AP Biology
Environmental factors Abiotic factors
non-living chemical & physical factors temperature light water nutrients
Biotic factors living components
animals plants
AP Biology
Tropical rainforest
distribution: equatorial
precipitation: very wet
temperature: always warm
characteristics: many plants & animals, thin soil
AP Biology
Savanna
distribution: equatorial
precipitation: seasonal, dry season/wet season
temperature: always warm
characteristics: fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants; herbivores; fertile soil
AP Biology
Desert
distribution: 30°N & S latitude band
precipitation: almost
temperature: variable daily & seasonally, hot & cold
characteristics: sparse vegetation & animals, cacti, succulents, drought tolerant, reptiles, insects, rodents, birds
AP Biology
Temperate Grassland
distribution: mid-latitudes, mid-continents
precipitation: seasonal, dry season/wet season
temperature: cold winters/hot summerscharacteristics: prairie grasses, fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants; many herbivores; deep, fertile soil
AP Biology
Temperate Deciduous Forest
distribution: mid-latitude, northern hemisphere
precipitation: adequate, summer rains, winter snow
temperature: moderate warm summer/cool winter
characteristics: many mammals, insects, birds, etc.; deciduous trees; fertile soils
AP Biology
Coniferous Forest (Taiga)
distribution: high-latitude, northern hemisphere
precipitation: adequate to dry (temperate rain forest on coast)
temperature: cool year round
characteristics: conifers; diverse mammals, birds, insects, etc.
AP Biology
Arctic Tundra
distribution: arctic, high-latitude, northern hemisphere
precipitation: dry
temperature: cold year round
characteristics: permafrost, lichens & mosses, migrating animals & resident herbivores
AP Biology
Alpine Tundra
distribution: high elevation at all latitudes
precipitation: dry
temperature: cold year round
characteristics: permafrost, lichens, mosses, grasses; migrating animals & resident herbivores
AP Biology
Impact of ecology as a science Ecology provides a scientific context for
evaluating environmental issues Rachel Carson, in 1962,
in her book, Silent Spring,warned that use ofpesticides such as DDTwas causing populationdeclines in manynon-target organisms
AP Biology
Barry Commoner’s Laws of Ecology Everything is connected to everything else Everything must go somewhere
there is no such place as “away” Nature knows best There is no such thing as a free lunch
Laws of Unintended Consequences
AP Biology
BioMagnification PCBs
General Electric manufacturing plant on Hudson River
PCBs in sediment striped bass
nesting areas
AP Biology
Loss of Diversity 3 levels of biodiversity
ecosystem diversity different habitats
across landscape community diversity
mix of species genetic diversity
inbreeding with shrinking populations
All decreased by human activity
AP Biology
Introduced species Introduced species
transplanted populations grow exponentially in new area
non-native species out-compete native species lack of competitors & predators reduce diversity
examples African honeybee gypsy moth zebra mussel purple loosestrife
kudzu
gypsy moth
AP Biology
Purple loosestrife Non-native species out-compete native species
lack of competitors & predators reducing diversity causing loss of food & nesting sites for animals Video
1968 1978
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