Unit 1 Notes:

Biology

Climate Change &

Human Activity

(1) Climate

Climate: Average, annual conditions of temperature and precipitation in Earth-regions.

Weather = day to day conditions.

Climate is Impacted By:– Earth’s tilt, rotation, orbit– Location of Land and Water masses– Wind and Water Currents– Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases, Organisms, Inorganic

Compounds

(2) Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Effect: The containment of heat on Earth due to shielding gases.

Greenhouse Gases: Gases which absorb heat, subsequently warming earth’s atmosphere.– Carbon Dioxide– Methane– Water Vapor

(3) Climate Change

Climate Change: A regular, natural change in the earth’s climates due to a variety of factors working together.

Cause:– Any one of the factors which impacts

climate– Humans are not helping

(4) Evidence for Climate Change

Record of the climate changing regularly and frequently in the past (naturally).

Change in ice caps and water levels. Change in severity of storms and shifts in

atmospheric temperatures. Change in survival of climate-specific plants

and animals.

(5) Human Activities of Concern

Over-Use of Fossil Fuels & Natural Resources

Over-Production of Waste & Pollution

Damage to Ecosystems

Altering Ecosystem Stability

(6) Biomagnification

Also known as “bioamplification”.

Occurs when a chemical compound is released into an ecosystem, and higher level heterotrophs receive/contain larger amounts.

EXAMPLE Why Does This Happen?– A pesticide is absorbed by plankton.– A small fish eats 100 plankton, each with the pesticide.– A large fish eats 50 small fish (each with 100 plankton).– A shark eats 5 large fish (each with 50 small fish).

(7) Invasive Species

When non-native species of organisms move into an ecosystem and disrupt the balance and stability.

Results:– The non-native organisms might over-use resources.– The non-native organisms might end up killing off native

organisms.

How Does This Happen?– Can happen naturally with changes in climate, wind, water

patterns.– Mostly happens due to humans transporting foreign

organisms into new habitats.