Climate Chapter 4 Lesson 1

Weather and Climate Vocabulary 1- weather 2- climate 3- microclimate 4- greenhouse effect

Weather vs. climate Weather and climate involve changes in temperature, precipitation, and other environmental factors. Weather is the day to day conditions of the atmosphere. Climate- is the average conditions over ling periods of time. Climate- involves precipitation and temperature.

Factors that affect climate Global climate is shaped by several factors Solar energy trapped in the biosphere Latitude Transport of heat by winds and ocean currents

Trapped Solar Energy Some of the Sun’s sunlight is reflected back into space and some is absorbed and converted into heat. Some of the heat is radiates back into space and some gets trapped. The balance between the heat released and absorbed is what determines the temperature on Earth. 3 gases control this balance: 1 carbon dioxide 2 methane 3 water vapor

Latitude How far or close a region is from the Equator determines the angle at which it receives heat from the sun. The Earth’s tilt is what has different angles of sunlight hit the Earth. The Earth is unevenly heated.

Heat Transport The unequal distribution of heat across the globe creates wind and ocean currents. Earth has winds because of convection (hot air rises and cool air sinks) The upward and downward movement of air causes winds. There is the same pattern in the oceans.

Niches & Communities Chapter 4 Lesson 2

Niche Organisms occupy different places in part because each species has a range of conditions under which it can grow and reproduce. These conditions define where an organism lives. Tolerance- ability to survive and reproduce under a range of environmental condition. Habitat- general place when an organism lives

Niche A niche is also an organisms role in their ecosystem. A resource can refer to any necessity of life, water, food, nutirents, space, etc. Understanding a Niche Resources and the Niche- what organism needs (resources) Physical aspects of the Niche- what organisms needs as far as abiotic factors Biological aspects of the Niche- what organisms need as far as biotic factors

Competition When organisms attempt to use the same resources in the same environment COMPETITION occurs. Competitive exclusion principle- no two species can occupy exactly the same niche at the same time in the same habitat. Niche video

Predation and herbivory Predation- when on organisms captures and eats another organism. Predation affects the size of populations in a community and determine the places prey can live and feed. Herbivory- organisms that feed off producers (plants) Herbivory affects both the size and distribution of plant populations in a community and determine the places that certain plants can survive and grow.

Keystone Species A single species that can cause dramatic changes in the structure of a community. A change in a keystone species affects the whole ecosystem.

Symbiosis Symbiosis- two species that live together. Mutualism- both organisms benefit Parasitism- one organism benefits and the other is harmed Commensalism- one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.