Ecosystems and communities

Weather and Climate Weather Climate Day-to-Day variations in conditions Examples?? Climate Year-after-Year patterns of temperature and precipitation Microclimates: varying conditions over small distances Factors that affect CLIMATE? Think: what factors affect the climate here?

The Greenhouse Effect Solar energy strikes the earth’s surface Some solar energy is absorbed by the earth as heat Some of the absorbed heat energy is reradiated into the atmosphere, and: EITHER lost to space OR trapped in the atmosphere by the Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse Gases Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Water Vapor, CFCs Why is this important?

Where do Organisms Live? Tolerance: the range of conditions under which an organism can survive and reproduce. Habitat: the general place where an organism lives Niche: An organism’s role in an ecosystem, including how it interacts with biotic and abiotic factors, plus the resources it uses What is an example of the difference between niche and habitat?

Competition in Ecosystems Definition: When organism attempt to use the same resource (Examples?) Intraspecific – between members of the same species Interspecific – between members of different species Competitive Exclusion Principle No two species can occupy exactly the same niche at the same time If two species attempt to occupy the same niche at the same time, one will lose out

Predation and Herbivory Predation: One animal (predator) captures and feed on another animal (prey) Herbivory: One animal (herbivore) feeds on primary producers (i.e. plants) *BOTH affect the population size and distribution of what is eaten What is going on here??

Keystone Species Definition: A species that can cause dramatic changes in ecosystem and/or community structure

Symbiosis Definition: Relationship in which 2 organisms live closely together Types: Mutualism, Parasitism, Commensalism Mutualism: Both organisms benefit Parasitism: One organism benefits and the other is harmed Commensalism: One organism benefits and the other is unaffected

Is it Mutualism, Parasitism, or Commensalism? Clownfish and Sea Anemone Tick and Human Caterpillar and Wasp (larvae) Whale and Barnacles Ants and Acacia