Factors of LifeFactors of Life

ClimateClimate Refers to the average amount of precipitation and Refers to the average amount of precipitation and

the average temperature in a given areathe average temperature in a given area Depending on latitude there are three main Depending on latitude there are three main

climate zonesclimate zones– Polar: at the north and south polePolar: at the north and south pole

Sun hits at an extreme angle Sun hits at an extreme angle Always coldAlways cold

– Temperate: between the poles and the tropicsTemperate: between the poles and the tropics Angle of the sun changes over the year lending to a greater Angle of the sun changes over the year lending to a greater

variance in temperaturevariance in temperature– Tropical: lies between the tropic of cancer and the tropic Tropical: lies between the tropic of cancer and the tropic

of Capricornof Capricorn Receive direct or nearly direct sunlight Receive direct or nearly direct sunlight Always warmAlways warm

Sunlight

Some heatescapesinto space

Greenhousegases trapsome heat

Atmosphere

Earth’s surface

Sunlight

Most direct sunlight

Sunlight

Sunlight

Sunlight

90°N North Pole

66.5°N

23.5°N

0°

23.5°S

66.5°S

90°S South Pole

Arctic circle

Tropic of Cancer

Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

Arctic circle

Greenhouse Effect Different Latitudes

Abiotic Factors - nonlivingAbiotic Factors - nonliving LightLight

– An ecosystem is driven An ecosystem is driven by the amount of light by the amount of light availableavailable

– Light is essential in Light is essential in order for autotrophic order for autotrophic organisms to perform organisms to perform photosynthesisphotosynthesis

Abiotic Factors - nonlivingAbiotic Factors - nonliving TemperatureTemperature

– The temperature of the water and/or The temperature of the water and/or air affects an organisms metabolismair affects an organisms metabolism How well can an organism process How well can an organism process

the food they eat and how active the food they eat and how active is the organismis the organism

– All animals have a temperature All animals have a temperature range in which they can comfortably range in which they can comfortably livelive Some can survive for a short Some can survive for a short

period outside this range but will period outside this range but will die if exposed to unfavorable die if exposed to unfavorable temperatures for long periods of temperatures for long periods of timetime

Life on earth lives in a Life on earth lives in a temperature range of 32 and 122 temperature range of 32 and 122 degrees Fahrenheitdegrees Fahrenheit

Abiotic Factors - nonlivingAbiotic Factors - nonliving WaterWater

– Cells are made of mostly Cells are made of mostly water – approximately 75 water – approximately 75 percent of the human body percent of the human body is wateris water

– Water is needed for Water is needed for dissolving chemicals an dissolving chemicals an organism needsorganism needs

– Most of the chemical Most of the chemical reactions in an organism reactions in an organism involve adding or removing involve adding or removing waterwater

Abiotic Factors - nonlivingAbiotic Factors - nonliving OxygenOxygen

– The depth or elevation at The depth or elevation at which life is found is which life is found is limited by the amount of limited by the amount of oxygen presentoxygen present

– Almost all animals need Almost all animals need oxygen to liveoxygen to live

Biotic Factors - livingBiotic Factors - living

FoodFood– How much food is How much food is

available in the available in the environmentenvironment

– If there is nothing a If there is nothing a shark wants to eat then shark wants to eat then no sharks will be in the no sharks will be in the environmentenvironment

PredationPredation– One organism eating One organism eating

another organismanother organism– The amount of predation The amount of predation

limits the population limits the population An average orca eats 50 – 60 lbs

Of squid and herring a day

Biotic Factors - livingBiotic Factors - living DiseaseDisease

– Disease has the Disease has the possibility to wipe out a possibility to wipe out a populationpopulation

– The higher the population The higher the population the greater chance that the greater chance that disease will run rampantdisease will run rampant

CompetitionCompetition– A group of organism both A group of organism both

using the same resource using the same resource or prey itemor prey item

– Occurs both within the Occurs both within the species and with other species and with other speciesspecies

Biotic Factor - livingBiotic Factor - living SymbiosisSymbiosis

– A relationship where A relationship where two animals live closely two animals live closely togethertogether

– Mutualism: both Mutualism: both animals benefits from animals benefits from the interactionthe interaction

– Commensalism: only Commensalism: only one animal benefits one animal benefits from the interaction but from the interaction but the other one is not the other one is not harmedharmed

– Parasitism: one animal Parasitism: one animal benefits and one animal benefits and one animal is harmedis harmed

NicheNiche

Defines the role that an organism plays Defines the role that an organism plays in the ecosystemin the ecosystem– Where the species lives, what it eats, and Where the species lives, what it eats, and

what eats itwhat eats it– Because animals have different niches it Because animals have different niches it

allows many animals to occupy the same allows many animals to occupy the same ecosystem with limited competitionecosystem with limited competition

Recommended ViewingRecommended Viewing

BozemanBozeman Biotic factors and evolutionBiotic factors and evolution Monsters inside meMonsters inside me