Chapter 4: Ecosystems and Communities 4-1 The Role of Climate

Climate Climate: long-term, over entire biome area –Weather: short-term, local Greenhouse Effect –It’s a good thing! –CO2, H2O, CH4 all trap heat and hold it next to the surface –Keeps the temp suitable for life VIDEO CLIP

The Effect of Latitude on Climate Earth has 3 climate zones due to unequal heating because of the angle of the sun –Polar –Temperate –Tropical

Heat Transport Ocean and wind currents help produce Earth’s climates They are affected by land masses and Earth’s rotation

4-2 What Shapes an Ecosystem

Biotic and Abiotic Factors Biotic – living –Plants, Animals,Mold, Fungi, Bacteria, Protist Abiotic – Nonliving –Sunlight, soil, wind, water, temperature Habitat – the area where an organism lives; includes both biotic and abiotic factors.

The Niche Niche – Where and How something lives; its role –Habitat is the organism’s address –Niche is the organism’s occupation

Community Interactions 1.Competition Organisms compete for resources Ex: Food, Mates, Shelter Competitive Exclusion Principle – no 2 organisms occupy same niche at same time. 2.Predation One organism (predator) captures and feeds on another (prey).

Community Interactions 3.Symbiosis Mutualism – both benefit Ex: Flowers & insects Egrets & Alligators Clown Fish & Sea Anemone Commensalism – one benefits, the other is not helped nor harmed Ex: Barnacle & Whale Parasitism – one benefits, other is harmed Ex: tapeworms, fleas, ticks, lice

Ecological Succession Ecological Succession - change in an ecosystem 1.Primary Succession – no soil (volcanic eruption or bare rock) –first to appear are “pioneer species” Ex: Lichens 2.Secondary Succession – Soil Exist (wild fires, clear cutting, plowed for farming) 3.Succession in a Marine Ecosystem – happens when a large whale dies and sinks to the bottom 4.Climax Community – fairly stable, dominant community established after succession.

Examples of Symbiosis

4-3 Land Biomes – Research on Your Own 4-4 Aquatic Ecosystems

Aquatic Ecosystems Freshwater Ecosystems –Flowing: river, stream –Standing: pond, lake (Plankton) –Freshwater Wetlands – water covers soil Bogs Marshes Swamps

Aquatic Ecosystems Estuaries –Where fresh and saltwater meet Salt marshes Mangrove swamps

Aquatic Ecosystems Marine Ecosystems –Intertidal Zone – where tide comes in and out –Coastal Ocean – low tide mark to continental shelf (where you would find kelp forests) –Coral Reefs – very diverse –Open Ocean – 90% of ocean area –Bethic Zone – ocean floor “benthos” – things that live there