Unit 3 Notes Chapter 4: Ecosystems and Communities Review from Unit 2:

I. ________________________: groups of organisms that are similar enough to breed and produce fertile offspring

II. ____________________________: groups of organisms of the same species living in a particular place

III. ____________________________: group of organisms of different species living in a particular place (includes all living things—plants and animals)

IV. ____________________________: all of the living AND nonliving things in a particular area

• Example: plants, animals, water, climate, soil, rocks, etc. V. ________________________: group of ecosystems with the same climate and similar

communities • Example: Desert, Tundra, Savanna, Tropical Rainforest

VI. ____________________________: area on earth where all life exists Chapter 4:

I. The Role of Climate a. Two major factors affecting ecosystems and biomes are

________________________ and _________________________. b. Temperature, precipitation, and other environmental factors combine to produce

weather and climate. c. What is the difference? d. Climate vs. Weather

i. ___________________________ = day-to-day conditions in an area • Example: Is it raining? Is it sunny or cloudy? Is it windy? Is it foggy?

ii. __________________________ = average yearly conditions of temperature and precipitation in a region • Example: What is the average yearly temperature? Are there different

seasons? What is the average yearly humidity and precipitation?

II. Factors that Contribute to Climate a. _________________________ of heat by the atmosphere b. Transport of heat by _____________ and __________________ currents c. Amount of precipitation d. _________________________ (how far north or south a place is)

III. The Effect of Latitude on Climate a. Earth is a sphere tilted on its _____________ and receives sunlight at different

angles throughout the year b. Different latitudes = different angles of heating by the sun

c. Creates 3 Climate Zones: i. ___________________: cold and dry; sun’s rays hit at low angles ii. ________________________: between polar and tropical; most changes

in light; temperature varies from hot to cold iii. ______________________: near equator; direct or nearly direct light year

around; hot and wet IV. The Greenhouse Effect

a. _________________ in the atmosphere (H2O, Co2, and methane) trap heat and warm the earth.

V. Heat Transfer in the Biosphere a. Heat is moved by _______________ and air currents b. __________________ air/water rises and _______________ air/water moves in.

This creates currents. VI. What Shapes an Ecosystem?

a. Ecosystems are influenced by ______________________ and ___________________ factors.

b. Biotic factors = ___________________ (biological) influences on an organism c. Abiotic factors = ____________________ (physical) influences on an organism d. ____________________ = the biotic and abiotic factors where an organism lives

i. Habitat is like an organisms _______________________ e. ____________________ = all biotic and abiotic factors where an organism lives

AND the way in which it uses those factors i. Niche includes WHERE an organism lives PLUS things like…

• What it eats? Any predators? Where in the habitat does it live…tree, pond, underground?

• The organisms actions…hibernating, migrating, when and how it reproduces?

f. Habitat vs. Niche i. Habitat is like the organism’s ________________________. ii. Niche is like the organism’s _________________________.

g. ____________________________ = anything needed by an organism for life i. Examples: Nutrients, water, light, space

VII. Community Interactions a. There are several ways species interact with each other:

i. Competition ii. Predation iii. Cooperation iv. Symbiosis

b. Competition = between ________________ or ____________________ species

i. Compete with each other for available resources ii. Organisms in an ecosystem have to compete with each other for

available _______________________ such as… • FOOD • SHELTER • MATES • SPACE/TERRITORY • LIGHT (especially plants!!)

iii. If resources are _____________________, some organisms will starve and populations will _______________________.

iv. If resources become more _______________________, populations will ________________________.

v. Competition in nature often results in a winner and a loser…with the loser failing to survive!

vi. If a nutrient is in short supply OR cycles slowly through the ecosystem, it will __________________ the growth of a population. This is called a _____________________ FACTOR (or limiting nutrient).

vii. Limiting Nutrient • The short supply of a limiting nutrient keeps the population in check. • When an ecosystem receives a LARGE input of limiting nutrient (Ex.

