Intro to EcologyChapter 50

Ecology – study of the relationship between organisms and their living and nonliving environment Biotic factors – living factors ▪ Predators, prey, competitors, parasites,

mutualism, etc Abiotic factors – nonliving factors▪ Precipitation, soil type/rocks, temperature,

wind, sunlight, altitude

Levels of Ecological Organization

Population Community Ecosystem Biosphere

Atmosphere Ecosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere

Biomes

Large areas (ecosystems) of the earth with typical types of organisms

They are determined primarily by temp & water availability

Angle of Light Intensity – what’s the effect on climate?

Seasonal Changes

Precipitation Patterns

Wind Patterns

Water Moderating Effects

Ocean currents can make areas near them warmer or colder than other parts of the world at same latitude

Rainshadow effect Moist air from ocean rises up the

mountains and cools – rain falls Drier air then passes over the mountains

and warms as it falls – absorbing moisture Areas inland from the mountains are drier

– (rainshadow) – lack of rain

Rainshadow Effect

Biomes

Tundra Taiga Temperature

Deciduous Forest Grassland Desert Chaparral Tropical

Rainforest Estuary Coral Reef

Taiga

Chaparral

Grassland

Tropical Rainforest

Estuary

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Desert

Tundra

Coral Reef