Chapter 3 The biosphere

Chapter 4Ecosystems & communitiesThe Role of ClimateWeather: day-to-day condition of Earths atmosphereClimate: year-after-year average for a regionThe Greenhouse Effect: Gases such as CO2, Methane, water vapor, etc. that trap heat and maintain Earths temperature range.

Latitude and ClimateLatitude changes the angle of heating.Polar zonesTemperate zonesTropical zone

Heat Transport in the BiosphereThe unequal heating of the Earths surface drives winds and ocean currentsCauses weather and climate patterns

What Shapes and EcosystemBiotic factors: biological influencesEcological communityAbiotic factors: non-living influencesClimate, wind, nutrients, etcThe area in which an organism lives is called its habitat.

The NicheFull range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions.What and how it eats, what eats itFactors needed for survival

Competitive ExclusionNo two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time.Why? Because resources are necessary for survival and limited

Community InteractionsCompetition: attempt for more than one species to do the same thingPredation: one organism feeds on anotherSymbiosis: two species live closely togetherhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1aRSeT-mQE

Types of SymbiosisMutualism: both species benefitCommensalism: one species benefits but the other is not affectedParasitism: one organism lives off of another and brings harm to it

Ecological SuccessionPrimary succession: occurs where no soil existsBare lava rockThe first species to populate the area are called pioneer species.

Ecological SuccessionSecondary Succession: occurs after a disturbance that destroys the community but not the soil.WildfireFlood

BiomesGroup of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities.Plants and animals can be tolerant of different conditions.Microclimate- small area with a different climate than the surrounding area