Ch. 4 Climate: year to year average temperature & precipitation of a region

Weather Daily atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place

The Greenhouse Effect Sunlight enters Gases insulate (Ex. carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor) Heat is trapped Temperature can support life Sunlight Some heat escapes into space Greenhouse gases trap some heat Atmosphere Earth’s surface

Effect of Latitude on Climate Latitude: distance of a point on the earth's surface north or south from equator Zones: Polar- cold; long angles of sun Temperate- seasonal; range from hot to cold Tropical- hot; direct sunlight Sunlight Most direct sunlight Sunlight 90°N North Pole 66.5°N 23.5°N 0° 23.5°S 66.5°S 90°S South Pole Arctic circle Tropic of Cancer Equator Tropic of Capricorn Arctic circle

Biotic factor: living things organisms interact with Abiotic factor: physical or non- living thing that affect organisms What Shapes an Ecosystem?

Community Interactions Competition: –organisms try to use a resource in same place at same time –Ex. water, food, light or space

Habitat: area where an organism lives Ex. Desert

Niche (occupation) –Where it lives (ex. Tree) –What it eats AND what eats it? –Its actions (Ex. hibernating, migrating, etc.)

Competitive Exclusion Principle No two species can occupy same niche in same habitat at same time Degree of Niche Space Overlap Defines Intensity of Competition

NO TWO SPECIES CAN SHARE THE SAME NICHE ! Bay-Breasted Warbler Feeds in the middle part of the tree Yellow-Rumped Warbler Feeds in the lower part of the tree and at the bases of the middle branches Cape May Warbler Feeds at the tips of branches near the top of the tree Spruce tree Section 4-2

Predation One organism feeding on another

Symbiosis Relationship where two species live closely together

Mutualism both species benefit Ant & Acacia Plant

Commensalism Good for me; doesn’t bother you! Hermit crab & snail shell

Parasitism One organism living on or in another Host is harmed by presence of parasite (Ex. loss of nutrients, disease, etc.) Lamprey on fish

Ecological Succession Succession: sequence of species replacement Pioneer species –First to live there –Small, fast-growing plants Climax Community- mature growth

Primary succession: occurs where plants have not grown before

Secondary succession: occurs in areas where there has been previous growth

Aquatic Ecosystems Determined primarily by depth, flow, temperature and chemistry of the water Aquatic ecosystems can be grouped into freshwater or marine (saltwater)

Freshwater Ecosystems Account for about 3% of aquatic ecosystems

Rivers, creeks & streams that flow over land masses Flowing Water Ecosystems Burlington Bristol Bridge over the Delaware River Burlington, NJ

Standing water ecosystems Include lakes and ponds Strawbridge Lake Moorestown, NJ

Phytoplankton- single celled algae; base of food web Zooplankton- animals that feed on phytoplankton

Freshwater Wetlands Water covers soil or is present at or near soil surface for at least part of the year Breeding area

Tropical Estuary: Mangroove Swamp

Swamps- marshes with trees & shrubs; flooded forests

1)Bogs- sphagnum moss; very acidic

Estuary- mix of fresh & salt water 1.Detritus- tiny pieces of organic matter; base of food web 2.Spawning & nursery grounds

Marsh- shallow water along rivers; tall grass-like plants (Ex. Cattails)

Marine Ecosystems

Photic zone: ocean surface to about 200 meters where light can penetrate Aphotic zone: permanently dark

Tropical Coral Reefs Found in warm, shallow waters Biodiverse