeds on producers (plants) is called HERBIVORY

Page 48: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Herbivores

• Affect size and distribution of plant populations in a community

• Determine the places that certain plants can survive and grow

• E.g- Very dense populations of white-tailed deer are eliminating their favorite food plants across US.

Page 49: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Keystone Species

A change in a single species that can cause a dramatic change in the

structure of a community

Page 50: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Keystone Species

• E.g.- Sea otters devour large amounts of sea urchins; Urchins are herbivores that eat kelp (giant algae that grows undersea “forests”.

• Sea otters almost eliminated by hunting; urchins population increased; devoured kelp.

• Other organisms also disappeared.• Sea otters went on endangered species,

populations recovered

Page 51: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Symbioses

Any relationship in which two species live closely together

(Three main classes: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism)

Page 52: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Mutualism

• Relationship in which both species benefit• E.g. – Sea anemone (sting functions-capture

prey and protect anemone from predation) and clownfish (immune to stings)

Sea anemone-offers shelter; clownfish darts out and chases other fish away (protects for preditors)

Page 53: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Parasitism

A relationship in which one organism lives inside or on another organisms

and harms it.

Page 54: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

parasites

• E.g. Tapeworms live in the intestines of mammals; absorb large amounts of hosts food

• E.g. Fleas, ticks and lice live on mammals feeding on blood and skin.

• Parasites obtains all or part of its nutritional needs

• Parasites weaken but generally do not kill hosts.

Page 55: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

CommensalismRelationship in which one organism

benefits and another organism is neither harmed or helped

Page 56: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Commensalism

• E.g. Grey whale and barnacles-– Grey whale not harmed and no benefits– Barnacles- benefit from flow of water from

moving whale that provides food

Page 57: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Sloth and lichen, what type of relationship?

Page 58: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Succession

Succedere (latin) “to come after”

Page 59: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Ecological Succession

Ecosystems change over time, especially after disturbances, as some species die out and new species move

in.

Page 60: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Primary SuccessionSuccession that occurs in an area in which no

trace of a previous community is present.(newly exposed surfaces)

Page 61: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Primary Succession

• Must create soil• Occurs over a long period of time

Page 62: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Pioneer Species

1st species to colonize barren areas-named after rugged human pioneers

who first settled the wilderness.Eg. Lichen (on rock)

Page 63: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Lichen

• Lichen (mutualistic-algae and fungus) converts nitrogen from atmosphere to into useful nitrogen for other organisms

• break down rock• Add organic material to form soil

Page 64: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Secondary Succession

Type of succession that occurs in a n area that was only partially destroyed by disturbances.

Page 65: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Secondary Succession

• Soil already established :: more rapid growth• E.g of causes-wildfire, hurricane, or other

natural disturbance.• Note-Fires are necessary for some species

survival; certain trees need them for seeds to germinate.

• Could have different pioneer species

Page 66: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 67: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Why Succession Occurs?

• Every organism changes the environment it lives in.

• As one species alters its environment; other species find it easier to find resources and survive.

• Lichen-add organic matter, form soil- other plants can colonize and grow; more species move in and further change environment; Over time, more and more species find niches and survive.

Page 68: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Climax CommunitiesTraditional Definition/view point

An ecological community in which populations of plants or animals remain

stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment. A climax

community is the final stage of succession, remaining relatively

unchanged until destroyed by an event such as fire or human interference.

www.dictionary.com

Page 69: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Modern Idea of a Climax Community

• Succession doesn’t always follow same path • Often reproduces original climax community.• Are not always uniform and stable (disturbed so often)

Page 70: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Human-Caused Disturbances

• E.g - Farming• Ecosystems may or may not recover from

extensive human-caused disturbances• E.g farming a Tropical rain forests can change

microclimate and soil enough to prevent regrowth of original community.

Page 71: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Studying patterns of succession

• compare different cases• look for similarities and differences• Eg. Mount Saint Helens and Krakatau (volcanoes)

– Both places primary succession proceeded through predictable stages

– Hardy pioneer species helped stabilize loose volcanic debris

– Confirmed early stages of primary succession are slow and that chance can play a large role in determining which species colonize at different times.

Page 72: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 73: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

THINK ABOUT IT

– Why does the character of biological communities vary from one place to another?

– Why, for example, do temperate rain forests grow in the Pacific Northwest while areas to the east of the Rocky Mountains are much drier?

– How do similar conditions shape ecosystems elsewhere?

Page 74: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 75: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

The Major Biomes

Biomes are described in terms of –abiotic factors like climate and soil type–biotic factors like plant and animal life.

