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Natural Habitats. Outline. Populations and Communities Ecosystems Biotic and Abiotic Factors Biomes Biomes of the World Wetlands Natural Environmental Change Environmental Change Due to Human Impact. Populations and Communities. Population : all of the members of one (1)
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Outline • Populations and Communities • Ecosystems • Biotic and Abiotic Factors • Biomes • Biomes of the World • Wetlands • Natural Environmental Change • Environmental Change Due to Human Impact
Populations and Communities • Population: all of the members of one (1) species in a given area • Example – all of the elk in a forest
Populations and Communities • Community: all of the populations in an area • Example – all of the elk, lynx, rabbits, owls, trees, and grasses in a forest
Ecosystems • Ecosystem: all of the living and non-living parts on an environment • all of the communities combined with the air, water, and ground
Biotic Factors • Biotic Factors: the living parts of an ecosystem • Examples – animals, plants, bugs
Abiotic Factors • Abiotic Factors: the nonliving parts on an ecosystem • 4 important ones 1. Water 2. Soil 3. Sunlight – primary source of energy in the ecosystem. 4. Temperature
Biomes • Biome: large geographic areas that have similar climates and similar plants/animals that live there • 3 important factors that make up a biome 1. Temperature 2. Precipitation (type and amount) 3. Organisms that live there (plants and animals)
Biomes of the World • Major Biomes of the world 1. Tundra 2. Taiga 3. Deciduous Forest 4. Tropical Rain Forest 5. Desert 6. Grassland 7. Freshwater 8. Saltwater
Tundra • Location: • Arctic Regions (North Pole) • Temperature: • Yearly average is -30°F • Precipitation: • Snow • 6-10 inches per year • Other information: • Ground is permanently frozen 3-10 inches below the surface
Taiga • Location: • Russia, Canada • Temperature: • Winter is -65°F to -30°F • Summer is 20°F to 70°F • Precipitation: • Mostly snow • 12-30 inches per year • Other information: • Also called the Coniferous Forest
Deciduous Forest • Location: • Easter United States, Europe • Temperature: • Moderate temperatures • 4 seasons • Precipitation: • Rain and snow • 30-60 inches per year • Other information: • Where we live
Tropical Rain Forest • Location: • South America, Central Africa, Southeastern Asia • Temperature: • Yearly average of 70°F to 90°F • Precipitation: • Rain • 60-200 inches per year • Other information: • Produces 40% of the Earth’s oxygen • 25% of all medicines come from Rain Forest plants
Desert • Location: • Southwestern United States, Northern Africa, Australia • Temperature: • Yearly average of 70 ° F to 80 ° F • Precipitation: • Rain • 3-10 inches per year (usually falls at one time) • Other information: • Extreme high temps of 140 °F
Grassland • Location: • Midwestern United States, Africa • Temperature: • Yearly temperatures of 40°F to 70°F • Precipitation: • Rain (Africa), Rain and Snow (US) • 12-30 inches per year • Other information: • Savannah – grasslands in Africa • Prairie – grasslands in United States
Freshwater Biomes • Any of body of water that is made of freshwater . (salt content < 1%) • Includes lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers, but can include puddles and any “standing “ water. • Only 3% of the water on Earth comes from freshwater biomes. • 99% of all freshwater is either in the form of ice or located in an aquifer.
Saltwater Biomes • Saltwater biomes cover about 75% of the Earth's surface and include oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries. • Saltwater is water with a salt content > 1%, but typical ocean saltwater is about 3.5% salt.
Saltwater Biomes Algae in the oceans supply most of the Earth’s oxygen supply! Evaporation of seawater provides moisture in the air which in turn provides rain for the land!
Wetlands • What are Wetlands? • A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. • The soil in wetlands is uniquely suited to aquatic plants. Man-made Wetland Wildwood Park, Harrisburg
Wetlands • Importance of Wetlands: - Very biologically diverse ecosystem. (Many plant and animal species) - Wetlands are a natural water filtration system that help to purify local water sources.
Natural Environmental Change • Succession: Natural, gradual changes in the types of species of plants and animals that live in an area.
Succession • Primary Succession: Succession beginning in an area with no soil such as a volcanic island. Slow process! • Secondary Succesion: Faster succession occurring in an area that already has soil present. Area destroyed by a forest fire would be one example! • Climax Community: Community that has reached a stable stage of succession. This would be the end of succession!
Natural Environmental Change • Limiting Factors: Anything that restricts the number of individuals in a population. Lack of water, food, space, mates, as well as predation and disease can all limit a population!
Natural Environmental Change • Abiotic Biotic Biotic Interactions - Living things need a constant supply of energy to survive. The Sun is the main source of energy for all living things (Abiotic). - Living things also produce energy by utilizing water and nutrients found in their environments (Abiotic). - The water and nutrients can come directly from the Earth or can be obtained from eating other plants or animals (Biotic).
Natural Environmental Change • Producer – Any organism that uses outside energy sources (Sun) to produce energy rich molecules. - Most contain chlorophyll. Plants use chlorophyll during photosynthesis. Plants are producers! • Consumer – Any living thing that cannot make its own energy rich molecules. Consumers must eat other living things to get energy. - All animals are consumers!
Environmental Change Due to Human Impact • Pollution – Theintroduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse (bad) change. • Although most pollution comes from man some can be introduced naturally (example: volcanic ash)
Environmental Change Due to Human Impact • Eutrophication – Natural response in an ecosystem to the addition of nitrates and phosphates. These chemicals can come from untreated sewage and fertilizers used on crops. - Can cause sudden growths of algae and bacteria - Oxygen is reduced and aquatic animals can die off! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6LAT1gLMPu4
Environmental Change Due to Human Impact • Invasive Species – Non-native species in an ecosystem. - Usually introduced by man (many times by accident) - Can compete with and kill off native species. - Can be plants or animals. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0gwlAnwu7g
Environmental Change Due to Human Impact • Deforestation – Removal of trees and plants in a forest so that the land is converted forever to non-forest use.