The Earth s Ecosystems: Biomes, Energy Flow, and Change I. Biomes and Ecosystems are divisions of the biosphere. A. Biomes: Biomes are the largest divisions of the biosphere. in other words biomes have similar plants, animals, temperature, and amount of rainfall. B. Types of Biomes: 1. : Land based biomes 2. : water based biomes. Types of Biomes within the two major types: 1. located in Russia and Finland, 30-85 cm of precipitation, temperatures are below freezing half the year 2. Hot (Sahara Desert) Rainfall is less than 25 cm annually Hot days are about 38 degrees and cold nights of 7 degrees Cold (Canada s Pocket Desert) Rainfall is less than 25 cm annually 3. they are mostly flat lands and the soil is rich and fertile, with very sparse trees because of the lack of rainfall. Temeperate (Praries of Canada) Tropical Precipitation is 25 to 100cm annually Precipitation is 50 to 130 cm annually Summers are 30 degrees and Temperatures range from 20 to 30 Winters are -10 degrees 4. Annual precipitation is less than 50 cm. Temperature ranges from -89 to - 30 in the summer 5. Eastern forests in Canada (NOT HERE). Annual precipitation is 75 cm to 180cm. Temperatures range from -30 degrees to 30 degrees in the summer 6. We live here! Rainfall exceeds 200 cm a year. Temperature range from 5 degrees to 25 degrees in summer Daintrey s Doings: ) 1
7. Rainfall is about 250 cm a year. Temperature is 20-25 degrees year round. The soil is poor in nutrients but it is recycled very quickly before rain can wash it away. 8. Precipitation is less than 25cm a year. Summers rainge from 3 to 12 degrees. Winter temperatures range from -20 to -30 degrees. Contains a layer of frozen soil called permafrost. When it melts in the summer it creates pools. C. Things that contribute to distribution of biomes: 1. 2. 3. 4. are graphs of climate data for specific region obtained over 30 years from local weather stations. Climatographs give us a better understanding of the temperature and precipitation pattern within the biome. Daintrey s Doings: ) 2
SAMPLE PROVINCIAL EXAM QUESTIONS D. Adaptations and Biomes: 1 : physical feature of an organism s body which contributes to the survival Example: Porcupines Spines 2 : Is a physical or chemical event that occurs within the body of an organism that enables survival. Example: Wolves Body temperature. 3 : what an organism does to survive in the unique conditions of its environment. Daintrey s Doings: ) 3
Including: feeding, mating, nurturing young, migrating, hibernating, and burrowing to escape predators. When water temperatures are cooler, sea otters have been shown to reduce heat loss due to convection by floating on their backs with their feet out of the water. E. Ecosystems: Biomes can be subdivided into smaller divisions called ecosystems. Ecosystems have abiotic components: oxygen, water, nutrients, light, and soil Ecosystems have biotic components: plants, animals, and microorganisms. It is the balance of these interactions which is what makes the ecosystem work. An ecosystem could be a few hectares, or as small as a rotting log or a small pond. 1. Abiotic factors: I. Most living things contain about 50 to 90% water. Without water no organisms could live. II: Nitrogen and phosphorus are chemicals that are required for animal and plant cell growth. III: Photosynthesis would not occur without light. Without photosynthesis what would we not be able to do? IV: Soil is important part of terrestrial ecosystems. Several thousand species live below ground. Daintrey s Doings: ) 4
Soil organisms maintain the soil structure, break down pollutants and other detritus to contribute to the carbon cycle. 2. Biotic Factors: I: : A group of closely related organisms that can reproduce II: : All the members of a particular species within an ecosystem III: : All of populations of different species that interact in an ecosystem. IV: Ecological Hierarchy Organism population community Ecosystem F. Biotic Interactions/Relationships Symbiosis: refers to the interaction between members of 2 different species that live together in a close association. I: : A relationship that benefits one species but does not harm the other Examples hermit crabs-abandoned shells; spiders-trees; remora fish and hosts II: : A relationship that benefits both species Examples clownfish-sea anemone; bee-flower; humansbacteria intestine Daintrey s Doings: ) 5
III: : A relationship that benefits one species and harms the other Examples flee-animal; tapeworms-animal; mistletoe-tree or shrub Sample Provincial Exam Questions Daintrey s Doings: ) 6
G. Niche: All of the physical, chemical, and biological interactions required for a species to survive, grow, and reproduce are part of the organism s niche. H. Competition: Competition is a harmful interaction between two or more organisms that can occur when organisms compete for food. I. Predation: 1. Predator-prey interaction are part of food webs. Predators eat prey, so this works out really well for the predator and really bad for the prey. 2. Prey use and other adaptations that keep them from being eaten. 3. Predators and prey are directly influenced by each other. When the predators numbers are low, the prey numbers go up. When they get too high the predator numbers increase. II: Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycles Support life in Ecosystem A. How Energy Flows in Ecosystems Definitions: Refers to the total mass of living plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria in a given area Daintrey s Doings: ) 7
