Ecosystems and communities

A closer look!

Ecological succession: by definition-due to changes in a specific environment, there will be changes to the biotic and abiotic factors.Changes can be slow or sudden.

What could change the environment:a. Human disturbances:

b. Natural disturbances:

If there are changes to an ecosystem, it willrecover.

Primary succession: CHARACTERISTICS CAUSES no soil volcano only rock glaciers

What would this mean to the recovery process?No growth=no producers

Bare rock

pioneer species

Secondary succession

Primary succession

Climax community

Primary succession

Secondary succession

Succession in a marine environment is justas dynamic but very specific in its developmentbecause of the ecosystem.

1. Death Scavengers hagfish Decomposers amphipods

2. Supports smaller aquatics snails, crabs Nutrients marine worms sediment dwellers

3. Skeleton remains heterotrophic bacteria decompose oil in bones appearance of chemosynthetic auto- trophs = food for mussels, limpets, snails, crabs, clams on bones.

Climate WeatherYear to year average day to day

temperatureprecipitationamount of sunwindhumidity

Controlled by:1. Heat-radiation from sun2. Latitude-equator 0, North pole 90 N, South pole 90 S3. Winds4. Ocean currents5. Precipitation

The Greenhouse effect: Has always existed.A mixture of gases that insulate the earth and maintains the temperature of earth.Gases are CO2 , CH4, H2O, N2O3, and O3

Radiation: by definition, the movement of energy through space as electromagnetic waves. Radiation from the sun is a result of nuclear fusion-two hydrogen nuclei come together to form helium. Excess energy resulting from the fusion is released and ultimately becomes our source of heat. Approximately 4 million tons of matter is changed into energy every second. It takes roughly 8 minutes for this energy to reach earth

Latitude: the angular distanceof any object, namely the sun, fromthe equator. Distance of the sunfrom the equator is 0. Latitude willchange by 10 north and south ofthe equator until the poles.

Winds: the movement of large masses of gases controlled by the differences in densities of these masses.

Ocean currents: movement of cold water to warmer regions result in convection currents which can transport heat energy within the biosphere.

Movement of currents play important role in:

moving energymixing heat, nutrients, salt that help

maintain ecosystems

Precipitation: phases of water that are moved fromground to atmosphere or atmosphere toground and are changed by temperature and pressure.Integral in maintaining the water cycle and

the ecosystems of earth.

Biomes: a large naturally occurring community of floraand fauna occupying a major habitat.

Ecologists have identified ten major biomes.

Each exits with its own specific and unique set ofabiotic factors, the most important beingclimate.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/06/18/any-global-warming-since-1978-two-climate-experts-debate-this/