Movie-Themed Ecology ReviewClimate Niches &

RelationshipsSuccession Biomes Aquatic

Ecosystems

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ClimateThe weather is pleasant as Belle takes a stroll through town. But how is weather different from the area’s climate?10 pts

Weather describes a region’s current conditionsClimate describes average conditions over a longer period of time

Climate On their quest to find P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney, Nemo and Dory ride along the North Atlantic Current. What function do currents serve in our global climate? 20 points

Transport heat

ClimateWhat would happen to the climate on the coast of Australia if this current were to become warmer? - 30 points

As the warm current gave off more heat and moisture, the climate on the coast would become warmer

ClimateWhy do polar regions, like the North Pole, receive less light than regions near the equator?– 40 points

The sun hits less directly on the poles, due to Earth’s curvature (latitude)

Climate – Describe how the greenhouse effect keeps Earth’s temperature in a range that is suitable for life – 50 points

Greenhouse gases allow light to enter the biosphere. Light may

1.be reflected off 2. some is absorbed as heat or 3. trapped within the atmosphere, 4.while some is able to escape out to space

Additional Question:

What are the main greenhouse gases?

Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor

Niches & Relationships Nemo and his sea anemone have this type of symbiotic relationship. -10 pts

Niches & RelationshipsIn Finding Nemo, a flock of seagulls fights over who gets to eat Nemo and Dory. What type of community interaction does this illustrate? 20 points

Intraspecific competition

Niches & Relationships The blue whale from Finding Nemo has barnacles living on its body. How do you know this is an example of commensalism? 30 points

The whale isn’t harmed or helped, but the barnacles get helped by flowing through the water to get food.

Niches & RelationshipsDescribe how a keystone species creates interdependence within a community. (Ex: Pacific coast otters, like PB and J Otter)– 40 points

-If the keystone species (otter) dies out, population of its prey (sea urchin) would grow uncontrollably- They would consume too many producers (kelp) - Thus throwing the community out of balance. - The community relies on the stability of the keystone species’ population.

Niches & RelationshipsDescribe Todd’s niche (The fox from The Fox & The Hound) (Remember what defines a niche?…) – 50 points

Resources – food, shelter, waterPhysical aspects – the cave he lives inBiological aspects – the food he eats, the way he gets his food

Succession Dante’s Peak, which is a volcano that wreaks havoc on a small town, would cause what kind of succession to occur? Why? - 10 points

Primary succession – covers with lava/ash and the soil no longer supports life

SuccessionWhat do you call the organisms that first inhabit an area? - Kind of like Davy Crockett, who helped settle the wild frontier– 20 points

Pioneer species

What is an example?

Lichen

SuccessionWall*E is one of the few robots left inhabiting Earth after humans leave the planet in complete, nearly-lifeless ruin. The process of Earth rebuilding its ecosystems through a series of more-or-less predictable changes is known as… – 30 points

Ecological Succession

SuccessionEcosystems, like the one in Avatar, may or may not recover from these kinds of disturbances, depending on recurrence and extent of the damage. – 40 points

Human-caused disturbance

Additional Question:

What type of disturbance usually allows restoration of the original climax community?

A natural disturbance that allows secondary succession, such as fire, hurricane, tornado…

SuccessionExplain how succession would occur in Bambi’s ecosystem after the fire wipes out his forest? – 50 points

The fire destroys the ecosystem, but leaves the soil behind. Plants begin regrowth, and animals start returning to feed in the ecosystem.

BiomesJack Conroy and White Fang, a wolf-dog mix, rely on each other for survival in this wilderness of dense conifers, bitter-cold winters, moderate precipitation, and nutrient-poor soil. What biome are they in? – 10 points

Boreal Forest

What is another name for the boreal forest?

Taiga

Biomes“Eight Below” was filmed in the frigid wilderness of Alaska, with strong winds, low precipitation, and permafrost. Which biome is this?– 20 points

Tundra What’s permafrost?

Layer of subsoil that is permanently frozen

BiomesWhat characteristics tell you that Aladdin lives in a desert biome? – 30 points

Aladdin Aladdin Little rain, poor soil, animals that conserve water, ex: camels

BiomesPocahontas walked among coniferous and deciduous trees growing in fertile soil in a temperate climate, in order to see her beloved John Smith. What biome is she in?– 40 points

Temperate forest What are coniferous and deciduous trees?

Deciduous drop their leaves; Conifers have cones/needles

BiomesThe Jungle Book is set in which biome? How do you know? – 50 pointsTropical dry forest, has wet/dry seasons, fires, animals like tigers, birds, and primates, that may use hibernation or estivation

What’s estivation?When animals in hot, dry climates go into a dormant, inactive state to conserve water

Aquatic Ecosystems This zone of an ocean ecosystem contains important communities, like kelp forests and coral reefs, like those found in Finding Nemo -10 points

Coastal Ocean

Aquatic EcosystemsIn what area of an aquatic ecosystem are benthos found? - 20 points

Benthic zone - The bottom sedimentary layer of ponds, lakes, seas or oceans

What organisms live in the benthic zone?

Plants and animals that are either attached to the bottom or swim/crawl along it

Aquatic Ecosystems Sebastian from The Little Mermaid is a crab, who most likely was born and raised in this type of aquatic wetland that is known for its shallow water, large amount of biomass, and salt-tolerant grass/trees. -30 points

Estuary

Aquatic Ecosystems Lilo and Stitch like to play in the tide pools at the beach. What adaptations are necessary for organisms in this marine aquatic zone? 40 points

Adapted to air and sunlight at low tide, changes in temperature, battering by waves

Additional Question:

What are examples of organisms found in the intertidal zone?

Barnacles, starfish, seaweed

Aquatic EcosystemsIn what oceanic zone does this anglerfish from Finding Nemo live, and how is it adapted to living in this zone? – 50 points Aphotic open ocean; it must be

adapted to frigid temps, high pressure, and uses the light on its head to attract prey since it can’t see

You have 30 seconds to write down the answer to the following question

Final Jeopardy

What land areas are not grouped into major biomes?

Answer

• Polar ice caps and mountain ranges