ECOSYSTEMS & COMMUNITIES Chapter 4 Mrs. Yanac Biology 1B

Weather vs. Climate Weather – DAY TO DAY condition of the atmosphere Climate – average YEAR TO YEAR situation of temperature and precipitation of an area

Greenhouse effect Natural trapping of heat around the earth due to gases in the atmosphere

Latitude Due to the tilt of the planet, sunlight hits the planet at different angles, resulting in different climates.

Environmental Factors Biotic – all of the living parts of the ecosystem Plants Animals Fungi Microorganisms Abiotic – all of the nonliving parts of the ecosystem Land Water Soil Light

Habitat The area where an organism lives Includes both biotic & abiotic factors

Niche All the ABOITIC & BIOTIC factors in a habitat AND the way an organism uses those things The ROLE a species plays in an ECOSYSTEM No 2 species can occupy the same niche, at the same place, at the same time (competition exclusion principle)

Community Interactions Symbiosis – a relationship where 2 organisms live closely together Mutualism – Both benefit Commensalism – One benefits, one is unaffected Parasitism – One benefits, one is harmed

Ecological Succession Predictable changes to an ecosystem over time PRIMARY SUCCESSION – Occurs where no soil exists (on bare rock) SECONDARY SUCCESSION – Occurs in an area previously disturbed by natural disaster or human disturbance

Biomes (terrestrial) Group of ecosystems that have Certain climate (temperature & rainfall) Soil conditions Plants (flora) Animals (fauna) Examples: Tundra, Rainforest, Desert, Grasslands

Aquatic Biomes Freshwater Standing water  Lakes & ponds Flowing water  Rivers & streams Marine (salt water) Oceans

Littoral zone - inshore, shallow, high light levels Limnetic zone - offshore, high light levels, upper regions of water column Profundal zone - aphotic Benthic zone – bottom substrate; often rich in detritus

Estuaries Where saltwater & freshwater mix EX: Where a river runs into the ocean Unique ecosystem Brackish water

Coral Reefs Highly diverse (both flora & fauna) Found in photic zone

The End :0)