Chapter 2 Ecosystems and Biomes

1. Chapter 2Ecosystems and Biomes Section 3 Biogeography Notes 2-3

2. Biogeography • Study of where organisms live • They describe where living things are found on Earth • How organisms spread to different parts of the world • Continental Drift • Slow motion of continents over a very long period of time

3. Continental Drift • Continents have moved over many millions of years • Australia moved away from all other land masses millions of years ago • Organisms developed unique characteristics because they were isolated from the rest of the organisms in the world • http://www.adonline.id.au/plantevol/continents.htm

4. Dispersal • Movement of organisms from one place to another • Wind: transport light things • Water: transport things that float • Other Living Things: spread seeds by eating them and getting rid of them in their wastes • Human can carry a germ or parasite with them without knowing it

5. Dispersal • Native Species: • Species that naturally evolved in an area • Exotic Species: • Species that has been introduced to an area; is new to the area • Ex: dandelion is exotic to US

6. Limits to Dispersal • Physical Barriers: • Water, mountains and deserts can not be crossed easily • Madagascar • Competition: • Compete for resources and find its niche • New species can out compete a native species

7. Limits to Dispersal • Climate: typical weather pattern over a long period of time in an area • Determined by temperature, precipitation and wind • Consider a mountain • Climate is different at the bottom of the mountain than at the top • Places that have the same types of climates will usually have the same characteristics in those animals that live there (bison and wildebeests)

8. Homework Study for Quiz Ch. 2 Sections 1-3