Climate and Communities 7-2

Iguana vs. snakes Intense

Habitat vs. Niche An organism’s HABITAT is its address (physical location), its NICHE is the role it plays in its habitat. Niche examples What eats it, etc.

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Community Interactions Competition – for resources that an organism needs to survive. Predation – one organism (predator) capturing and feeding on another (prey).

Symbiosis – relationships in which two species live closely together. Mutualism – both organisms benefit Commensalism – one benefits, other is unaffected Parasitism – one helped, one harmed

Limiting Factors limiting factors are those which affect an organism’s ability to survive…they “limit” important parts of its life, such as… numbers reproduction growth / development movement / distribution existence

Ecological Succession Succession refers to the orderly, natural changes and species replacements that take place in a community over time e.g. What would a lawn look like if it did not get cut for a year? Five years? 90 years? Succession occurs in stages, usually over several decades

Primary Succession The colonization of barren land following a community disturbance which left no soil, caused by: lava flow paving, etc. Pioneer species – the first species to take hold in the area

Secondary Succession Occurs after existing community is disrupted –Soil was NOT removed. Ex. Forest Fire, Clearing land, etc. Requires less time to reach a climax community

Climate Zones Earth’s tilt results in 3 main climate zones Polar (low solar angle) Temperate (has seasons) Tropical (nearly direct sunlight) Heat is transferred on Earth by Winds Ocean currents

Greenhouse Effect “Earth’s blanket” : Retains its heat. Composed of Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and Water vapor (H2O)(gas) These gases let heat energy in, trap it from leaving. Result: Temperatures remain suitable for life

Biomes… Large communities over a big area that have similar soil and climate conditions, as well as the types of species living there.