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Ecosystems. What is a Ecosystem?. An ecosystem is formed by the interactions between all living ( biotic factors ) and non-living things ( Abiotic factors ) in an area. An ecosystem may include many communities with different populations. What is a Population?.
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What is a Ecosystem? • An ecosystem is formed by the interactions between all living (biotic factors) and non-living things (Abiotic factors) in an area. • An ecosystem may include many communities with different populations.
What is a Population? • A population is one species living in a specific area. • For example, all foxes living in an area form a population. • Another example, all dandelions growing in an area form another population.
What is a Community? • A community is formed from all living populations found in an area. • All the foxes, dandelions, grasshoppers, snakes, hawks, deer, and skunks living in one area each form their individual populations, but together make up a community.
What is Ecology? • Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with one another and with their environment.
Non-living parts of your community (Abiotic) • Buildings • Roads • Bodies of water • Land • Wind • Sunlight
Abiotic factors affect distribution of species • Abiotic factors of interest include: • - Temperature (range from 0 to 45 C) • - Water • - Sunlight • - Wind (increases heat & water loss) • Rocks and soil • Amount of oxygen in the water
Biome • Is a collection of ecosystems that are similar or related to one another. • Usually in the type of plants they support. The following are Canadian Biomes: • Tundra Biome • Boreal Forest Biome • Temperate Deciduous Forest Biome • Grassland Biome
Aquatic and terrestrial biomes (Biome = major ecosystem type)
A. Aquatic biomes cover about 75% of the earth’s surface - Wetlands - Lakes - Rivers, streams - Oceanic pelagic biome - Coral reefs
B. Terrestrial biomes - Tropical forest - Savanna - Desert - Chaparral - Temperate grassland - Temperate deciduous forest - Coniferous forest - Tundra
Tropical Forest: Vertical stratification with trees in canopy blocking light to bottom strata. Many trees covered by epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants).
Desert: Sparse rainfall (< 30 cm per year), plants and animals adapted for water storage and conservation. Can be either very, very hot, or very cold (e.g. Antarctica)
Temperate Grassland: Marked by seasonal drought and fires, and grazing by large animals. Rich habitat for agriculture.
Temperate Deciduous Forest: Mid-latitudes with moderate amounts of moisture, distinct vertical strata: trees, under story shrubs, herbaceous sub-stratum. Loss of leaves in cold, many animals hibernate or migrate then. Original forests lost from North America by logging and clearing.
Coniferous forest: Largest terrestrial biome on earth, old growth forests rapidly disappearing, usually receives lots of moisture as rain or snow.
Tundra: Permafrost (Permanent frozen ground), bitter cold, high winds and thus no trees. Has 20% of land surface on earth.