ECOLOGY Chapter 2 Section 1

BIOTIC BIOTIC ABIOTIC Features that are alive or were once alive The nonliving, physical features of the environment

ATMOSPHERE Air contains mostly Nitrogen, some oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases

SOIL Mixture of mineral and rock particles, the remains of dead organisms(humus), water, and air

SUNLIGHT WATER Water is essential to life Sunlight is the energy source of most life on Earth During photosynthesis, producers convert light energy into chemical energy WATER Water is essential to life More water = greater diversity and larger number of organisms

TEMPERATURE affected by the… AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT LATITUDE ELEVATION

CLIMATE Refers to an area’s average weather conditions over time, including temperature, precipitation, and wind

Wind As temperatures increase, the molecules are spread apart and become lighter than cold air. Colder air pushes warmer air upward causing air currents we call WIND

RAIN SHADOW EFFECT When one side of the mountain received less precipitation, so there would be lush forests on one side of the mountain and desert on the other side