Place in order from smallest to largest: Biome Biosphere Community Ecosystem Population Species

Day 1 Objective I can explain the relationship between animals and the biosphere

The Biosphere

What is the Biosphere? Combined portions of the planet in which all of life exists, including land, water and atmosphere Extend from 8-km above Earth’s surface to 11-km below the surface of the ocean.

Levels of Organizations Species Group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring Population A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

Community Ecosystem Biome All the different populations that live together in a defined area Ecosystem Collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving environment Biome A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities

Ecosystems Influenced by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors

Biotic vs. Abiotic Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors The biological influences on organisms within an ecosystem Ex: birds, trees, mushrooms, and bacteria Abiotic Factors Physical or nonliving factors that shape ecosystems Ex: temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, nutrient availability, soil type, and sun light

What is a Biome? Areas that have distinctive climates and organisms

What are the Major Land Biomes? Tropical Rain Forest Temperate Forest Taiga Savanna Temperate Grassland Desert Tundra Mountain

How are Biomes Named? According to their plant life Plant life determine which organisms live there

Organisms in Biomes Plants & animals have adapted to specific environments Threatened by human activities

Water Ecosystems Either Freshwater or Marine Freshwater = no salt Marine = salt water

Freshwater Ecosystems Includes lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and wetlands Distinguished by: Depth of the water How fast the water moves Availability of mineral nutrients, sunlight, and oxygen

Marine Ecosystem Identified by the presence of salt water Includes estuaries, coral reefs, oceans and ice caps

Day 2 Objective I can describe: human interactions with organisms and the interactions with each other

What is Biodiversity? Term used to indicate the number and types of species on Earth There are now an estimated 1.5 million species of living organisms

Why is Biodiversity important? Earth’s greatest natural resource Species of many kinds have provided us with: Food: beef, chicken, salad Industrial Products: paper, rubber Medicines: painkillers, antibiotics, anticancer drugs

How can humans reduce biodiversity? Altering habitats Hunting species to extinction Introducing toxic compounds into food webs Introducing foreign species to new environment

Habitat Alteration When land is developed, natural habitat may be destroyed Habitats supply organisms what they need Habitat destroyed means that organisms will die Ex: Florida Panther

Introduced Species Invasive Species Non-native animals that thrive in new territory where they are free of predators, diseases, or resource limitations that may have controlled their population in their native habitat Can cause the extinction of native species Ex: Pythons in Florida

Extinction Occurs when a species disappears from all or part of its range Caused by habitat destruction, introduced species, and hunting Endangered Species If a species numbers have fallen so low that it is likely to become extinct

Endangered Species Act Began in 1973 Protect plants and animals near extinction Protect the land where the organism lives Helps to bring the organisms population up

What Eats What in an Ecosystem Producers Makes its own food Plants, trees, algae Consumers Gets energy by eating other organisms Animals

Herbivore Carnivores Omnivore Only eat producers Cows, sheep, deer, grasshoppers Carnivores Only eat other consumers Lions, hawks, spiders Omnivore Eat both producers and consumers Bears, pigs, humans

What is a Food Chain A sequence in which energy is transferred from one organism to the next as each organism eats another

What is a Food Web? A group of interrelated food chains No one path Shows feeding relationships in an ecosystem

What is a Trophic Level? Each step in the transfer of energy through an ecosystem Each time energy is transferred, less of it is available to organisms at the next trophic level Producer Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary Consumers

Day 3 Objective I can explain the effect Man has had on the earth

Land Use: Mining Strip Mining Mountain Top Removal Subsurface Mining Land Reclamation Law states one must put back two times as much as mined

Land Use: Agriculture Practices Old Methods Summer fallows (rest field for a season) Spraying the fields with water Pesticide spraying methods Salinization

Newer Methods No till Methods Contour Farming Terracing Alley Cropping Cover Crops Integrated Pest Management

Land Use: Industrial Clear cut land to place industrial plants Hazardous waste produced Thermal Pollution: water too hot Chemical waste entering water system

Land Use: Housing and Development New subdivisions are cropping up due to the population growth in areas Land is cleared for commercial use Retail businesses Medical facilities

Overgrazing Occurs when animals are allowed to graze in areas and the plants are not allowed to grow back Poorly managed agriculture practices

Deforestation Removal of a forest or stand of trees for a fuel source (charcoal) or timber Conversion of forestland to farms, ranches & subdivisions 2011 half of the world’s forest were destroyed

Forest Fire vs. Wild Fire Controlled burns by the forestry service every 4 to 7 years Wild Fire Created naturally or by man that destroys the forest

Effects of Fires More fires bring warmer spring and summer temperatures More burning forests produces more CO2 in the air Global Warming

Day 4 Objective I can explain the benefits and effects of Urbanization

What is Urbanization? The movement of people from rural areas to cities Depend on resources outside the city

Why are big cities growing? Increase in birth rates Immigration Poor are moving to larger cities and away from rural areas

How are cities growing Cities have grown from 2% to 45% since 1950 By 2050, 66% of all people in the world will live in urban areas 75% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas occupying 3% of the country’s land area

Effect of Cities Heat Island The enormous amount of heat is in the center of the city 3º to 5º C (5º--9ºF) higher than the surrounding countrysides

Benefits of Urban Development Better education system Medical services Social Service programs

Problems of Urban Development Infectious diseases Inadequate water system Poor sewer systems Exposure to pollution

Population Growth US has over 300 million people Growth is determined by biotic potential and carrying capacity

What is Carrying Capacity? Is the maximum population a habitat can support indefinitely Population exceeds it, for long periods, degrades its environment and reduces future carrying capacity