UNIT 5 Chapter 15 The Biosphere UNIT 5

UNIT 5 Chapter 15 The Biosphere

UNIT 5: ECOLOGY Chapter 15: The Biosphere I. Life in the Earth System (15. 1) A. The biosphere is the portion of the Earth that is inhabited by life 1. Biosphere- part of Earth where life exists a. Includes all living and non living parts b. Biota- collection of just living things in biosphere

a. Includes all living and non-living parts b. Biota- collection of just living things in biosphere

2. Earth has 4 major connected systems a. Biosphere b. Hydrosphere- all of Earth’s water, ice, water vapor c. Atmosphere- the air blanketing Earth’s solid and liquid surface d. Geosphere- features of Earth’s surface (continents, rocks, sea floor, and everything below Earth’s surface

B. Biotic and Abiotic factors interact in the biosphere 1. All four of Earth’s systems are connected to another 2. Gaia hypothesis - Earth itself is kind of a “living organism”

II. Climate (15. 2) A. Climate is the prevailing weather of a region 1. Weather- day to day conditions 2. Climate- long term pattern of weather conditions

2. Climate- long term pattern of weather conditions

B. Key factors that shape an area’s climate 1. temperature- key factor 2. sunlight 3. water (moisture)- key factor 4. wind

4. Landmasses- also shape climate a. Coastal areas tend to have smaller changes in temperature (moderated by oceans) b. Mountains have large effect on climate- causes precipitation western slope eastern slope

5. Adaptation to Climate- Many organisms adapted to survive in specific climate

III. Biomes (15. 3) A. Earth has 6 major biomes- Each biome characterized by certain set of abiotic factors, ecosystems

1. Tropical Rain Forest Biome- warm temperatures, abundant precipitation all year, lush forests Source: World Meteorological Organization

2. Grassland Biome- primary plant life is grass. Occurs in variety of climates

3. Desert Biome- arid environment, little precipitation, four types: hot, semi-arid, coastal, and cold

4. Temperate Forests- Include deciduous forests and rain forests. Temperate deciduous forests have hot summers and cold winters. Deciduous trees are the dominant plant species

5. Taiga- Found in cool northern climates. Long winters, short summers. Small amount of precipitation

6. Tundra- Far northern latitudes with long winters (10 months) limited precipitation, permafrost

7. Minor biomes- example: chaparral- hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters

B. Polar ice caps and mountains are not considered biomes 1. Polar ice caps- have no soil and do not have specific plant community a. Found at poles (north and south) b. Most animals depend on sea for food

IV. Marine Ecosystems (15. 4) A. The ocean can be divided into zones 1. Ocean Zones

b. Divided between areas that receive light (photic zone) and those that do not (aphotic zone) photic zone aphotic zone

V. Estuaries and Freshwater Ecosystems (15. 5) A. Estuaries are dynamic environments where rivers flow into the ocean 1. Estuary- partially enclosed body of water formed where a river flows into the ocean

a. Mix of fresh and salt water b. River carries lots of nutrients c. Large numbers of species thrive and are highly productive ecosystems d. Provide refuge for many species and spawning grounds e. Over 80% of estuaries have been lost to land development

B. Freshwater ecosystems include moving and standing water 1. Freshwater ecosystems- rivers, streams, wetlands 2. among most productive ecosystems on Earth

C. Ponds and lakes share common features 1. Smaller in size than oceans, but also divided into zones

Chapter 15 The Biosphere

The average year-after-year conditions of temperature and precipitation in a particular region is the region’s a. weather. b. latitude. c. ecosystem. d. climate.

The Earth’s climate is, in part, created by the interplay of a. temperatures, ecosystems, and wind. b. landmasses, the atmosphere, and the ocean. c. weather, heat transport, and the environment. d. solar radiation, surface temperatures, and biomes.

The loss of heat to space is slowed by a. radiation entering the atmosphere. b. atmospheric gases. c. solar energy. d. the biosphere.

