Chapter 6 Sections 6.3 and 6.4 Stability in the Ecosystem

Stability The measure of how easily an ecosystem is affected by a disturbance and how quickly it returns to its original condition after a disturbance.

Equilibrium Is a state of balance. The disrupted ecosystem will return to this state of balance or equilibrium.

Disrupted Ecosystem

Natural Rule Species and whole ecosystems evolve and may die out, but new species and ecosystems can evolve to replace them.

Chaos Theory Suggests that ecosystems may be sensitive to very small changes, and that the initial state of an ecosystem is crucial to its later development.

Human Impacts Habitat destruction. Introduction of invasive species. Pollution of water, soil and air.

Section 6.4 Land Biomes

Biome A major type of ecosystem with distinctive temperature, rainfall, and organisms.

Biomes 8 Terrestrial Aquatic –Determined by water depth, nutrients, and nearness to land.

Desert Biome Very little water. Covers 25 % of Earth’s land surface.

Desert

Tundra Little water. Cold.

Tundra

Forest Biomes Coniferous Deciduous Rain forest

Coniferous Forest

Deciduous Forest

Rain Forest

Grassland Biomes Steppe Prairie Savanna

Steppe

Prairie

Savanna

Review What are some of the human impacts on the environment? Compare and contrast the three different types of forests.