Grolar Bears Grolar BEARS Get into groups of three. Read the article and discuss these questions What is a Grolar Bear? How did this happen? Is it right? Wrong? How does the Grolar bear affect its environment? How do you think we as Canadians should ‘respond’ to this event?
Unit A: Energy and Matter Exchange in the Biosphere Chapter 1 Section 1.1: Equilibrium in the Biosphere
Equilibrium Earth is a closed system – which is any system where matter is not exchanged with its surroundings. Closed systems however can exchange energy with their surroundings. Ex. Thermal energy from the Sun On earth all living and non-living things are connected. They are constantly interacting with each other.
Equilibrium In order for a system to function properly, each component of Earth’s environment must be in a state of equilibrium or balance. Earth is an example of a system in dynamic equilibrium. Dynamic equilibrium – is a system in which changes are continuously occurring but the components can adjust to the changes without disturbing the entire system.
The Biosphere Earth has three basic structural zones: the lithosphere (land) the hydrosphere (water) the atmosphere (air) Together, these three zones make up the biosphere. The biosphere – is the narrow zone around Earth that harbours life.
Biotic vs. Abiotic The biosphere consists of both biotic and abiotic components. Biotic = the biological or living components. Abiotic = the non-living components.
Levels of Organization in the Biosphere Ecosystem Community Population Organism
Levels of Organization in the Biosphere
Biosphere Whole living layer around the globe. http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch8en/conc8en/envisys.html
Ecosystem A biotic (living) community plus the abiotic (nonliving) features.
Community Several populations living together.
Population A group of individuals of the same species living together.
Organism Entire living things (organisms). Usually made of systems. May be a single cell. Living.
Biodiversity Biodiversity refers to the number of species in an ecosystem. The greater the number of species (biodiversity) the healthier the ecosystem.
Food Chains All of the organisms in an ecosystem are connected into a food chain. A food chain is a sequence linking organisms that feed on each other. Because all the organisms in an ecosystem are connected, the reduction in biodiversity caused by the extinction of a single species can cause a domino effect.
Food Chains