Ecology

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Ecology

• The study of the interactions between organisms
  and their environment.

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Organisms

• All living things.
• Studied at many levels.
• living things are organized from- atom to the
  biosphere.

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Levels of Organiztion

• 1. The atom, molecule, cell, tissue, organ, and
  organ systems are the levels that make up an
  organism.
• 2. The interactions of Organisms, populations,
  communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere, are
  studied by an Ecologist.

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Environment

• Abiotic Factors non-living factors.
• Ex Temperature, Light, Water
  Nutrients
• Biotic Factors effect of other organisms.
• Ex Competition, Predation

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Abiotic Factors

• 1. Temperature
• 2. Water
• 3. Sunlight
• 4. Wind
• 5. Rocks and Soil
• 6. Disturbance

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Climate

• Shapes environments and what organisms can live
  in a particular area.

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Climatic Factors

• Solar Radiation and Latitude
• Axis Tilt/Seasons
• Air/Water Circulation Patterns

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Solar Radiation and Latitude

• Changes the amount of light and energy delivered
  per surface area.

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Result

• Poles less light
• Equator more light
• The unequal heating causes air and water to
  circulate.

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Seasons

• Caused by the Earth's tilt.
• Day length changes over time.
• Many organisms are restricted in range by how
  well they adapt to changing seasons.

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Global Air Patterns

• Air rises when heated, sinks when
  cools.
• Zones of rising/sinking are created.
• Earth's rotation causes zones to "twist.

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Result

• Air circulation patterns.
• Rainfall patterns.
• rising air wet areas
• descending air dry areas

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Biomes

• Broad geographical regions with characteristic
  communities of organisms.

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Biomes Controlled by

• Temperature range
• Water, and amount of rainfall
• Geography which may include altitude

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Tropical Forests

• Areas covered with dense growth of trees and
  vines.
• Climate
• Warm temperatures.
• Constant day length.
• High water.

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Tropical Forests
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Tropical Forests

• Have the greatest diversity of species of any
  area on Earth.
• Soil is usually very infertile. Most of the
  nutrients are in the plant life.
• One of the most endangered Biomes.

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Savanna

• Grasslands with a few trees.
• Climate with three growing seasons
• Cool and dry
• Hot and dry
• Warm and wet

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Savanna

• Rich in herbivores and predator species.
• Only major biome not found on North America.

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Desert

• Characterized by plants adapted to dry growing
  conditions.
• Climate
• Dry (lt30cm/yr).
• May be cold or hot.
• Often found in areas of descending air masses.
• Low productivity, but still fairly diverse in
  species.

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Chaparral

• Characterized by spiny evergreen shrubs.
• Climate
• Mild rainy winters
• Hot summers
• Ex Southern California

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Chaparral

• Maintained by fires.
• Plants adapted to periodic fires by seeds or
  re-growing from the roots.

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Temperate Grasslands

• Grasses and other herbs are the dominant
  vegetation.
• Climate
• Intermediate water
• Relatively cold winters

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Grasslands

• Very productive for agriculture. (wheat, corn)
• Need disturbance (fires) to keep trees out.
• Come in several types
• Tall grass
• Short grass

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Temperate Forests

• Deciduous trees dominate.
• Climate
• Relatively high rain
• Cold winters
• Very little natural area left.
• Good diversity of species.

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Taiga

• Coniferous trees dominate.
• Climate
• Long cold winters
• Short wet summers
• Long summer daylength

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Taiga or Boreal Forest

• Relatively low species diversity.
• Being logged at an alarming rate.

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Tundra

• Grasses and sedges dominate.
• Climate
• Very cold and dry
• Low light in winter

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Tundra

• Permafrost present.
• Plants low in height.
• Poor species diversity.

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Altitude and Latitude

• Mirror each other. Their Biomes are
  similar because the environments are similar.
• Ex Alpine Tundra

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Aquatic Biomes
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Fresh water Biomes

• Have lt1 salt concentration.
• Strongly influenced by temperature and light.
• Classification based on water flow patterns.

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Marine Biomes

• Cover 3/4 of the Earth's surface.
• Average 3 salt.
• Controlled by light and the distance to the shore.

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Light Zones

• Photic - Enough light for Ps. Red light lost
  rapidly as depth increases.
• Aphotic - Lacks enough light for Ps and depends
  on food made in photic zone for energy. Part of
  the most extensive biome on the planet.

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Marine Biomes

• 1. Estuaries
• 2. Intertidal
• 3. Coral Reefs
• 4. Pelagic
• 5. Benthos

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Estuaries

• Where a freshwater river meets the ocean.
• Salinity variable.
• Very productive Biome.

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Coral Reef

• Characterized by coral.
• Found in shallow warm waters.
• Very productive.
• High species diversity.

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Benthos

• Bottom area.
• Usually fed by nutrients drifting down from upper
  levels.
• Fairly rich in life.

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Summary

• Know what is involved with the study of
  Ecology.
• Know the major factors of planet Earth (abiotic)
  that shape climate.
• Know the major biomes and the factors that
  control them.