ecosystems-chapter 6 notes

Zebra mussels are a great threat to the Great Lakes.

Compete with fish for plankton

Clarify water, cause plants to grow

The soil, air, and surface where living things can grow

1. Organism Human being2. Population Family3. Community Town4. Ecosystem People and buildings5. Biome State of PA/US6. Biosphere World/Planet

Large habitat Atlantic Ocean Forests Jungles

Small habitat – “microhabitat” Rotting Log Large Intestine Riffle, Run, or Pool in a Stream

Living components of an ecosystem Competing trees Predators Viruses Bacteria Pathogens

Non-living components in an ecosystem Sunlight Air Water Minerals

Much more complex

Represent actuality

Any given environment can only support so many organisms

If a population reaches its max, organisms will: Die Move Adapt

•Eventually the environment will no longer support any more individuals

•The graph is in the shape of an S: “S-Curve”

The role an organism plays in an ecosystem

Two organisms CANNOT occupy the same niche

If they did, they would compete for resources Die Move Adapt

Homeo = Same, Stasis = State of activity

A “steady state” that an ecosystem is normally in before a disruption

Fire Tornado Volcano Humans Hurricanes Tsunami

Geographic areas with similar soil and climates

Have similar species adaptations

Common plants and animals characteristic of those climates

1. Forests2. Tropical Rain Forests3. Deciduous and Scrub Forests4. Temperate Deciduous5. Temperate Coniferous6. Boreal Forest

7. Savanna8. Temperate Grassland9. Tundra10. Desert11. Chaparral

12. Mountains13. Ice Cap14. Freshwater15. Marine

The Water Cycle Precipitation Evaporation Transpiration Condensation Run-off/Groundwater

Atmospheric CO2

Photosynthesis Animals eat plants Respiration Plants form coal Humans burn Fossil Fuels

1. Atmospheric N2

2. Nitrogen Fixation3. Plant uptake4. Animals/Decomposition

The change in plant and animal species over time Primary Secondary

Only occurs on recently formed land Hawaiian Islands Ice Caps Plate Boundaries

Pioneer Species First species to establish themselves

Climax Community The final stage of succession

Occurs after a disturbance Fire Volcano

Pioneer Species First species to establish themselves

Climax Community The final stage of succession