CHAPTER 4: Ecosystems & Communities 4-1 The Role of Climate 4-2 What Shapes an Ecosystem 4-3 & 4-4 Biomes

4-1 The Role of Climate I. Weather vs. Climate A. Weather is the of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place. B. Climate refers to the average, of temperature and precipitation in a particular region. Climate is determined by: Transport of heat by 3. Shape and elevation of day-to-day condition year-after-year conditions Latitude winds and ocean currents landmasses

Unequal Heating of the Earth

Rain and Wind

Rain Shadow Effect

II. The Greenhouse Effect A. Temperatures on Earth remain for life because of the atmosphere. B. Gases Responsible for trapping heat energy: 1. Carbon dioxide – from burning of fossil fuels; rain forest deforestation and burning. Approx. of the problem. 2. Methane – from livestock feedlots, swamps, and coal mines. Approx. of the problem. 3. Water vapor suitable 50% 18%

4. CFC’s – formerly from spray cans, now from refrigeration; air conditioners. Approx. of the problem. 5. Oxides of nitrogen – from power plants, industry (any heat producing process). Approx. of the problem. 20% 10%

C. These gases function like the glass windows of a greenhouse. These gases trap the inside Earth’s atmosphere. 1. penetrates the gases of the atmosphere and strikes the Earth’s surface. Here it is transformed into heat or infrared energy (IR). Much of the IR escapes the atmosphere, while the remainder is absorbed and held in the atmosphere by heat energy of sunlight Ultraviolet light greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Effect

2. With an increase of abnormally high levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, more and more escaping IR is, thereby creating a pronounced global warming. human-created caught and held

Global Warming Global Warming Climate Change

Global Warming Worldwide temperatures have climbed more than 1ºF over the past century. Global Warming Climate Change

D. The Probable Scenarios of Global Warming: Shift north of 3. An increase in 4. Sea level Droughts climatic zones destructive storm activity rise

4-2 What Shapes an Ecosystem?

I. Community Interactions A. Community interactions, such as competition, predation, and various forms of symbiosis, can powerfully affect an ecosystem. 1. Competition: occurs when organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an ecological resource in the same place at the same time.

2. PREDATION 2. Predation: one organism captures and feeds on another organism.

2. PREDATION a. Plant Defenses a) Morphological (body forms) – thorns, spines b) Chemical – poisons

2. PREDATION b. Animal Defenses 1) Morphological a. size – hide, frighten b. coloration – camouflage, warning, mimicry c. other - sting, bite, run

2. PREDATION b. Animal Defenses 2) Chemical – poison

2. PREDATION c. Animal Defenses 3) Vigilance (intelligence) – watch for predators, learned behavior

c. PREDATION 3. Animal Defenses d) Broken wing display: diversion from nest

Camo video  bcN7Wa_M bcN7Wa_M

3. Three Types of Symbiosis A. Mutualism – both benefit EX: lichen (algae & fungus), clownfish and sea anemone

3. Symbiosis (cont.) B. Commensalism – one benefits, other is neither helped or harmed. EX: hawks and cactus plants, epiphytes and trees, barnacle and whale Spanish Moss in South Louisiana

Mutualism and Commensalism  Q5_zaJob0 Q5_zaJob0

3. Symbiosis (cont.) c. Parasitism – one benefits, other not benefited. One lives in or on the body of another taking energy from the host. Host is not usually killed. Tapeworm

Tape worm: Can range from 1 m to 30 m in a Sperm Whale. FlukeHead of a tapeworm

Parasitism  LWyNcAs/watch-body-invaders.html LWyNcAs/watch-body-invaders.html watch?v=vMG-LWyNcAs caterpillar

Symbiotic Relationship HostSymbiont Commensalism Mutualism Parasitism

II. Ecological Succession A.Ecological succession = An ecological sequence of changes in the plants and animals making up a community in a given area. Succession is a gradual replacement of organisms in a given area over a period of time.

II. Ecological Succession B. These changes are predictable and orderly and continue until a stable or Once reaching its biological destiny, C. Two general types: Primary & Secondary climax community is reached. a community retains the final complement of species which mature over time.

Primary Succession 1. Primary succession: a form of succession that begins with _ _. Assume no soil is present when this process begins. Examples: recently formed volcanic island or bare rock areas scoured by glacial action. bare rock

Farmer slide

Primary Succession a. Pioneer species are the first to colonize the area. Example: b. As they grow, lichens produce carbonic acids which slowly break down the parent rock to form a basic shallow pocket of soil. lichen (a combination of fungus and algae).

Examples of Primary Succession Moss and Lichen Glacier

2. Secondary Succession This occurs in communities that were established and then disturbed in some manner. Example: burned over area of chaparral. The fire-ravaged area begins regrowth soon after the ashes cool down. This climax stage will generally be reached in years in most cases.

2. Secondary Succession (cont.) The climax community will possess a high degree of stability Before: Forest Fire After: New Growth

4-3: Biomes

4-3 Biomes I. BIOMES: are areas that are similar in climate and other physical factors. A. A biome is an environment that has a characteristic B. There are of biomes: 1. Land biomes 2. Aquatic biomes climax community 2 main types

Major Biomes

a. Tundra

b. Taiga

c. Temperate Deciduous Forest

d. Grassland

e. Tropical Rain Forest

f. Desert

2. Aquatic biomes (cont.) a. Fresh water – streams, lakes, ponds, etc.

b. Salt water (marine): main photosynthesizers = phytoplankton

Estuary = one of the most productive ecosystem on Earth