The Biosphere and its Biomes

The Study of Ecology The scientific study of organisms and between organisms and their environments. Biotic- living factors in an environment Abiotic- nonliving factors in an environment

Key Abiotic Factors Sunlight Water Temperature Soil- product of abiotic factors (ice, rain, wind) and the actions of living things (microorganisms, plants, worms, etc.) on rocks and minerals. Wind Severe Disturbances

Identify Specific Key Abiotic Factors

5 Levels of Ecological Study Individual Organism Populations- group of organisms (of the same species) living in the same area Communities- all of the organisms inhibiting a particular area Ecosystems- abiotic + biotic factors in an area Biosphere- broadest level of ecological study; sum of all of the earth’s ecosystems (biotic and abiotic factors)

Identify 5 Levels of Ecological Study

Biomes Major type of terrestrial ecosystems that cover large regions of Earth (8 land biomes). Characterized by specific biotic (plants & animals) and abiotic factors.

Tropical Rain Forest Warm year-round (near the equator) LOTS of rain Diverse life

Savanna Tropical regions of Africa, Australia, & South America Grasslands with scattered trees Warm; wet & dry seasons

Desert VERY dry (less than 30 cm per year!) Hot or cold (deserts in Asia)

Chaparral Temperate coastal biome Dense evergreen shrubs Mild, rainy winters & hot, dry summers

Temperate Grassland Deep, nutrient-rich soil that supports a variety of plants No woody shrubs and trees “Prairies”

Temperate Deciduous Forest Deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves each year) 4 seasons

Coniferous Forest (Taiga) Cone-bearing evergreen trees Long, cold winters with heavy snow

Tundra VERY cold, high winds Permafrost- permanently frozen subsoil

Biomes Project Draw a picture of a polar bear. What does it eat? What is its habitat? Who has been to the artic? How do you know what a polar bear acts like then?

Your Zoo Proposal 5 biomes Things to consider… 2 animals 5 plant species Things to consider… 1) How do you maintain the climate? 2) Abiotic factors (sunlight, shade, air quality, water, etc)

Your Zoo Proposal Requirements Map of the zoo Written proposal Info poster for each of the 5 habitats (what will be included at the beginning of each biome)

Food Chains What did you eat for dinner last night? Heterotroph or autotroph?

Food Chains Food chain- Pathway of food transfer from one trophic level to another. Trophic level- feeding level

Food Web The patter of feeding represented by interconnected and branching food chains in an ecosystem.

Energy Flow Through Ecosystems There is a limited amount of energy available in an ecosystem– an “energy budget” that is divided among the trophic levels. What determines the “energy budget”?

Energy Pyramid Emphasizes the energy loss from one trophic level to the next. Rule of 10- Only 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next; rest is lost as heat.

Activity The crackers represent 100 “units” of energy from the sun. Get in groups of 4. Each student should choose a label from the bag. Identify your trophic level. Plant= producer Grasshopper= primary consumer Rat= secondary consumer Hawk= tertiary consumer

Activity Rule of 10- An average of 10% of the energy in 1 trophic level transfers to the next level. Model this energy transfer process by passing the appropriate amount of “energy” (crackers) to the next trophic level.

Activity What amount of “energy” was passed on to each trophic level? Grasshopper? Rat? Hawk? Why do higher trophic levels (i.e. the hawk) contain fewer individuals?

Global Warming Atmospheric CO2 levels have risen dramatically. Why? Burning of wood Burning of fossil fuels Deforestation

Global Warming CO2 and the Greenhouse Effect Global Warming (the overall rise in Earth’s average temperature)

Possible Effects of Global Warming Melting of glaciers & polar ice caps, raising sea levels & flooding low-lying coastal areas. Changing precipitation patterns (more hurricanes) Shifting biome boundaries, affecting species that live there.