1. Ecology
Ecology: the study of how organisms interact with each other and with their physical environment.
Ecologists organize their study into several levels (ecological hierarchy).
Total area of Earth where living things are found
A single living thing
Living community + physical environment
Same species sharing a habitat
Different populations interacting in a particular area

2. Biotic and Abiotic Components
There are two types of environmental factors in an ecosystem.
1) The living components of the ecosystem are called biotic factors.
E.g. Plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc.
2) The non-living components, including the physical and chemical components in the environment, are called abiotic.
E.g. Temperature, wind, water, sunlight, and oxygen.

3. Biosphere Biosphere: Anywhere on earth living things exist.
Biome: Largest division of the biosphere.
A biome is a region with similar biotic and abiotic components
Region that the organism lives in

4. If biotic and abiotic conditions are the same, similar biomes can exist in different parts of the world.
Refer to page in your textbook. In your notes, list the 8 terrestrial (land based) biomes we will study In this course

5. What are the 8 terrestrial biomes found on Earth?
Which biome is Vancouver in? Paris? Santiago? Jakarta?

6. Opener…. List the 8 terrestrial biomes on Earth.
Which biome is Vancouver in?
List 5 biotic items found in the biome from #2.
Which 2 abiotic factors have the greatest influence on a biome?

7. Factors Influencing the Characteristics and Distribution of Biomes
Certain characteristics help to identify biomes. Temperature and precipitation (rainfall, snow, mist, fog) are two of the most important abiotic factors.
Knowing the average annual temperature and average annual precipitation of a region, we can use this graph to determine the type of biome of the region that is being studied.

10. Other factors that can influence biomes include latitude, elevation and ocean currents.
Latitude is the distance north and south from the equator (0o of latitude). It influences both temperature and precipitation.
At the equator, rays of the Sun shine down from almost directly overhead. So….this region receives a lot of sunlight and experiences little annual fluctuation in temperature.

12. Elevation The height of a land mass above sea level.
At higher elevations, atmosphere is thinner because of less air, and therefore less heat is retained.
Windward sides of mountains are wet because clouds filled with moisture rise and cool, releasing rain or snow.
Leeward side of mountains (sides sheltered from wind) are dry because air at that region warms, allowing it to absorb water and thus creating dry land area.

13. Ocean currents carry warmth and moisture to coastal areas
Ocean currents carry warmth and moisture to coastal areas. Where warm currents meet land, temperate biomes are found.

14. Climatographs
Climate : the average pattern of weather conditions over a period of several years.
Climatograph: a graphical way to show the monthly changes in temperature and precipitation throughout a year.
Information is usually collected for a location over a period of 30 years or more
Biomes are often defined using information from climatographs.
Examples:

15. Adaptations and Biomes
Biomes are identified with characteristic biotic factors
Many of these characteristics factors have special adaptations for that biome.
Think about as many plant or animal adaptations you can. List them in your notes with the title: Adaptations I Know

16. Adaptation: a characteristic that allows an organism to better survive and reproduce
Structural adaptation:
A physical feature that helps an organism survive.
Ex: A wolf has large paws to help it run in snow.
2. Physiological adaptation:
A physical or chemical event inside the body of an organism that allows it to survive.
Ex. A wolf maintains a constant body temperature
3. Behavioural adaptation:
A behaviour that helps an organism to survive.
Ex. A wolf hunts in packs to capture large prey.

