Characteristics of a biosphere

I. Characteristics of a biosphere A. Ecology 1. Study of organisms and their interactions with the environment

1. Includes all land, water and air B. The Biosphere 1. Includes all land, water and air Darkest depth of water to 8km into the atmosphere 2. Biotic factors—All living parts of the environment: Plants, animals, and other organism 3. Abiotic Factors—All non-living factors: water, soils, light temp, etc.

4. Ecosystem is an area that is made of populations and abiotic factors 5. Habitat is the type of environment in which a particular species lives

II. Land Biomes A. Biome is a large group of similar ecosystems 1. Determined by the plants

III. Aquatic Ecosystems A. Determined by depth, temperature, and chemistry of the overlying water. 1. Grouped by abiotic factors affecting it

IV. Freshwater Ecosytems A. Two Types 1. Flowing water Rivers, streams, creeks and brooks Organisms adapted to flow rate of the water Catfish have suckers Trout have streamlined bodies to flow in the water

2. Standing water Ecosystems Lakes and ponds Flowing water helps circulate oxygen Supplied with plankton that could not live in flowing water

V. Estuaries A. Wetlands where rivers meet the sea B. Mixture of salt and fresh water Spawning area for: fish shellfish (crab and shrimp)

VI. Marine Ecosystems A. Two types: 1. Photic zone: Well lit upper layer where photosynthesis occurs 2. Aphotic zone: Below photic zone; is permanently dark

3. Ocean divided into three zones based on depth and distance from shore Intertidal Zone Coastal Ocean Open Ocean

4. Intertidal Zone: organisms experience regular and extreme changes Each day they are submerged in water and then exposed to air ex: black algae, mussels, snails, sea urchins, sea stars etc.

5. Coastal Ocean: Extends from low tide mark to the continental shelf Composed of Kelp forests Supports Snails, Sea Urchins, Sea Otters, Fish, Seals and Whales

6. Coral Reefs Named for Coral animals with hard, calcium carbonate skeletons Animals cannot grow in cold water or water low in salt