Intro to Ecology Chapter 52

YOU MUST KNOW The role of abiotic factors in the formation of biomes How biotic and abiotic factors affect the distribution of biomes How changes in these factors may alter some ecosystems

Climate A. Ecology – study of interactions between organisms and the environment B. Climate – the long-term weather conditions of an area 1. Temperature, precipitation, sunlight, wind 2. Macroclimate patterns – global, regional, or local 3. Microclimate – small variations in small places

A. Ecological levels of organization Biomes A. Ecological levels of organization A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in an area

A. Ecological levels of organization Biomes A. Ecological levels of organization A community is a group of populations of different species in an area A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in an area

A. Ecological levels of organization Biomes A. Ecological levels of organization An ecosystem is the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which they interact A community is a group of populations of different species in an area A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in an area

A. Ecological levels of organization Biomes A. Ecological levels of organization An ecosystem is the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which they interact A community is a group of populations of different species in an area A biome includes the ecosystems that occupy a broad geographic range A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in an area

Terrestrial biomes 1. Desert – sparse rainfall, often extreme temperatures, organisms living there are adapted to conserve and store water 2. Chaparral – coastal areas, dominated by dense, spiny, evergreen shrubs, tend to have mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, plants adapted to fires

3. Temperate grassland – seasonal drought, occasional fires, large grazing mammals, rich soil for farming 4. Temperate broadleaf forest – dense trees that drop their leaves, require moisture, more open than rain forests, stratified with taller (canopy) and shorter trees

Coniferous forest – cone-bearing trees, snow Tundra – permafrost, cold, high winds, low rainfall Tropical rain forest – stratified, thick trees, little light, high rainfall

Aquatic biomes – 75% of the biosphere, freshwater & marine Vertical stratification Photic zone – enough light for photosynthesis Aphotic zone – low light penetration

Freshwater – lakes, wetlands, streams, rivers a. Oligotrophic lakes – deep, nutrient-poor, oxygen-rich b. Eutrophic lakes – shallow, high-nutrient content, low oxygen c. Estuaries – freshwater merges with the ocean, highly productive

Interactions with the environment A. Biotic factors – living, can include behaviors, B. Abiotic factors – non-living, chemical, physical (temp, water, salinity, light)