Intro to Ecology Part Intro to Ecology Part 22

Climate vs. WeatherClimate vs. Weather

WeatherWeather Day-to-day conditions of Earth's atmosphereDay-to-day conditions of Earth's atmosphere

precipitation, humidity, temperature, etc.precipitation, humidity, temperature, etc.

Changes every dayChanges every day ClimateClimate

The average, year-after-year, conditions (temperature and precipitation) that prevail in a The average, year-after-year, conditions (temperature and precipitation) that prevail in a specific regionspecific region

MicroclimateMicroclimate Climate in a specific area that varies from the surrounding climate regionClimate in a specific area that varies from the surrounding climate region Ex. The burrow of a Kangaroo rat in the New Mexico desert (dark and cool)Ex. The burrow of a Kangaroo rat in the New Mexico desert (dark and cool)

BiomesBiomes

Terrestrial ecosystems that cover a large Terrestrial ecosystems that cover a large region of Earthregion of Earth

Characterized by communities of plants Characterized by communities of plants and other organisms adapted to the and other organisms adapted to the climate and other abiotic factorsclimate and other abiotic factors

Major Terrestrial BiomesMajor Terrestrial Biomes

Tropical RainforestTropical RainforestTropical Dry ForestTropical Dry ForestTropical SavannahTropical SavannahDesertDesertTemperate Temperate Grasslands (Prairie)Grasslands (Prairie)

Temperate Temperate Woodland/shrubland Woodland/shrubland (Chaparral)(Chaparral)

Temperate forestTemperate forest Northwestern Northwestern

ConiferousConiferous Boreal Forest/TaigaBoreal Forest/Taiga TundraTundra

Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest Canopy: dense covering of tree topsCanopy: dense covering of tree tops Understory: 2Understory: 2ndnd story of shorter trees and vines story of shorter trees and vines

under the canopyunder the canopy Fern Gully/Medicine ManFern Gully/Medicine Man

Tropical Dry ForestTropical Dry Forest

Deciduous trees: broad leaves that fallDeciduous trees: broad leaves that fall Wet/Dry seasonWet/Dry season ““Jungle Book” forestJungle Book” forest

Tropical SavannahTropical Savannah In the tropicsIn the tropics Wet/dry seasonWet/dry season Less rainfall than trop. Dry forestLess rainfall than trop. Dry forest Think “Lion King”Think “Lion King”

DesertDesert Around 25-35Around 25-35oo Latitude N and S Latitude N and S Plants and animal adaptationsPlants and animal adaptations

Spines, waxy cuticles, scalesSpines, waxy cuticles, scales

Think “The Mummy” and “The Sahara”Think “The Mummy” and “The Sahara”

Temperate Temperate Woodland/Shrubland/ChaparraWoodland/Shrubland/Chaparrall

Dense shrubsDense shrubs Mediterranean, California coastMediterranean, California coast Brush firesBrush fires

Temperate GrasslandTemperate Grassland prairiesprairies Midwest (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri)Midwest (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri) Brush firesBrush fires Think movie “Twister” “Wizard of Oz” and Think movie “Twister” “Wizard of Oz” and

“Little House on the Prairie”“Little House on the Prairie”

Temperate ForestTemperate Forest Mix of coniferous and deciduous treesMix of coniferous and deciduous trees Humus (HUE-Mus)Humus (HUE-Mus) material formed from material formed from

decaying leaves….very fertile!!!decaying leaves….very fertile!!! Forests with leaves that change colorsForests with leaves that change colors Think fairy tale forest “Snow White” and “Sleeping Think fairy tale forest “Snow White” and “Sleeping

Beauty”Beauty”

Northwestern ConiferousNorthwestern Coniferous ““Rainforest” of the temperate climate zone…Rainforest” of the temperate climate zone…

very DIVERSE vegetation very DIVERSE vegetation Mild, moist temperaturesMild, moist temperatures Think “Twilight” “New Moon” “Eclipse”Think “Twilight” “New Moon” “Eclipse”

Boreal Forest/ TaigaBoreal Forest/ Taiga Bitter cold wintersBitter cold winters Coniferous treesConiferous trees Make the Make the timberlinetimberline…border between taiga …border between taiga

and the tundraand the tundra Think “X-Men Origins”…Wolverine’s homeThink “X-Men Origins”…Wolverine’s home

TundraTundra PermafrostPermafrost: layer of : layer of

permanently frozen subsoil permanently frozen subsoil ““Ice Age”Ice Age”

Other Other interesting interesting ecosystems…ecosystems… Mountain RangesMountain Ranges

On all continentsOn all continents Abiotic and biotic factors change with ELAVATION (as u go Abiotic and biotic factors change with ELAVATION (as u go

up)up) Therefore plants and animals change VERTICALLYTherefore plants and animals change VERTICALLY Grassland at base Grassland at base woodland/pines woodland/pines spruce/conifer spruce/conifer

forest forest tundra like open area at summit with tundra like open area at summit with wildflowerswildflowers

