1. Comparing Ecosystems and Human Effects on Ecosystems
Unit 5
Lessons 4 & 5

2. Vocabulary
1. biome –
one of Earth’s major land ecosystems, each with its own kind of climate, soil, plants and animals
2. wetlands –
An ecosystem where water is near the surface of the soil much of the time

3. 3. estuary –
The boundary where a freshwater ecosystem meets a saltwater ecosystem
pollution –
The addition of harmful substances to the environment
Litter –
Trash that is unlawfully disposed of outside

4. Smog –
A type of air pollution formed by particles produced by burning fossil fuels
Ozone –
A form of oxygen gas forming a layer in Earth’s atmosphere that screens out much of the Sun’s ultraviolet rays

5. Pollutant –
A substance that pollutes a material
non-native species –
Also called exotic species, plant and animal species that have been introduced into an environment that is outside their native range

6. 10. climate –
The average weather pattern for a region

7. 11. What biome is Louisiana in?
Louisiana is in the deciduous forest biome, but there are several different types of ecosystems located within Louisiana

8. 12. What are some ecosystems in Louisiana?
Wetlands, freshwater
deciduous forests
Ponds, freshwater
Rivers, freshwater
Lakes, freshwater
Gulf (considered to be an ocean ecosystem)

9. 13. How are streams and rivers different from ponds and lakes?
Ponds and lakes contain non-moving water year-round
Streams and rivers have moving water

10. 14. Would you find the same organisms in each of these ecosystems? Why?
No. Each of these ecosystems has different types of organisms, but some organisms can be found in more than one ecosystem.

11. 15. What are some organisms you would find in a wetland?
Frogs
Fish
Birds
Algae and many different types of plants

12. 16. What are the six major land ecosystems?
Tundra
Taiga - coniferous evergreen forests of subarctic lands, covering vast areas of northern North America and Eurasia.
Desert
Grassland
Rain forest
Deciduous forest

13. 17. What makes these six ecosystems different from on another?
The climates, animals that live there, plants that live there, amounts of water
Earth’s ecosystems are not just restricted to land
Most of Earth is covered with water ecosystems.

14. 18. What types of water ecosystems exist on Earth?
Freshwater
Saltwater
Ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands
Estuaries
Oceans

15. 19. Why do ecosystems near the equator have more organisms than in the polar regions?
Areas closer to the equator receive more direct sunlight than areas closer to the poles.

16. 20. What are the names of three ecosystems with harsh climates?
Tundra
Taiga
Desert

17. 21. What factors make these climates harsh?
Extremely hot or cold temperatures; very little precipitation

18. 22. Tundra Found in far northern regions
Very cold winters and short summers
A tundra is a cold, dry biome that includes a layer of permanently frozen soil called permafrost
In the Northern Hemisphere, tundras circle the land just south of the north pole

19. 23. Taigas Found south of the northern tundras
A cool forest of cone-bearing evergreen trees
Winters are cold, and the short summers are warm, wet, and humid
Summer conditions encourage insect reproduction, which in turn attracts many migrating birds

20. 24. Deserts Found on every one of Earth’s continents
Not all deserts are hot
Some deserts are located in cold regions near the South Pole
All deserts are dry; they receive less than 10 inches of rain

21. 25. What are the characteristics of grassland ecosystems?
Main plants are grasses; not much rainfall, warm summers and cool winters, windy
Grasslands are sometimes called prairies

22. 26. What are the differences between a tropical rain forest and a deciduous forests?
Tropical rain forest; warm, humid climate; much rainfall; located near the equator.
Deciduous forest: trees lose leaves during fall and winter; warm summers and cold winters

23. 27. Why are wetlands important ecosystems?
They are rich in plant life, homes to many living things and important breeding grounds for birds and other animals.
They also serve as a natural water filters and sponges by removing pollutants and protecting surrounding land from floods and erosion.

24. 28. Why are estuaries unique ecosystems?
The water is part salt water and part freshwater
The plants and animals that live in estuaries have adaptations that help them survive in variations in salt content, or salinity

25. 29. Wetlands
About 40% of the wetlands in the continental United States are in Louisiana.
Wetlands include marshes, swamps and bogs

26. 30. Ocean food chains
Includes plankton, nekton and benthos

27. 31. Plankton Live near the ocean’s surface
They make up the base of the ocean food chain.

28. 32. Nekton
Squid, fish and dolphins, swim through the water

29. 33. Benthos
Crabs, sponges and corals, are bottom-dwelling animals that live on or near the oceans floor

30. 34. What are the three ocean zones?
Intertidal zone (close to shore)
Neritic zone
Oceanic zone

31. 35. Which ocean zone would not have algae growing on the ocean floor and why?
The oceanic zone because sunlight cannot reach the floor of the ocean.

32. 36. How does depth affect ocean water’s temperature?
Temperature decrease as depth increase.

33. 37. What are the problems holes in the ozone layer may cause?
Holes in Earth’s ozone are a problem because they allow dangerous rays from the Sun to reach earth’s surface.
These rays can cause skin cancer.
Smog can cause breathing problems

34. 38. What is the best way to protect our water resources?
The best way to protect our water resources is to prevent water pollution.

35. 39. How is a biome different from other habitats?
A biome is a set of habitats or ecosystems all grouped together into a kind of “super-ecosystem”.

36. 40. How are ecosystems near the equator different from ecosystems in the polar regions?
Ecosystems near the equator are rich with plants and animals, while fewer organism live in Earth’s polar regions.

37. 41. Effects of permafrost
Prevents trees and large plant from developing deep roots
Lichen, mosses, grasses, flowers and low shrubs with shallow root systems can grow above the permafrost

38. 42. What are some ways in which soil can become polluted?
Waste that’s not disposed of properly
Underground storage tanks can leak
Chemicals used on crops can get in the soil
Landfills that are not properly constructed, can leak
Litter from humans

39. 43. What are some negative effects of soil pollution on the environment?
Harmful substances can be washed into streams and rivers
Soil chemistry can change
The health of humans and other organisms can be affected

40. 44. What are some ways in which water can become contaminated or polluted?
Chemicals used on crops and on lawns can seep into groundwater
Water running over streets can pick up contaminants
Animal waste can get washed into streams and lakes, when it rains

41. 45. What laws are in place to protect water resources?
The Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act

42. 46. What are some ways people could prevent water pollution?
Reduce or eliminate the use of chemical on their lawns
Dispose of garbage properly
Plants trees or shrubs to absorb chemicals, animals waste and sediment

43. Test Prep 47. Most of Earth’s water is in the salty oceans
Test Prep 47. Most of Earth’s water is in the salty oceans. Based on this fact, what can be inferred about Earth’s freshwater?
There is a limited supply of freshwater