1. Unit 6: Study of the Biosphere
AKA: Ecology

2. Ecology
The study of the interactions between organisms and the biotic & abiotic components of their environment.

3. Unit Topics Topic #1: Populations Topic #2: Ecosystem Changes
Topic #3: Human Impact

4. Brainstorm
In your groups, put the following levels of biological classification in order from narrow to broad:
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere
Organism
Population

5. Answer:
Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere

6. Topic #1
Populations

8. Limiting Factors
Create a Venn Diagram comparing Density Dependent and Density Independent limiting factors.

9. Scenarios
#1: A flood wipes out all of the plant species that live on a riverbed.
#2: A pack of wolves migrates to a new valley and eats all the deer that inhabit that space.
#3: A large population of zebras are killed due to a contagious virus.
#4: A drought kills many of the animals that live in a valley.

10. Too Many Salmon in the Sea
Kittiwake
Puffin
National Geographic

12. Salmon Hatchery

14. How do Ecosystems Change?
Topic #2:
How do Ecosystems Change?
2 Types of Ecosystems…

15. Terrestrial Ecosystems
Grouped into biomes based on: plant & animal characteristics, temperature and precipitation

16. Aquatic Ecosystems Grouped based on abiotic factors such as: Salinity
Temperature
Light
Depth
Water chemistry
Geography

17. Aquatic & Terrestrial Ecosystems
Change due to:
#1: Seasons
#2: Climate change
#3: Invasive species
#4: Succession
#5: Human activity

18. Ecosystems Change Due to: #1: Seasons
Seasonal changes are short term
As a result:
Air & water temps change
Hours of daylight change
This is the result of the yearly revolution of the earth around the sun and the tilt of the earth.

19. Most organisms are adapted for seasonal changes
Examples:
Hibernation
Migration
Physical changes
Trees lose leaves
Plants have flowers when most sunlight available (& warmer temps)

20. Ecosystems Change Due to: #2: Climate Changes
Weather
The condition of the atmosphere at a specific place & time (Short Term)
Climate
The average weather conditions in an area, including temperature & precipitation (Long Term)
*Weather = your mood *Climate = your personality

21. Climate is affected by:
Latitude
Elevation
Ocean currents
Wind