17. In your note:
Create a column titled: Type of Adaptation beside the list of adaptations you came up with. Fill in the column with: Structural, Physiological, or Behavioural

18. Ch. 1.2 Notes
Planet Earth Video

19. Ecosystems
Ecosystem: the study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment
By studying ecosystems now, and in the past, we can better understand what may happen in the future.
Historical Ecology: the study of natural and written materials in an attempt to better understand the ecology of a certain area.
The habitat of the red fox often includes the edges of forests or marshlands

20. Youtube time!

21. Biotic Interactions in Ecosystems
_________: all the organisms within an ecosystem that have the same structure and who can reproduce with each other.
Species
___________: all of the members of a certain species within an ecosystem.
Population
____________: All the organisms that interact within an ecosystem.
Community

22. Bumble bees help gather nectar from a flower
Symbiotic Relationships
Symbiosis: The interaction between members of two different species that live together in close association.
___________: BOTH species benefit.
In some cases, two species are unable to survive without each other.
Mutualism
Bumble bees help gather nectar from a flower
Another Example…
Ant: for food and shelter.
Plant: protected by ants to fight off other insects and animals

23. E.g. The barnacles on a whale
Commensalism
2. _________________: one species benefits, the other one is neither helped nor harmed.
E.g. The barnacles on a whale
Spanish moss: grows on other trees to obtain sunlight, nutrients, and moisture
Barnacles: gets new food sources and are transported to new locations in the ocean by attaching to whales

24. 3. ____________: One species benefits, the other is harmed. Parasitism
Hookworms/Tapeworms: obtain food from host’s blood. They are found in soil and animal feces. They enter the body through the feet, and can then enter bloodstream and travels to the intestine where it attaches by its teeth to the intestinal wall.

25. Abiotic Interactions in Ecosystems
Although they are sometimes overlooked, the ________ components are what allow the biotic components to survive in an ecosystem. Abiotic factors include _________, _______, __________, ______ , and _____.
abiotic
oxygen
water
nutrients
light
soil
Oxygen: ___________ by the _____________ and certain _________________, and is ______ by _________ and most other micro-organisms.
Water is necessary for all _____.
Nutrients often enter the ___________ with plants, and are very important for ________.
produced
green plants
micro-organisms
used
animals
life
food chain
growth
Light is required for _______________, which is the process in plants that converts and stores the Sun’s energy into starches and carbohydrates.
Soil not only contains _______ and __________, but also is home to many plants and animals.
photosynthesis
water
nutrients

26. You Tube

27. Niches, Competition, and Predation
Niche: The role that an organism has within an ecosystem
Blue heron: always live near water, and have longs legs that allow them to find food in deeper water, and allow them to occupy a niche that other heron species with shorter legs cannot

28. Competition: When a resource desired by two or more individuals
Usually happens when resources are limited, and can limit the size and health of a population.
Coyotes: hunt small animals (rabbits, squirrels, mice) on their own, and compete with other coyotes if food sources are limited.

29. Predation
__________ is the relationship between the predators and prey.
The EATER
__________: have adaptations to help them catch their prey.
Cougars have long canine teeth to catch prey.
Again?
Predators
The EATEN
______: have adaptations to help avoid predators.
Porcupines have sharp spines to keep them from being eaten.
Prey

30. The size of prey population is affected by the number of predators
Predator: Lynx
Prey: Snowshoe hare
Population of prey (hare) shrinks when there are many predators (lynx)
Population of prey (hare) grows when there are few predators (lynx)

31. Camouflage
____________: An adaptation in which prey animals use to hide from predators.
E.g. Stick bugs camouflage themselves to make them look like twigs in order to avoid getting eaten by birds.
Camouflage
Mimicry
_________ is an adaptation in which a prey animal mimics another species that is dangerous or tastes bad.
Mimicry
E.g. Viceroy butterfly mimics the bitter-tasting monarch butterfly to avoid their predators.

32. Biodiversity in Ecosystems
____________ refers to the ________ of the _________ of different individuals and species in an ecosystem.
Biodiversity
variety
number
_________ ecosystems generally have ______ biodiversity.
Healthy
high
Most biodiversity losses occur from the loss of ________. _________ often have a __________ impact on biodiversity. Many efforts are now made to lessen this impact in order to maintain biodiversity. _______________________________try to balance human progress with maintaining biodiversity.
habitat
Humans
negative
Ecological management programs

33. Planet Earth Video
Ch. 1 Quiz