Fertilizer) the population __________________ dramatically. • Example: Algal bloom

c. Predation = between _______________________ kinds of organisms i. ______________________ = organism that hunts and kills other

organisms to supply their energy needs ii. ______________________ = organisms in an ecosystem that get eaten

by a predator d. Cooperation = between ______________ kind of organisms

i. Live together and _________________ each other • Example: Monkeys helping clean each other.

ii. Same species live together in groups • Example: herds, packs, colonies, families • Share food and childcare responsibilities • Groom each other • Take care of sick • Hunt in packs • Provide protection

b. Symbiosis = between ____________________ species; two species living closely together

i. 3 Types of Symbiosis: • Mutualism • Commensalism • Parasitism

ii. Mutualism = both organisms ______________________

iii. Commensalism = one organism is helped; the other organism is NEITHER ____________________ nor _____________________

iv. Parasitism = one organism benefits (the parasite); the other organism (host) is _____________________ in some way

EXAMPLES OF SYMBIOSIS

• Insects transfer pollen between plants as they gather nectar for food. Insects: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Plants: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Type of symbiosis: ____________________________________

• Tapeworms absorb food by living inside a host’s intestine. The host is harmed. Tapeworm: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Host: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Type of symbiosis: ____________________________________

• Clownfish gets protection from enemies by hiding out in poisonous sea anemones. Sea anemone gets scraps of leftover food dropped by fish. Clown fish: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Sea anemone: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Type of symbiosis: ____________________________________

• Hermit crabs make homes in shells abandoned by snails. Snail is not harmed by crab. Hermit crab: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Snail: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Type of symbiosis: ____________________________________

• Birds eat parasites living on hides of giraffes and rhinos while enjoying protection from predators. Groomed animals lose their pests. Birds: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Rhinos and Giraffes: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Type of symbiosis: ____________________________________

• Ticks are blood sucking insects that attach to a dog’s skin. The ticks feed on the dog’s blood, and the dog has discomfort and can get diseases. Tick: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Dog: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Type of symbiosis: ____________________________________

• Pilot fish receive scraps of food dropped by shark. Shark is neither harmed nor helped. Pilot fish: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Shark: a. helped b. harmed c. neutral Type of symbiosis: ____________________________________

VIII. Ecological Succession a. Series of predictable ___________________ that occur in a community over

time b. Caused by:

i. Slow environmental changes ii. Sudden natural ____________________________

c. Succession is basically things “growing back” after something happens (or growing for the first time)

d. Caused by slow environmental changes

e. Or caused by sudden natural disturbances (i.e. a forest fire)

f. Two Types of Ecological Succession: i. _________________________ Succession ii. _________________________ Succession

g. Primary Succession i. Happens on surfaces where NO SOIL exists ii. Example: volcanoes, glaciers melting, etc. iii. If there is no soil, how can something grow??

• Some plants can grow on bare rock without any soil Example: ____________________ and ____________________

• The first species to populate an area = ________________________ In primary succession, lichens and/or mosses are the pioneer species

iv. Steps in Primary Succession • When lichens and mosses die, their remains turn into ____________. • Wind and rain cause weathering and ________________, which

break down some of the rock surface and turn it into soil. • _______________ and small plants can start to grow in the soil that

has been created. • Then bigger plants can begin growing. Eventually a ______________

_____________________ will be reached. v. ____________________ community = a mature stable community in

which there is little change in the number of species h. Secondary Succession

i. Occurs on areas where SOIL IS present ii. Occurs after natural disturbances that do not remove _____________ iii. Example: after a forest _______________, or after farmland is plowed

then left alone iv. Goes through same steps as ________________ succession, EXCEPT

_______________ is already there in beginning. v. ____________________ species comes in FIRST (can be a plant that

requires soil, not just lichens/mosses). vi. Bigger plants start to grow until ________________ community reached.

i. REMINDERS! i. Not all ecosystems will reach the _________________ community stage. ii. Sometimes another disturbance can happen and ecological succession

has to start over. iii. _____________________ are not the only thing that “come back” when

succession happens. ____________________ inhabit these areas too once there is enough food!

iv. The type of food available determines which animals will come back and when.