6.2 Biodiversity 6.3 Change & Response Living Environment Key Ideas 6.2 & 6.3

Living Environment Biodiversity 6.2 Explain the importance of preserving diversity of species and habitats. 6.3 Explain how the living and nonliving environments change over time and respond to disturbances. Living Environment Biodiversity

Ecosystems & Biodiversity Ecosystems tend to go through dynamic change time until a stable system (climax community) is attained. Type of ecosystem depends upon climatic limitations of a particular geographic area. Biodiversity is the diversity of species in an area due to evolutionary processes. It increases the stability of an ecosystem. It insures a large variety of genetic material. Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Changes in Succession Changes over time 1. Ecological Succession: changes in a community from a pioneer to climax community. Flora (plant species) Fauna (animal species) rock: lichens (algae & fungi) Grass mice, rabbits brush tag alders gray birch pines hardwoods Plants determine the types of animals present Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Lake Succession Lake to Forest Succession new lake organisms grow and accumulate sediment from organisms and surrounding areas accumulate in the lake bottom becomes a mature lake community continues to fill in bog trees and plants Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Other Terms Other terms: Dominant species: The few important species of plants and animals that are found in a new succession area. Climax Community: The mature, stable community at the end of succession. Remains until there is a catastrophic event such as fire, flood, removal of topsoil, or volcanic eruption. Primary succession: When succession occurs in an area that has no existing life. Secondary succession: Occurs in an existing community that has been partially destroyed or balance has been upset. Ex. Forest fire. Living Environment Biodiversity

Change Through Competition Competition occurs when different species of organisms living in the same environment (habitat) utilize the same limited resources, such as food, space, water, light, oxygen, and minerals. The more similar the requirements of the organisms involved the more intense the competition. May be between the same or different species. Niche is the role the species plays in its environment. Usually one species per niche in a community. Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Biomes A. Biomes: large ecosystems occurring in major land areas. similar biomes have similar plants and animals. change with latitude Terrestrial (dry) or aquatic (wet) B. Types of Land Biomes: 1. Desert: extremely dry, less than 25 cm of rain per year cactus, shrubs, succulent plants lizards, snakes, kangaroo rats Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Land Biomes (cont) 2. Tropical Rainforest: 200 cm or more of rain per year broad leafed plants, evergreens, palms canopy over the forest from the tree bats, snakes, lizards, monkeys, insects 3. Grasslands (steppes in Africa): 25 cm - 75 cm of rain per year sub humid, temperatures from hot to cold grasses, few trees buffaloes, wolves, antelopes, prairie dogs Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Land Biomes (cont) 4.Temperate Deciduous Forest: 75 cm or more of rain moist cold winters, warm summers deciduous trees, elms, maples, oaks, etc... deer, squirrels, rabbits, turkeys 5. Taiga (coniferous forests) 50 cm or more of rain cool and moist conifers, evergreens, pines bears, mountain lions, wolves, elk, moose Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Land Biomes (cont) 6. Tundra: 20 cm of rain cold and dry year round permafrost lichens, shrubs, grasses arctic foxes, polar bears, caribou Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity World Biome Map Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Life Zones Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Aquatic Biomes Aquatic biomes represent the largest ecosystems on Earth. Over 70% of Earth’s surface covered with water. Most of Earth’s life is found here. Typically more stable than terrestrial biomes due to the high specific heat of water. Less temperature fluctuations. Types of organisms found depend upon factors such as: Amount of oxygen, carbon dioxide, light, dissolved minerals, and temperature. Aquatic organisms are well suited for removing oxygen and controlling water balance. Photosynthesis occurs only in about the first 100 ft. Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Marine Biomes Marine biomes (oceans): Provides the most stable aquatic environment. Absorbs and holds large quantities of solar heat and helps to stabilize the Earth’s atmosphere. Contains a relatively constant supply of nutrient materials and dissolved salts. Serves as a habitat for a large number of diverse organisms. The greatest amount of food production occurs along the edges of land masses where water is less shallow. Living Environment Biodiversity

Living Environment Biodiversity Fresh Water Biome Fresh water biomes include ponds, lakes, and rivers. They may show great variation in: Size Current velocity Concentration of dissolved gases Suspended particles Rate of succession- ponds and small lakes fill in quicker from dying vegetation and erosion. Living Environment Biodiversity