Page 76: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Global Climate

– Latitude and the heat transported by winds are two factors that affect global climate.

– Area’s proximity to an ocean or mountain range

Page 77: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Regional Climates

– In Oregon, cold currents that flow from north to south have the effect of making summers in the region cool relative to other places at the same latitude.

Page 78: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Regional Climates

– Oregon borders the Pacific Ocean, and moist air carried by winds traveling west to east is pushed upward when it hits the Rocky Mountains.

– This air expands and cools, causing the moisture in the air to condense and form clouds.

Page 79: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Regional Climates

– The clouds drop rain or snow, mainly on the upwind side of the mountains.

– As the air sinks on the downwind side of the mountain, it expands, warms, and absorbs moisture.

– As a result, west and east Oregon have very different regional climates, and different climates mean different plant and animal communities.

Page 80: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Defining Biomes – Ecologists classify Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems into at

least ten different groups of regional climate communities called biomes.

– Biomes are described in terms of abiotic factors like climate and soil type, and biotic factors like plant and animal life.

– Major biomes include • tropical rain forest• tropical dry forest• tropical grassland/savanna/shrubland • Desert• temperate grassland• temperate woodland and shrubland• temperate forest• northwestern coniferous forest• boreal forest• tundra.

Page 81: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Defining Biomes

– The map shows the locations of the major biomes.

Page 82: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Defining Biomes – Each biome is

associated with seasonal patterns of temperature and precipitation that can be summarized in a graph called a climate diagram.

– A climate diagram shows the average temperature and precipitation at a given location during each month of the year. On this climate diagram, temperature is plotted as a red line, and precipitation is shown as vertical blue bars.

Page 83: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Defining Biomes– Organisms within each biome can be characterized

by adaptations that enable them to live and reproduce successfully in the environment.

– However, even within a defined biome, there is often considerable variation among plant and animal communities.

– These variations can be caused by differences in exposure, elevation, or local soil conditions.

– Local conditions also can change over time because of human activity or because of community interactions.

Page 84: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

– More species than all the other biomes combined

– Rain forests get at least 2 meters of rain a year!

Page 85: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST– Tall trees form a dense, leafy covering called a

canopy from 50 to 80 meters above the forest floor. In the shade below the canopy, shorter trees and vines form a layer called the understory.

– Organic matter on the forest floor is recycled and reused so quickly that the soil in most tropical rain forests is not very rich in minerals.

Page 86: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL RAIN FORESTAbiotic Factors:

–Rain forests are hot and wet year-round.

–They have thin, nutrient-poor soils that are subject to erosion.

Page 87: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

– Biotic Factors – Plant Life

– Understory plants compete for sunlight, so most have large leaves that maximize capture of limited light.

Page 88: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

– Tall trees growing in poor shallow soil often have buttress roots for support.

Page 89: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

– Epiphytic plants grow on the branches of tall plants as opposed to soil. This allows the epiphyte to take advantage of available sunlight while obtaining nutrients through its host.

Page 90: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

– Biotic Factors – Animal Life

– Animals are active all year– Many animals use camouflage to hide from

predators– Some change color to match their

surroundings.

Page 91: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

– Biotic Factors – Animal Life

– Animals that live in the canopy have adaptations for climbing, jumping, and/or flight.

Page 92: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL DRY FOREST

– Tropical dry forests grow in areas where rainy seasons alternate with dry seasons.

– In most places, a short period of rain is followed by a prolonged period of drought.

Page 93: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL DRY FOREST

– Abiotic Factors

– Warm year-round, with alternating wet and dry seasons.

– Rich soils are subject to erosion.

Page 94: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL DRY FOREST

– Biotic Factors – Plant Life

– Adaptations to survive the dry season include seasonal loss of leaves.

– A plant that sheds its leaves during a particular season is called deciduous.

–– Some plants also have an extra thick waxy

layer on their leaves to reduce water loss, or they store water in their tissues.

Page 95: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL DRY FOREST

– Biotic Factors – Animal Life

– Many animals reduce their need for water by entering long periods of inactivity called estivation.

– Estivation is similar to hibernation, but typically takes place during a dry season.

– Other animals, including many birds and primates, move to areas where water is available during the dry season.

Page 96: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL GRASSLAND/SAVANNA/SHRUBLAND

– More seasonal rainfall than deserts but less than tropical dry forests.

– Grassy areas are spotted with isolated trees and small groves of trees and shrubs.

Page 97: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL GRASSLAND/SAVANNA/SHRUBLAND

–compacted soils–fairly frequent fires–action of large animals prevent some areas from turning into dry forest.

