Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4 4.1 Climate Pgs. 96-98 4.2 Niches and Community Interactions Pgs. 99-105 4.3 Succession Pgs. 106-109 4.4 Biomes Pgs. 110-116 4.5 Aquatic Ecosystems Pgs. 117-121 What does learning about ecosystems and communities have to do with you? Watch this clip on the conservation of tropical rain forests and then write your response below: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Y8iOnIqHk

Chapter 4 Vocabulary 4.1 Pg. 96 Weather Climate Microclimate Greenhouse effect 4.2 Pg. 99 Tolerance Habitat Niche Resource Competitive exclusion principle Predation Herbivory Keystone species Symbiosis Mutualism Parasitism Commensalism 4.3 Pg. 106 Ecological succession Primary succession Secondary succession Pioneer species 4.4 Pg. 110 Canopy Understory Deciduous Coniferous Humus Taiga Permafrost 4.5 Pg. 117 Photic zone Aphotic zone Benthos Plankton Wetland estuary

Weather and Climate Weather is the day-to-day condition of Earth’s atmosphere. Climate refers to average conditions over long periods and is defined by year-after-year patterns of temperature and precipitation. The main force that shapes our climate is solar energy that arrives as sunlight that strikes Earth’s surface.

The Greenhouse Effect Explain the main idea of this diagram: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OGc3K0w51Y http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-KxviRFcRk&feature=channel

The Greenhouse Effect Carbon dioxide Methane Water vapor These are called “greenhouse gases” because they allow visible light to enter but trap heat like a greenhouse does. This is called the greenhouse effect. If greenhouse gas concentrations rise, they trap more heat, so Earth warms. If their concentrations fall, more heat escapes, and Earth cools.

4.2 Niches and Community Interactions Pgs. 99-105 An organism’s niche describes not only the environment where it lives, but how it interacts with biotic and abiotic factors in the environment. In other words, an organism’s niche includes not only the physical and biological aspects of its environment, but also the way in which the organism uses them to survive and reproduce.

Resources and the Niche The term resource can refer to any necessity of life, such as water, nutrients, light, food, or space. For plants, resources can include sunlight, water, and soil nutrients. For animals, resources can include nesting space, shelter, types of food, and places to feed.

The Competitive Exclusion Principle Competition How one organism interacts with other organisms is an important part of defining its niche. Competition occurs when organisms attempt to use the same limited ecological resource in the same place at the same time. The Competitive Exclusion Principle states that no two species can occupy exactly the same niche in exactly the same habitat at exactly the same time. http://animal.discovery.com/videos/survival-guide-serengeti-leopard-competition.html

Predator-Prey Relationships An interaction in which one animal (the predator) captures and feeds on another animal (the prey) is called predation. Predators can affect the size of prey populations in a community and determine the places prey can live and feed. Birds of prey, for example, can play an important role in regulating the population sizes of mice, voles, and other small mammals. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3xmqbNsRSk&feature=channel

Symbioses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YKAalZAqO4 Any relationship in which two species live closely together is called symbiosis, which means “living together.” The three main classes of symbiotic relationships in nature are: Mutualism- both organisms benefit Parasitism- one benefits while the other is harmed Commensalism-one benefits and the other is not helped nor harmed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqjMYEfViKA&feature=related

The clownfish is immune to anemone stings The clownfish is immune to anemone stings. When threatened by a predator, clownfish seek shelter by snuggling deep into an anemone’s tentacles. If an anemone-eating species tries to attack the anemone, the clownfish dart out and chase away the predators. Mutualism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ1KDf3O-qU http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals/invertebrates-animals/other-invertebrates/clownfish_amonganemones.html

Parasitism These are examples of parasitism, relationships in which one organism lives inside or on another organism and harms it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMG-LWyNcAs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMqtC8jXvTw&feature=channel

Commensalism This is an example of commensalism, a relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Primary Succession takes place on an area that is originally completely empty of life. Over time, various kinds of organisms begin to grow in the area.

Secondary Succession Sometimes, existing communities are not completely destroyed by disturbances. In these situations, secondary succession occurs. often follows a wildfire, hurricane, or other natural disturbance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ2Xl6ZqzRI Secondary succession proceeds faster than primary succession, in part because soil survives the disturbance. As a result, new and surviving vegetation can regrow rapidly.

Why Succession Occurs One model of succession suggests that as one species alters its environment, other species find it easier to compete for resources and survive. As organic matter continues to accumulate, other species move in and change the environment further. Over time, more and more species can find suitable niches and survive.

Succession After Human-Caused Disturbances Ecosystems may or may not recover from extensive human-caused disturbances. Clearing and farming of tropical rain forests, for example, can change the microclimate and soil enough to prevent regrowth of the original community.

4.4 Biomes, Pgs 110-116 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFEV-hiP2gQ 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

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.

4.5 Aquatic Ecosystems Pgs. 117-121 Rivers and Streams often originate from underground water sources in mountains or hills. Animals in many rivers and streams depend on terrestrial plants and animals that live along their banks for food.

Lakes and Ponds The food webs in lakes and ponds often are based on a combination of plankton and attached algae and plants. Water flows in and out of lakes and ponds and circulates between the surface and the benthos, distributing heat, oxygen, and nutrients.

Freshwater Wetlands A wetland is an ecosystem in which water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface for at least part of the year. Wetlands are often nutrient-rich, highly productive, and serve as breeding grounds for many organisms. Three main types of freshwater wetlands are: 1. freshwater bogs freshwater marshes freshwater swamps. Saltwater wetlands are called estuaries.

Estuaries An estuary is a special kind of wetland, formed where a river meets the sea. Estuaries contain a mixture of fresh water and salt water, and are affected by the rise and fall of ocean tides.

Open Ocean More than 90 percent of the world’s ocean area is considered open ocean. The open ocean is divided into two zones based on light penetration—the photic and aphotic. Use the picture below to describe the photic and aphotic zones: ________________________________________________________________________________________________