Ecosystems and Communities Chapter 4

Weather vs. Climate Weather – daily atmospheric conditions in a specific region Climate – yearly average conditions of temperature and precipitation in a particular region

What Affects Climate? Trapping of heat by the atmosphere Latitude Transport of heat Amount of precipitation Energy of incoming sunlight Presence of greenhouse gases

The Greenhouse Effect Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and a few other gases trap heat energy and maintain Earth’s temperature range The gases trap heat inside the atmosphere Keeps Earth’s temperature within a range that is suitable for life

How Does Latitude Affect Climate? Earth is tilted on its axis Causes sunlight to strike regions on Earth at different angles

How Does Latitude Affect Climate? Differences in latitude results in three climate zones: 1. Polar zone Sun’s rays strike Earth at a very low angle Located near the poles (high latitudes) 2. Tropic zone Receives direct sunlight year round Located near the equator (low latitudes) 3. Temperate zone Angle of sun changes throughout year Located at middle latitudes

How is Heat Transported? Unequal heating of Earth’s surface drives winds and ocean currents Transports heat through biosphere

Biotic and Abiotic Factors Biotic – living Plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, protists Abiotic – nonliving Rocks, sediments, water, precipitation, temperature, light

Community Interactions Competition Between organisms of same species or different species Compete over resources Predation One organism captures and feeds on another organism Predator – the one doing the capturing Prey – the one being captured

Community Interactions Symbiosis – a relationship between two organisms Mutualism – both organisms benefit Commensalism – one organism benefits, the other is neither helped nor harmed Parasitism – one organism benefits, the other is harmed

Mutualism Honeybee and flower Crocodile and Plover

Commensalism Whale and barnacles Shark and Remora Fish

Parasitism Mosquito feeding on human blood Tapeworm living in animal’s digestive system