Chapter 3: The Biosphere

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Chapter 3 The Biosphere

• What is ecology?

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Ecology

• Ecology the study of interactions among
  organisms and between organisms and their
  environment
• Interdependence dependence of every form of
  life on other living things and natural resources
  (air, water, land) in its environment

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Levels of Organization

• Biosphere largest, portions of planet where
  life exists (land, H2O, air)
• 8 km above to 11 km below
• Biome group of ecosystems with same climate
  (temp. and rainfall)
• Ecosystem collection of all organisms in a
  particular place together with the abiotic
  (physical) environment.

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Levels of Organization

• Community groups of different populations that
  live together in a defined area.
• Population groups of individuals of same
  species in same area.
• Species group of organisms so similar that they
  can mate and produce fertile offspring.

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Levels of Organization
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Biotic and Abiotic Factors

• Biotic living
• Plants, Animals ,Mold, Fungi, Bacteria, Protist
• Abiotic Non living
• Sunlight, soil, wind, water, temperature
• Habitat the area where an organism lives
  includes both biotic and abiotic factors.

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3.2 Energy - Autotrophs (producers)

• Can trap light energy to produce food (organic
  molecules)
• Plants
• Some protists
• Some bacteria
• Photosynthesis captures solar energy and
  converts it to chemical energy
• 6CO2 6H2O C6H12O6 6O2
• Chemosynthesis Chemical energy used to produce
  carbohydrates

SUN
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3.2 Energy - Heterotrophs (consumers)

• Cant trap energy directly must acquire it from
  other organisms
• Herbivores plants
• Carnivores animals
• Omnivores both
• Detritivores remains of dead plants animals
• Decomposers break down organic matter

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3.3 Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Food Chains and Food Webs

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3.3 Food Chains and Food Webs

• SUN Autotrophs Heterotroph
• Food Chain energy trapped by producers passed
  on when organisms eat and are eaten
• Food Web relationship more complex than a chain

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Trophic Levels and Ecological Pyramids

• Trophic Levels each step in a food chain/web
• Ex producers, then consumers
• Ecological Pyramids shows relative amount of
  energy at each level (10 rule)
• Biomass total amount of living tissue within a
  trophic level

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Trophic Levels and Ecological Pyramids
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3.4 Cycles of Matter

• Recycle Matter

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Carbon Cycle

• Photosynthesis uses CO2 from atmosphere
• Happens in the CHLOROPLAST
• Respiration returns CO2 to atmosphere
• Happens in the MITOCHONDRIA

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Carbon Cycle
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The Carbon Cycle

• Volcanoes, respiration, fossil fuels, and
  decomposition add CO2 to atmosphere.
• Plants take CO2 and make carbohydrates
• Plants are eaten by animals and carbohydrates are
  passed through the food chain.
• As the animal breathes and eventually dies and
  decomposes CO2 is return to atmosphere.
• Decomposing Fox

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Water Cycle
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Water Cycle

• Water enters the atmosphere by
• Evaporation water changes from a liquid to a
  gas
• Transpiration Evaporation through leaves
• As water rises it cools condenses into tiny
  droplets that form clouds.
• Droplets return to Earth as precipitation.
• Water enters the rivers, ground water, ocean or
  plant roots to restart cycle.
• Making Clouds

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Nitrogen Cycle
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Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen gas makes up 78 of atmosphere
• Nitrogen Fixation bacteria take nitrogen gases
  and turn it into ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.
• Plants and animals use nitrate to make amino
  acids.
• Animal dies and decomposes returning nitrates to
  the soil.
• Denitrification other bacteria convert nitrates
  into nitrogen gas.
• Fertilizer Runoff

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Nutrient Limitation

• Primary Productivity the rate at which organic
  molecules are created by producers
• If nutrients are in short supply, they are called
  LIMITING NUTRIENTS
• Ex Nitrogen is often limiting in water if
  there is suddenly as input of N (fertilizer
  runoff), organisms can grow rapidly (Algal Bloom)

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4-2 Niches and Community Interactions
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4.2 The Niche

• Niche Where and How something lives its role
• Habitat is the organisms address
• Niche is the organisms occupation

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Community Interactions

• Competition
• Organisms compete for resources
• Ex Food, Mates, Shelter
• Competitive Exclusion Principle no 2 organisms
  occupy same niche at same time.
• Predation
• One organism (predator) captures and feeds on
  another (prey).
• Battle at Kruger Lake

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4.2 Community Interactions

• Symbiosis
• Mutualism both benefit
• Ex Flowers insects
• Egrets Alligators
• Clown Fish Sea Anemone
• Commensalism one benefits, the other is not
  helped nor harmed
• Ex Barnacle Whale
• Parasitism one benefits, other is harmed
• Ex tapeworms, fleas, ticks, lice

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Keystone Species essential to the balance of an
ecosystem, change in their population can cause a
dramatic change in the community.
Dung Beetle
Otters and Kelp
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4.3 Ecological Succession

• Ecological Succession - change in an ecosystem
• Primary Succession no soil (volcanic eruption
  or bare rock)
• first to appear are pioneer species Ex
  Lichens
• Secondary Succession Soil Exists (wild fires,
  clear cutting, plowed for farming)
• Succession in a Marine Ecosystem happens when a
  large whale dies and sinks to the bottom
• Climax Community fairly stable, mature,
  dominant community established after succession.

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• Human Impacts
• Look at each of the cycles in your notes. In
  each
• cycle there is at least one to two ways that
  imbalance
• can occur.
• Identify the sources of imbalance and in
  particular how human activities upset the cycles.
• Explain how this imbalance impacts the cycle and
  potential ecological problems that could result.
• You should identify at least one imbalance for
  each cycle (water, nitrogen, and carbon)?
• Each table group will turn in one paper with your
  answers.

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