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Environmental Chapter 3. Ecosystems. Ecosystems. An ecosystem is all of the living and non-living things in a given area 2 factors – Biotic – all of the living things in an environment – ex. Insects, mice, plants Abiotic – physical factors in an environment – ex. Soil, air, water. Biomes.
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Environmental Chapter 3 Ecosystems
Ecosystems • An ecosystem is all of the living and non-living things in a given area • 2 factors – • Biotic – all of the living things in an environment – ex. Insects, mice, plants • Abiotic – physical factors in an environment – ex. Soil, air, water
Biomes • A geographic area characterized by certain types of plants and animals • A biome contains even smaller ecosystems ex. Rainforest biome contains tree-top ecosystems, river ecosystems etc.
Forest Biomes • Develop where there is ample rainfall and moderate temperatures • Three types • Temperate deciduous forests • Coniferous forests • Rain forests
Temperate Deciduous Forest Biome • Leaves change and fall every year • We live in this biome • Fairly broad leaves to absorb sun • Average rainfall 75-125 cm • Average temperature • Summer: 28 ºC • Winter: 6ºC
Coniferous Forest • Not much change between summer and winter • Consists mainly of evergreen trees which have waxy needles to prevent water loss • Seeds in cones • Not a lot of plants grow in the under story because of limited light • Average rainfall 35-75 cm • Average temperature • Summer: 14°C • Winter: -10° C
Tropical Rain Forest • Most biologically diverse • Most animals live in the canopy • Soil nutrient poor • Rain forest quickly disappearing through farming and clear-cutting, and development • Average rainfall up to 400cm • Average temperature • Daytime:34°C • Nighttime: 20°C
Rainforest Destruction • Decrease in the world’s oxygen • Increase in the world’s carbon dioxide • Can lead to global warming • Loss of species • Loss of medicines
Temperate Grasslands • Grasses and some flowering plants • Seed-eating mammals and herbivores • Biomass is manly underground, deep roots – this allows plants to live through grazing and fires • Many fires • Average rainfall 25-75cm • Average temperature • Summer 30°C • Winter 0°C
Savannas • Tropical grasslands • Clumps of trees • Deep roots • Fluctuate between rainy season and drought • Average rainfall 150 cm • Average temperature • Dry season: 34°C • Wet season: 16°C
Deserts • Plants are succulent and grow far apart to avoid competition for water • Most animals are nocturnal to avoid heat from sun • Many animals have ways of conserving water and cooling themselves • Average rainfall less than 25cm • Temperature can vary greatly between night and day • Average temperature • Summer: 38°C • Winter: 7°C
Tundra • No trees because cannot make deep roots • Permafrost - frozen soil • Soggy area because of poor drainage • Average rainfall 30-50 cm • Average temperature • Summer: 12°C • Winter: -26°C
Marine Ecosystems • Salty water • Almost 75% of the earth is covered in salt water • Phytoplankton are the most abundant producers (perform photosynthesis) • Zooplankton feed on phytoplankton • Both phytoplankton and zooplankton for the base of the ocean’s food web • Ocean is divided into zones
Marine Zones • Intertidal – where ocean meets land. For part of the day, this zone is above water • Neritic zone – water is less than 200m deep. Plants and phytoplankton live here.
Oceanic – deep water zone • 0-200m is zone where photosynthesis takes place • Benthic – ocean bottom
Estuaries • Place where fresh water from streams and rivers flows into oceans
Freshwater Ecosystems • No salt • A tributary is a smaller stream that meets with other tributaries to form bigger streams • Rivers are where streams meet
Moving Freshwater • Fast moving – steep, towards top of mountains, younger • Animals have adaptations to avoid being swept away: grow on or under rocks etc
Slow moving - less steep, towards bottom of mountain, meanders (curves), older • Biotic material and sediment deposit on the bottom forming “deltas” • Eventually water flows into oceans
Still Waters • Ponds and lakes • Three zones • Littoral zone – closest to land, plants, snails, larvae • Open-water zone – extends from littoral zone and goes as deep as the light will reach, bass, trout, phytoplankton • Deep-water zone – no light, beneath open water, catfish, fungus, feed on dead stuff that falls from above
Wetlands • Water level is near or above the surface of the ground • Absorb water during heavy rains • Help replenish the water supply
Marshes • Treeless wetlands
Swamp • Wetlands where trees and vines grow • Low-lying areas besides slow-moving rivers • Flooded only part of the year