Ecosystems and communities A closer look!

Ecological succession: by definition-due to changes in a specific environment, there will be changes to the biotic and abiotic factors. Changes can be slow or sudden. What could change the environment: Human disturbances: Natural disturbances:

Primary succession: If there are changes to an ecosystem, it will recover. Primary succession: CHARACTERISTICS CAUSES no soil volcano only rock glaciers What would this mean to the recovery process? No growth=no producers

Primary succession Bare rock pioneer species Secondary succession Climax community

Primary succession Secondary succession

Succession in a marine environment is just as dynamic but very specific in its development because of the ecosystem. 1. Death Scavengers hagfish Decomposers amphipods 2. Supports smaller aquatics snails, crabs Nutrients marine worms sediment dwellers 3. Skeleton remains heterotrophic bacteria decompose oil in bones appearance of chemosynthetic auto- trophs = food for mussels, limpets, snails, crabs, clams on bones.

Climate Weather Year to year average day to day temperature precipitation amount of sun wind humidity Controlled by: Heat-radiation from sun Latitude-equator 0, North pole 90 N, South pole 90 S Winds Ocean currents Precipitation

The Greenhouse effect: Has always existed. A mixture of gases that insulate the earth and maintains the temperature of earth. Gases are CO2 , CH4, H2O, N2O3, and O3

Radiation: by definition, the movement of energy through space as electromagnetic waves. Radiation from the sun is a result of nuclear fusion-two hydrogen nuclei come together to form helium. Excess energy resulting from the fusion is released and ultimately becomes our source of heat. Approximately 4 million tons of matter is changed into energy every second. It takes roughly 8 minutes for this energy to reach earth

Latitude: the angular distance of any object, namely the sun, from the equator. Distance of the sun from the equator is 0. Latitude will change by 10 north and south of the equator until the poles.

Winds: the movement of large masses of gases controlled by the differences in densities of these masses.

Ocean currents: movement of cold water to warmer regions result in convection currents which can transport heat energy within the biosphere. Movement of currents play important role in: moving energy mixing heat, nutrients, salt that help maintain ecosystems

Precipitation: phases of water that are moved from ground to atmosphere or atmosphere to ground and are changed by temperature and pressure. Integral in maintaining the water cycle and the ecosystems of earth.

Biomes: a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat. Ecologists have identified ten major biomes. Each exits with its own specific and unique set of abiotic factors, the most important being climate.