Page 98: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL GRASSLAND/SAVANNA/SHRUBLAND

Abiotic Factors– Warm, with seasonal rainfall.– Soil is compact-frequent fires set by lightning.

Page 99: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL GRASSLAND/SAVANNA/SHRUBL

ANDBiotic Factors – Plant

Life

– Adaptations include waxy leaf coverings and seasonal leaf loss.

Page 100: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL GRASSLAND/SAVANNA/SHRUBLAND

Biotic Factors – Plant Life

–Some grasses have a high silica content that makes them less appetizing to grazing herbivores–Unlike most plants, grasses grow from their bases, not their tips, so they can continue to grow after being grazed.

Page 101: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TROPICAL GRASSLAND/SAVANNA/SHRUBLAND

Biotic Factors – Animal Life

– Many animals migrate during the dry season in search of water.

– Some smaller animals burrow and remain dormant during the dry season.

Page 102: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

DESERT– Less than 25 centimeters of

precipitation annually, but otherwise vary greatly, depending on elevation and latitude.

– Many deserts undergo extreme daily temperature changes, alternating between hot and cold.

Page 103: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

DESERTAbiotic Factors

–Low precipitation and variable temperatures.–Soils are rich in minerals, but poor in organic material.

Page 104: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

DESERT

Biotic Factors – Plant Life–Many plants, including cacti, store water in their tissues, and minimize leaf surface area to cut down on water loss. Cactus spines are actually modified leaves.

Page 105: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

DESERT

Biotic Factors – Plant Life

–Modified photosynthesis in some plants requires leaf pores to open only at night, enabling plants to conserve moisture on hot, dry days.

Page 106: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

DESERT

Biotic Factors – Animal Life

–Many desert animals get the water they need from the food they eat. –To avoid the hottest parts of the day, many animals are nocturnal—active only at night.

Page 107: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

DESERT

– Large or elongated ears and other extremities often have many blood vessels close to the surface to help the animal lose body heat and regulate body temperature.

Page 108: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE GRASSLAND

– Plains and prairies once covered vast areas of the mid-western and central United States.

– Periodic fires and heavy grazing by herbivores maintained grassland plants.

– Today, most have been converted for agriculture because their soil is so rich in nutrients and is ideal for growing crops.

Page 109: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE GRASSLAND

– Warm to hot summers and cold winters, with moderate seasonal precipitation.

– Soil is fertile and there are occasional fires.

Page 110: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE GRASSLAND

Biotic Factors – Plant Life

–Grassland plants—especially grasses, which grow from their base—are resistant to grazing and fire.

Page 111: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE GRASSLAND

Biotic Factors – Plant Life

–Wind dispersal of seeds is common in this open environment. –Root structure and growth habit of grassland plants help establish and retain deep, rich, fertile topsoil.

Page 112: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE GRASSLAND

Biotic Factors – Animal Life–Because temperate grasslands are such open, exposed environments, predation is a constant threat for smaller animals.

–Camouflage and burrowing are two common protective adaptations.

Page 113: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE WOODLAND AND SHRUBLAND

– In open woodlands, large areas of grasses and wildflowers are interspersed with oak and other trees.

– Communities that are more shrubland than forest are known as chaparral.

– Dense low plants that contain flammable oils make fire a constant threat.

Page 114: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE WOODLAND AND SHRUBLAND

Abiotic Factors–Hot dry summers and cool moist winters.

–Thin, nutrient-poor soils and experience periodic fires.

Page 115: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE WOODLAND AND SHRUBLAND

Biotic Factors – Plant Life–Woodland plants have adapted to drought.

–Woody chaparral plants have tough waxy leaves that resist water loss.

Page 116: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE WOODLAND AND SHRUBLAND

Biotic Factors – Plant Life

– Fire resistance is important, although the seeds of some plants need fire to germinate.

Page 117: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE WOODLAND AND SHRUBLAND

Biotic Factors – Animal Life

–Varied diets of grasses, leaves, shrubs, and other vegetation.– In exposed shrubland, some camouflage

Page 118: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE FOREST

– Mostly deciduous and evergreen coniferous trees.

– Coniferous trees, or conifers, produce seed-bearing cones

– most needle-shaped leaves coated in a waxy substance (reduce water loss)

Page 119: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE FOREST

– Cold to moderate winters, warm summers

– Autumn-shed their leaves

– Spring-small plants burst from the ground and flower

– Fertile soils (humus-a material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter)

Page 120: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE FOREST

Page 121: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE FOREST

– Biotic Factors – Plant Life

– Deciduous trees drop their leaves and dormant in winter.