Flow of energy from an ecosystem to an organism and from organism to organism Produce food in the form of carbs during photosynthesis Eat food produced by consumers. Consumers can become energy for other consumers if they are eaten Breaking down of organic wastes and dead organisms The action of living organisms such as bacteria to break down dead organism. Changes waste and dead organisms into useable nutrients. B. Energy Flow and Energy Loss in Ecosystems: We use different models to show the how energy flows through ecosystems Models which show the flow of energy from plant to animal and from animal to animal. Each step in the food chain Daintrey s Doings: ) 8
Primary Consumers Tertiary Consumers Herbivores Omnivores The first trophic level which produce food for other organisms. Eat Primary producers Eat primary consumers Eat secondary consumers Consumers that obtain energy from eating nutrients bodies of small dead animals, dead plant matter, and animal wastes. Eat plants Eat animals (primary consumers) Eat Both plant and animals Food Pyramids show the energy flow from one trophic level to another. Daintrey s Doings: ) 9
Sample Provincial Exam Question: C. Nutrient Cycles in Ecosystems There are three different Cycles which we will focus on to help us understand n utrient cycles: Daintrey s Doings: ) 10
1. The Carbon Cycle: a. How is Carbon Stored: i. Carbon Dioxide is found in the middle of the deep ocean waters. If the water gets cold enough the carbon will sink and be stored there for many years. ii. Carbon is also found in sedimentation of rock. Soil particles, dead organic things, and sediments make up rock formations. b. The carbon cycle: Natural Processes move carbon though the ecosystem like: Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, ocean processes, and events like volcanic eruptions and large scale forest fires. i. Photosynthesis: ii. Cellular Respiration: iii. Decomposition: Break down of dead organic matter Daintrey s Doings: ) 11
iv. Carbon Cycle an Overview: C. Human Activities and the Carbon Cycle: The more carbon we add to the atmosphere the more reflection we will have and it will effect the global climate. Daintrey s Doings: ) 12
2. The Nitrogen Cycle: Major nitrogen include oceans and organic matter in soil is the process in which nitrogen gas is converted into compound that contains nitrate or ammonium. This process is done by Nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The more fertilizer we use to grow our plants, the more nitrogen we are releasing into the atmosphere. 3. The Phosphorous Cycle: In plants phosphorus contributes to root growth, stem strength and seed production. In humans phosphorous works with calcium in the development of bone tissue. a. Storage: Phosphorous is stored as phosphate rock and sediment of ocean floors. b. Human Activity and The Phosphorous Cycle: fertilizers, detergents, animal wastes, industrial waste and untreated human waste add additional phosphate to the phosphorous cycle. Too much phosphorous can cause death in some animals. Daintrey s Doings: ) 13
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D. Effects of Bioaccumulation on Ecosystems Bioaccumulation is chemicals that are stored in the fatty tissue or herbivores and carnivores. These can cause major problems for animals. Build up of chemicals in living organisms Species that can greatly affect population numbers and the health of an ecosystem Process in which chemicals not only accumulate, but become more concentrated at each trophic level. Example: PCBs and the Orca, Even though Polychlorinated Biphenyls enter the food chain at small levels, there effect is magnified as they are passed up the food chain. PCBs were used in the 1930s- 1970s for heat fluids, paints, and plastics. Daintrey s Doings: ) 15
Mud/water Microscopic Plants and Organisms Small invertebrates --. Small Fish Salmon Orca 1. POPs. are carbon containing compounds that remain in the soil for many years. DDT was used to control mosquitoes but it biomagnifies and hurts plant and animal life. 2. : Some heavy metals are good for human health in small quantities, but if they are released in our atmosphere they can biomagnifies and be harmful. Three most harmful metals are lead, cadmium and mercury 3. : Electronic wastes makes up 40% of lead found in landfills. It is extremely toxic and can cause anemia, nervous system damage, sterility in men, low fertility rates in women, impaired metal development and kidney failure. 4. Released in the manufacturing of plastic and rechargeable batteries. It effects organism growth and raises death rates. In humans it comes from cigarette smoking. Cadmium has a half life or 30 years and can damage your immune system, nervous system and DNA 5. : Mercury poisoning can affect nerve cells, the heart, kidneys, and lungs. It can also suppress the immune system. 6 Reducing our Effects of Chemical Pollution: A. One way we can reduce our effect on chemical pollution is not to buy products which produce some chemical pollutant. B. : Microorganisms and Plants do the clean up for us, by eating the chemicals. Daintrey s Doings: ) 16
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