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Chapter 56 The Biosphere

Chapter 56 The Biosphere. The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. Ecology. Organisms. All living things. Studied at many levels. Ecology - levels. 1. Organismal Ecology 2. Population Ecology 3. Community Ecology 4. Ecosystem Ecology 5. Biosphere Ecology.

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Chapter 56 The Biosphere

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  1. Chapter 56The Biosphere

  2. The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. Ecology

  3. Organisms • All living things. • Studied at many levels.

  4. Ecology - levels 1. Organismal Ecology 2. Population Ecology 3. Community Ecology 4. Ecosystem Ecology 5. Biosphere Ecology

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

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

  7. Temperature • Effects biological processes. • Ex: • Cold – cells will rupture if they expand while freezing. • Hot – many proteins denature above 45 oC. • Point – life can only exist over a fairly narrow temperature range.

  8. Water • Review the properties of water from Chapter 3. • Cells must maintain a correct water potential (keep from exploding or drying out).

  9. Sunlight • Provides energy for Ps, which drives most food webs. • Plants often compete for light because of shading or absorption of light by deep columns of water.

  10. Wind • Effects temperature and water conditions for many organisms. • May carry abrasive particles that limit plant growth by killing the SAM areas.

  11. Rocks and Soil • Physical structure, pH, mineral composition of rocks and soil limit where plants can grow. Ex. Se soils. • Plants limit what animals can be found in an area.

  12. Disturbance • Disturbance is often an important part of an environment. • Allows organisms to re-colonize an area. • Ex: Fire Humans Wind

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

  14. Climatic Factors • Solar Radiation and Latitude • Axis Tilt/Seasons • Air/Water Circulation Patterns

  15. Solar Radiation and Latitude • Changes the amount of light and energy delivered per surface area.

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

  17. 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.

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

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

  20. Biomes • Broad geographical regions with characteristic communities of organisms.

  21. Biomes Controlled by: • Temperature • Water • Geography

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

  23. Tropical Forests

  24. 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.

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

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

  27. Desert • Characterized by plants adapted to dry growing conditions. • Climate: • Dry (<30cm/yr). • May be cold or hot. • Often found in areas of descending air masses. • Low productivity, but still fairly diverse in species.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  34. Taiga or Boreal Forest • Relatively low species diversity. • Being logged at an alarming rate.

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

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

  37. Altitude and Latitude • Mirror each other. Their Biomes are similar because the environments are similar. • Ex: Alpine = Tundra

  38. Aquatic Biomes

  39. Fresh water Biomes • Have <1% salt concentration. • Strongly influenced by temperature and light. • Classification – based on water flow patterns.

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