– Conifers have needlelike leaves

Page 122: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TEMPERATE FOREST

– Biotic Factors – Animal Life

– Changing weather• some animals hibernate• migrate to warmer climates. • camouflaged to escape predation in the winter,

when bare trees leave them more exposed.

Page 123: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

NORTHWESTERN CONIFEROUS FOREST

– Mild moist air from the Pacific Ocean influenced by the Rocky Mountains provides abundant rainfall to this biome.

Page 124: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

NORTHWESTERN CONIFEROUS FOREST

– The forest includes • a variety of conifers• flowering trees and shrubs such as dogwood and

rhododendron • Moss often covers tree trunks and the forest floor• Because of its lush vegetation, the northwestern

coniferous forest is sometimes called a “temperate rain forest.”

Page 125: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

NORTHWESTERN CONIFEROUS FOREST

Abiotic Factors–Experience mild temperatures –Abundant precipitation in fall, winter, and spring.–Summers are cool and dry –Soils are rocky and acidic

Page 126: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

NORTHWESTERN CONIFEROUS FOREST

– Seasonal temperature variation– less diversity in this biome than in tropical rain

forests– ample water and nutrients support lush,

dense plant growth.

Page 127: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

NORTHWESTERN CONIFEROUS FOREST

– Adaptations that enable plants to obtain sunlight are common.

– Trees here are some world’s tallest.

Page 128: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Northwestern Coniferous Forest

Biotic Factors – Animal Life

–Camouflage helps avoid predation–Many animals are browsers—they eat a varied diet—an advantage in an environment where vegetation changes seasonally.

Page 129: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 130: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

BOREAL FOREST

– Dense forests of coniferous evergreens along the northern edge of the temperate zone are called boreal forests, or taiga.

– Winters are bitterly cold– Summers are mild and long enough to allow

the ground to thaw.– Occur mostly in the northern part of the

Northern Hemisphere. – The word boreal comes from the Greek word

for “north.”

Page 131: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

BOREAL FOREST

Abiotic Factors –Moderate precipitation–High humidity–Soil is acidic and nutrient-poor.

Page 132: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

BOREAL FOREST

Biotic Factors – Plant Life

–The conical shape of conifers sheds snow, leaves prevent water loss, making conifers well suited to the boreal forest environment. –Dark green color of most conifers absorbs heat energy.

Page 133: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

BOREAL FORESTBiotic Factors – Animal Life

–Staying warm is the major challenge for boreal forest animals.

–Small extremities and extra insulation in the form of fat or downy feathers.

–Some migrate to warmer areas in winter.

Page 134: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TUNDRA

– Characterized by permafrost, a layer of permanently frozen subsoil.

– Short cool summer-ground thaws to a depth of a few centimeters and becomes soggy.

– In winter, the top layer of soil freezes again.– Thawing and freezing-rips and crushes plant

roots (one reason that tundra plants are small and stunted)

Page 135: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 136: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TUNDRA

– Cold temperatures– high winds– short growing season– humus-poor soils-limit plant height.

Page 137: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TUNDRA

Abiotic Factors

–Strong winds and low precipitation.

–Summers are short and soggy, and the winters are long, cold, and dark.

Page 138: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TUNDRA

Abiotic Factors –Permafrost- permanently frozen subsoil.

Page 139: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TUNDRA

Biotic Factors – Plant Life

–By hugging the ground, mosses and other low-growing plants avoid damage from frequent strong winds.

–Seed dispersal by wind is common.

Page 140: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TUNDRA

Biotic Factors – Plant Life

–Adapted to growth in poor soil, • E.G. legumes, which have symbiotic bacteria on

their roots that fix nitrogen.

Page 141: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

TUNDRABiotic Factors – Animal Life–Migrate to avoid the long harsh winters.

–Year-round-display adaptations such as natural antifreeze, small extremities that limit heat loss, and a varied diet.

Page 142: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Other Land Areas

– What areas are not easily classified into a major biome?

– Not a typical community of plants and animals– E.g. mountain ranges and polar ice caps

Page 143: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Mountain Ranges

– All continents and in many biomes.

– Temperature, precipitation, exposure to wind, and soil types all change with elevation, and so do organisms.

Page 144: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Polar Ice Caps

– Polar regions border the tundra and are cold year-round.

– Plants are few – Some algae grow on snow and ice.

– Rocks and ground are exposed seasonally, mosses and lichens may grow.

– Marine mammals, insects, and mites are the typical animals.

Page 145: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Polar Ice Caps

– In the north, where polar bears live, the Arctic Ocean is covered with sea ice

– ice is melting each summer.

