Intro to Ecology The study of ecosystems

Levels of organization  Organism – one individual  Population – same species in one area

Levels of organization  Population – same species in one area  Community – All the species in an area

Levels of organization  Community – All the species in an area  Ecosystem – Biotic and abiotic factors in an area

Levels of organization  Ecosystem – Biotic and abiotic factors in an area  Biosphere – Global ecosystem

58.1 Sun Wind and water

Abiotic factors Non-living environmental factors  Temperature  Wind – rain shadow  Water  Sunlight  Rocks  Soil

Main Climate Factors are  Temperature  Rainfall

The Sun and Seasons  The angle of the earth to sun determines seasons

Climate  The combination of temperature, rainfall and other abiotic factors

Wind  Generated by Sun

Coriolis effect  Earth’s rotation turns the winds and currents to the right in N. Hemisphere

World winds effect climate

Winds effect ocean currents  Currents affect climate  Gulf stream brings warmer water

Rain shadow  Windward side – air rises, Rain  Leeward side – air sinks. NO rain

Elevation determines climate

Terrestrial Biomes Where do you live?

Biome  A group of similar ecosystems  Usually defined by the types of plants that grow there, based on climate

Climate factors affect plant types 1) Temperatures 2) Rainfall

First Biome: Tundra  What is the tundra?  No not this

Tundra  Permafrost - permanently frozen ground  Plants: very small plants and shrubs  Animals: caribou, arctic fox, snowshoe hare

Taiga (Coniferous forest)  Cold, much winter snow, conifer trees  Plants: cone bearing: pines, firs, spruce  Animals: moose, bear, wolves and lynx

Deciduous forest  Temperate, trees lose leaves, lots of rain. Many dormant winter species  Plants: maples, oaks, willow, birch, blueberries  Animals: deer, fox, raccoon, squirrels

Grasslands  Temperate, seasonal drought, fires  Mostly grasses, flat, dry, fertile  Plants: wheat, corn, hay, grass  Animals: grazers; bison, prairie dogs

Chaparral  Brush land communities along mid latitude coastlines  Plants: spiny shrubs, heat and fire resistant plants  Animals: deer, rodents, lizards, roadrunners

Desert  Very little rainfall (< 30 cm/year), hot day, cold night  Plants: store water (CAM plants) cactus, sage bush, creosote bush  Animals: lizards, snakes, kit foxes, road runner

Some desert mice NEVER drink  Kangaroo mouse  Gets water from food and from cellular respiration

Savannas  Grassland with more moisture. Wet and dry seasons  Plants: scattered trees, shrubs :grasses  Animals: zebra, giraffes, gazelles, lions, hyenas

Tropical rainforest  Very wet and hot  Plants: very tall trees, orchids, mosses  Animals: parrots, monkeys, sloth, jaguar

Tropical rainforests  More biomass above soil  Pronounced vertical stratification

Tropical rainforests  Canopy species at the top  Jungle – thick growth to replace opening  Epiphytes – air plants grow on other plants

Alpine  Alpine biomes are at high altitudes  Similar to taiga and tundra

Locations of Biomes

Quiz – Name that biome  Savannah

What Biome?  Desert

What Biome?  Deciduous forest

What Biome?  Tundra

What Biome?  Tropical Rain Forest

What Biome?  Chaparral

What Biome?  Taiga

What Biome?  Grassland

Aquatic Biomes

Photic zones  Light reaches

Aphotic zones  Light does not reach

Thermocline  Temperature layer where temperature drops sharply with depth

Benthic Zone  The zone below the surface.

Freshwater biomes  Oligotrophic Lakes – Deep, nutrient poor, with small surface area.  Low photosynthesis

Eutrophic lake  Nutrient-rich, large surface area relative to depth. High rate of photosynthesis

Healthiest lakes are balanced  Oligotrophic vs Eutrophic