Ecology and The

Biosphere

Abiotic vs. Biotic

Abiotic (nonliving)

temperature light water nutrients wind disturbance

Biotic (living) other individuals

of the same species

individuals of different species (predators, prey, parasites)

Climate

The prevailing weather conditions at a location which includes: temperature water light wind

Solar Radiation and Latitude

At Equinox sunlight hits equator directly low angle of light as you move

toward poles

Global Climate Patterns

Solar Radiation and Latitude

At Solstice June (Northern Hemisphere tilts

toward sun) December (Northern Hemisphere

tilts away from sun)

Global Climate Patterns

Global Climate Patterns

solar radiation at equator

air circulation tropics global

wind patterns

Local Effects on Climate

Local and Seasonal Effects on Climate Mountains (Rain shadow) Bodies of Water Ocean Currents

Aquatic Biomes

Vertical Stratification Of Aquatic Biomes

Photic Zone Aphotic Zone

Thermocline Benthic Zone

Freshwater Biomes

Eutrophic lakes Oligotrophic lakes Mesotrophic lakes Rivers and streams Wetlands Estuary

Marine Biomes

Intertidal zones Coral reefs Oceanic pelagic Benthos

Terrestrial Biomes

Terrestrial Biomes

Tropical Forests Thorn Deciduous Rain forests

Savannas Grasslands Deserts

Chaparral Coastal Sage

Scrub Temperate

Deciduous Forests Taiga Tundra

Tropical Rain Forest The tropical rain forest is a forest of

tall trees An average of 50 to 260 inches (125

to 660 cm.) of rain falls yearly. The temperature in a rain forest

rarely gets higher than 93 °F (34 °C) or drops below 68 °F (20 °C);

Tropical Rain Forest

Tropical Rain Forest

Tropical Rain Forest

Savannahs A savanna is a rolling grassland scattered

with shrubs and isolated trees Not enough rain falls on a savanna to

support forests. Savannas have warm temperature year

round and two very different seasons long dry season (winter) – 4 inches of rain very wet season (summer). In the summer

there is lots of rain.

Savannahs

Savannahs

Grasslands Grassland biomes are large, rolling

terrains of grasses, flowers and herbs. Latitude, soil and local climates for the

most part determine what kinds of plants grow

Grasslands are a region where the average annual precipitation is great enough to support grasses, and in some areas a few trees.

The precipitation is so erratic that drought and fire prevent large forests from growing.

Grasslands

Grasslands

Deserts

Less than 10 inches of rain a year Hot Deserts Cold Deserts

Deserts

Deserts

Chaparral

Chaparral is characterized as being very hot and dry.

Temperature the winter is very mild and

is usually about 10 °C. the summer. It is so hot and

dry at 40 °C that fires and droughts are very common.

Coastal Sage Scrub

Coastal sage scrub is characterized as being very hot and dry.

Temperature the winter is very mild and is

usually about 10 °C. the summer. It is so hot and

dry at 40 °C that fires and droughts are very common.

ChapparalCoastal Sage Scrub

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Deciduous forests can be found in the eastern half of North America

The average annual temperature in a deciduous forest is 50° F. The average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches a year.

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Taiga

The taiga is the biome of the needleleaf forest.

Taiga is the Russian word for forest and is the largest biome in the world.

The winters in the taiga are very cold with only snowfall.

The summers are warm, rainy, and humid.

A lot of coniferous trees grow in the taiga.

The taiga is also known as the boreal forest.

Taiga

Taiga

Tundra Tundra means a barren land. The ground is permanently

frozen 10 inches to 3 feet (25 to 100 cm) down so that trees can't grow there.

rocky ground can only support low growing plants like mosses, heaths, and lichen.

In the winter it is cold and dark and in the summer, when the snow and the top layer of permafrost melt, it is very soggy

Tundra

Organismal Ecology Regulators and Conformers Principle of allocation

Short Term Responses

Physiological Responses Acclimation

Morphological Responses Behavioral Responses

Acclimation A shift in

an organism’s tolerance to fit a changing environ-ment

Trophic Levels

Food Web

Primary Productivity

The amount of light energy that is converted into chemical energy

Often expressed as biomass

Pyramid of Net Productivity

Secondary Productivity

The rate at which an ecosystem converts the chemical energy of the food they eat into their own biomass

10% rule