– In the south, the continent of Antarctica is covered by ice nearly 5 kilometers thick in places.

Page 146: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Aquatic Ecosystems

Page 147: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Factors that effect aquatic ecosystems

• Water’s depth• Temperature• Flow • Amount of dissolved nutrients• Runoff-Distance from the shore

Page 148: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Water Depth• Sunlight penetrates only a relatively short

distance through water• Photic Zone-sunlit region

– photosynthesis can occur– Up to 200 meters in tropics– Phytoplankton-photosynthetic algae– 1st step in many aquatic food webs

• Aphotic Zone-Below photic zone; no photosynthesis

Page 149: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Benthos

Organisms that live on, or in, rocks and sediments on the bottoms of lakes, streams, and oceans-habitat is the benthic zone

Page 150: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Benthic Zone

• Water is shallow enough for photic zone– Algae and rooted aquatic plants can grown

• Below photic zone– Chemosynthetic autotrophs are the only primary

producers

Page 151: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 152: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Temperature and Current• Warmer near equator; colder near poles• Temps vary w/ depth; deepest often colder• Lakes and oceans-Current carry water that is

significantly colder or warmer than would be typical for any given latitude, depth, distance from shore

Page 153: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Nutrient Availability

• Organisms needs substances to live-oxygen, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus

• Type and availability of dissolved substances vary w/I and b/w bodies of water, greatly affect types of organisms that can survive there.

Page 154: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Freshwater Ecosystems

• 3 categories: River and streams, lakes and ponds, freshwater wetlands.

• 3% of Earths surface water• Terrestrial Organisms- Source of drinking

water, food and transportation

Page 155: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

River and Streamscreeks, and brooks

• Often originate from underground water sources in mountains or hills

• Near source-plenty dissolved oxygen; little plant life• Downstream-sediment and plants• Animals depend on terrestrial plants and animals along

banks for food.

Page 156: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Lakes and ponds• Food webs based on plankton and attached

algae and plants.• Plankton-general term for phytoplankton and

zooplankton• Water-flows in and out and circulates b/w

surface and benthos • Circulation distributes heat, oxygen, and

nutrients.

Page 157: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Wetlands

• Ecosystem in which water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface for at least part of the year.

• Nutrient-rich, highly productive, breeding grounds for many organisms.

• Environmental Functions– purify water by filtering pollutants– Prevent flooding by absorbing large amounts of water

and slowing releasing it.• Bog, Marsh, Swamp

Page 158: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Estuaries• Special wetland-river meets

the sea• Mix of fresh and salt water• Effected by rise and fall of

tides• Many shallow-sunlight

reaches benthos to power photosynthesis

• Support great amount of Biomass-although contain few species than freshwater or marine.

Page 159: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Estuaries

• Spawning and nursery grounds for many ecological/commercially important fish and shellfish (bluefish, bass, shrimp and crabs)

• Salt marshes-– Temperate conditions– Salt-tolerant grasses above the low-

tide line and seagrasses below the water.

– One of largest-Chesapeake Bay in Maryland

Page 160: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Estuaries• Mangrove Swamps

– Tropical estuary– Salt-tolerant trees-collectively mangroves– Largest-Florida’s Everglade National Park

Page 161: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Marine Ecosystems

• Occupy specific areas w/I the ocean• Ocean zones

– Intertidal zone– Coastal zone– Open Ocean

Page 162: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Intertidal Zone• Submerged high tide;

air and sunlight low tide

• Subjected to regular and extreme changes in temps

• Battered by waves and currents

• Barnacles and seaweed attached to rocks.

Page 163: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 164: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Coastal Ocean

• Low tide mark to outer edge of continental shelf

• Water brightly lit• Nutrients from run-

off• Highly productive• Kelp forests and coral

reefs

Page 165: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 166: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Open Oceans

• Edge of the continental shelf and extends outward

• 90 % of world’s ocean• 500 meters (shelf) to 10,000 meters in ocean

trenches• Photic and aphotic zones

Page 167: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 168: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Open Ocean-Photic Zone

• Low nutrient levels

• Supports only small phytoplankton

• Most photosynthesis occurs in top 100 meters

Page 169: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere
Page 170: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere

Open Ocean-Aphotic Zone

• Permanently dark zone; deepest parts of ocean

• Food webs based on photic zone or chemosynthetic primary producers

• High pressure, frigid temperatures and total darkness

• Islands of high productivity• Deep-sea vents, superheated water boils out

of cracks

Page 171: Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4. Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth’s atmosphere