The greenhouse effect is a. the result of an excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. b. a natural phenomenon that maintains Earth’s temperature range. c. the result of the differences in the angle of the sun’s rays. d. an unnatural phenomenon that causes heat energy to be radiated back into the atmosphere.

Earth has three main climate zones because of the differences in latitude and a. amount of solar energy received. b. angle of heating. c. ocean currents. d. prevailing winds.

Cool air over the poles will a. rise. b. sink. c. absorb heat from the equator. d. flow parallel to Earth’s surface.

The unequal heating of Earth’s surface a. drives wind and ocean currents. b. causes winds that transport heat throughout the biosphere. c. has important effects on Earth’s climate regions. d. all of the above

Each of the following is an abiotic factor in the environment EXCEPT a. plant life. b. soil type. c. rainfall. d. temperature.

Which is a biotic factor that affects the size of a population in a specific ecosystem? a. average temperature of the ecosystem b. type of soil in the ecosystem c. number and kinds of predators in the ecosystem d. concentration of oxygen in the ecosystem

An organism’s niche is a. the way the organism uses the range of physical and biological conditions in which it lives. b. all the physical and biological factors in the organism’s environment. c. the range of temperatures that the organism needs to survive. d. a full description of the place an organism lives.

Several species of warblers can live in the same spruce tree ONLY because they a. have different habitats within the tree. b. eat different foods within the tree. c. occupy different niches within the tree. d. can find different temperatures within the tree.

An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism is called a. competition. b. sybiosis. c. mutualism. d. predation.

Different species can share the same habitat, but competition among them is reduced if they a. reproduce at different times. b. eat less. c. move away. d. occupy different niches.

No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time a. because of the interactions that shape the ecosystem. b. unless the species require different abiotic factors. c. because of the competitive exclusion principle. d. unless the species require different biotic factors.

A symbiosis in which both species benefit is a. commensalism. b. mutualism. c. predation. d. parasitism.

The symbiotic relationship between a flower and the insect that feeds on its nectar is an example of a. mutualism because the flower provides the insect with food, and the insect pollinates the flower. b. parasitism because the insect lives off the nectar from the flower. c. commensalism because the insect doesn’t harm the flower and the flower doesn’t benefit from the relationship. d. predation because the insect feeds on the flower.

The series of predictable changes that occurs in a community over time is called a. population growth. b. ecological succession. climax community. d. climate change.

Primary succession can begin after a. a forest fire. b. a lava flow. c. farm land is abandoned. a severe storm.

Which of the following occurs during the ecological succession of an ecosystem? a. An ecosystem reaches a final, unchanging stage. b. Changes occur that are caused by organisms outside the ecosystem. c. Living organisms modify their environment a little at a time. d. Parts of communities split off to form new communities.

Which biome is characterized by very low temperatures, little precipitation, and permafrost? a. desert b. temperate forest c. tundra d. tropical dry forest

A biome is identified by its particular set of abiotic factors and its a. average precipitation and temperature. b. characteristic ecological community. c. distance from the equator. d. specific geographical location.

Which is NOT an adaptation that organisms have for living in flowing water? a. hooks b. plankton c. streamlined bodies d. suckers

The photic zone a. extends to the bottom of the open ocean. b. extends to a depth of about 200 meters. c. is deep, cold, and permanently dark. d. is where chemosynthetic bacteria are the producers.

Which organism lives where it is routinely exposed to air, heat, battering waves, strong currents, and is often submerged? a. sea stars b. tube worms c. dolphins d. whales

In the food web below, which of the organixms, X, Y, or Z, is a herbivore? a. Z c. Both X and Y b. Y d. X

The picture above represents _____. a. ecological evolution c. ecological growth b. ecological succession d. ecological symbiosis

The climate diagram below probably illustrates which of the following major biomes. a. desert c. temperate forest b. tropical savanna d. tropical rain forest