Polar Ice CapsPolar Ice Caps Border the TundraBorder the Tundra Cold year roundCold year round Characterized by ice and snowCharacterized by ice and snow Plants and algae are few but include Mosses and LichensPlants and algae are few but include Mosses and Lichens North PoleNorth Pole

Sea ice and ice cap that covers GreenlandSea ice and ice cap that covers Greenland Polar bears, seals, insects and mitesPolar bears, seals, insects and mites

South PoleSouth Pole 5 km thick layer of ice5 km thick layer of ice Penguins and marine mammalsPenguins and marine mammals

Energy is transferred in Energy is transferred in ecosystemsecosystems

Producers give E to ConsumersProducers give E to Consumers Food chains Food chains show flow of energyshow flow of energy Trophic levelTrophic levela single step in the food chaina single step in the food chain

A step in the transfer of energy and matter in an ecosystemA step in the transfer of energy and matter in an ecosystem

Primary ProducersPrimary ProducersAUTOTROPHSAUTOTROPHSmake their OWN foodmake their OWN food Use Use PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis and and ChemosynthesisChemosynthesis to change inorganic chemicals into molecules that they use for ENERGY!!! to change inorganic chemicals into molecules that they use for ENERGY!!! Plants and bacteriaPlants and bacteria

ConsumersConsumers HETEROTROPHSHETEROTROPHS must eat different things to get their E…canNOT make their own GLUCOSE must eat different things to get their E…canNOT make their own GLUCOSE

Primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumersPrimary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers

HerbivoresHerbivores: eat plants: eat plants OmnivoresOmnivores: eat plants and animals (bears, humans): eat plants and animals (bears, humans) CarnivoresCarnivores: eat other animals (wolves): eat other animals (wolves) DetritivoresDetritivores: eat dead plants and animals (earthworms, mites, crabs): eat dead plants and animals (earthworms, mites, crabs) DecomposersDecomposers: get energy from decaying organic matter (bacteria and fungus aka : get energy from decaying organic matter (bacteria and fungus aka

mushrooms)mushrooms)

Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels

•Each link in a food chain is Each link in a food chain is known as a trophic level.known as a trophic level.

•Trophic levels represent a Trophic levels represent a feeding step in the transfer feeding step in the transfer of energy and matter in an of energy and matter in an ecosystem.ecosystem.

Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels

Producers- Autotrophs

Primary consumers- Herbivores

Secondary consumers-small

carnivores

Tertiary consumers-

top carnivores

E

N

E

R

G

Y

Trophic LevelsTrophic LevelsFood chainFood chain- simple model that - simple model that

shows how matter and energy shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystemmove through an ecosystem

Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels

Food webFood web- shows all possible - shows all possible feeding relationships in a feeding relationships in a community at each trophic community at each trophic levellevel

•Represents a network of Represents a network of interconnected food chainsinterconnected food chains

Food chainFood chain Food webFood web(just 1 path of energy)(just 1 path of energy) (all possible energy (all possible energy

paths)paths)

Biome ProjectsBiome Projects

Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest Tropical Dry ForestTropical Dry Forest Tropical SavannahTropical Savannah DesertDesert Temperate Grasslands Temperate Grasslands

(Prairie)(Prairie) Temperate forestTemperate forest

Chaparral /shrub landChaparral /shrub land North Western North Western

ConiferousConiferous Boreal Forest/TaigaBoreal Forest/Taiga Tundra Tundra EvergladesEverglades Deep Sea Hydrothermal Deep Sea Hydrothermal

VentsVents Tropical Coral ReefsTropical Coral Reefs

Biome Project Guide Biome Project Guide LinesLines Children’s book using your biome as a setting and showing interactions between organismsChildren’s book using your biome as a setting and showing interactions between organisms

Must be NEAT, SIMPLISTIC, yet INFORMATIVEMust be NEAT, SIMPLISTIC, yet INFORMATIVE ReportReport

Abiotic Factors of biomeAbiotic Factors of biome Climate and PrecipitationClimate and Precipitation Countries in which biome can be foundCountries in which biome can be found Dominant animals (at least 9)Dominant animals (at least 9) Dominant plants (at least 9)Dominant plants (at least 9) Problems/issues threatening this biome Problems/issues threatening this biome 3 interesting facts3 interesting facts 3 different food chains3 different food chains

Name of organismName of organism Primary producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer and tertiary consumer labeled in Primary producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer and tertiary consumer labeled in

eacheach Type of consumer (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, detritivore, decomposer) labeled in eachType of consumer (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, detritivore, decomposer) labeled in each One of the food chains MUST be present in and numbered/labeled in 3D modelOne of the food chains MUST be present in and numbered/labeled in 3D model

1 food web (pictures and names of organisms)1 food web (pictures and names of organisms)

ModelModel 3-D CREATIVE model of biome3-D CREATIVE model of biome Model must include one of the food chains listed in your ReportModel must include one of the food chains listed in your Report Model must include accurate plants and animalsModel must include accurate plants and animals No candy/edible items and No living organismsNo candy/edible items and No living organisms