Ecology
Do Now:
1.
What is the LEADING factor that
determines the location of a biome?
1.
2.
Latitude
What are the LEADING characteristics
that identify a biome?
1.
2.
Climate- temperature and precipitation
Adapted Plants and Animals
Describe the vegetation for each biome:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Deciduous- Broadleaf Trees, moss
Rainforest- trees, vines, shrubs, moss and moist
Boreal forest- pine trees
Desert- succulents= holds water
Grasslands- thick with grasses
Tundra- small grass-like plants- little shrubs and no trees
Temperature and Precipitation
Latitude and Altitude
How
Humans
USE the
biomes
Biome Picture Walk
 Using
the images around the room,
complete the data table of questions an
analysis.
Tropical Rainforest
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Warm and wet -250cm of rain
per year to about 450
cm/year. The average annual
temperature is above 20° C
(never a frost)
tropics, a band around the
equator from 23.5° N (the Tropic
of Cancer) to 23.5° S (the Tropic
of Capricorn)
Highest biodiversity; over 7900 in
one forest and especially 90% of
all primates live here.
The warmth leads to a lot of
evaporation, and as warm, moist
air rises, it cools, the water
condenses, and the water falls
back to the earth as rain.
Threats-animal poaching,
sustenance farming, human
population growth, Industrialized
agriculture, logging and other
minerals and resources being
removed for human use.
Tropical Savanna
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The term savanna or campos
or llano was originally used to
describe the treeless areas of
south America.
The climate of the savanna is
consistently warm and has two
distinct seasons; wet and dry
seasons.
Covered with less woody trees,
with the exception of the
Acacia Tree, and has more
grasses and shrubs due to less
rainfall.
Savannas have two vertical
layers; 1)ground cover and
grasses 2) trees and shrubs
Subject to recurrent fires, the
dominant vegetation is fire
adapted.
Acacia trees
Tropical Savanna
 The
largest Savanna in
the world is in Africa and
surrounds the rainforest.
 Savanna animals are
mostly herbivore, grazing
packs of animals (60
different types) along
with the herd predators
such as lions, crocodiles,
wild dogs and cheetahs.
 Threats: Global climate
change (warmer and
less rain), agriculture,
mining and poaching.
Grasslands
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Dry climate 25-80cm of
precipitation a year.
Also, grasslands tend to be in
temperate to subtropical areas,
often with cold winters and hot
summers.
Found between deserts and
forests.
In the northern hemisphere the
main grasslands are the prairies
of the mid-western United States
and Canada; in Eurasia the
maker grasslands are the
steppes of Russia and the
grasslands of the mid-east
extending from Turkey to India.
Grasslands are also found in
South America.
A wide range of herbivores once
roamed these regions, mostly
ungulates (hooved animals).
Grasslands
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There are three main types
of dominant plant species;
tall-grass, mixed-grass and
short-grass prairie
Australia has four types of
grasslands based on
amount of precipitation.
42% of the Earth used to
be grasslands, now less
than 12% remains due to
conversion to croplands.
Threats: There are two
major threats to grasslands
- conversion to agriculture
(or urban areas) and
global warming and its
attendant changes in
precipitation. Also, mining,
animal poaching and
development
Corporate
Farming
Cattle industry
Desert
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These arid regions occupy 2535% of earth’s landmass.
Temperate deserts have very
hot summers and winter nights
can be extremely cold.
Temperate deserts lie in the
rain shadows (Climate PP).
Cool deserts have warm
summer and cold winters.
Hot deserts are equatorial with
extreme heat year round
throughout the day but can
have extremely cold evenings
due to lack of cloud cover.
Sahara is the world’s largest
and covers approxiamtely9
million km2 of N. Africa.
Australia is classified as 40%
desert.
Desert
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Precipitation is low, less than 100
cm per year
The average annual
temperature is less than 10° C.
subtropical deserts- latitudes of
30° North or South latitude
(equator)
Temperate deserts- "grassland"
from "desert".
Locations from southern
California, North/central Africa,
Central Asia and central
Australia
Threats-one of the biggest
threats to deserts is
development and animal
poaching.
Subtropical deserts
Temperate deserts
Mediterranean Shrublands
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Most lie between 30 and 40°
latitude.
The climate is hot, drought-like
summers and cool, moist
winters.
The are five regions of
Mediterranean ecosystems
including the semiarid of W.
US, Mediterranean Sea,
Central Chile, cape of S. Africa
and SW Australia.
The Chaparral is the shrub
community in N. America.
About 65% of the precipitation
falls during the winter months.
Animal life ranges from mule
deer, coyotes, many birds, as
well as kangaroos and
wallabies.
Mediterranean Shrublands
 Vegetation
includes
broadleaf evergreen shrubs
and dwarf trees known as
sclerophllous (small leaves
and hairy stems).
 Largest regions surrounds the
Mediterranean Sea.
 The Mediterranean
shrublands lack an
understory and ground litter
and are therefore very
flammable.
 Fires are part of the cycles of
the shrubs, after the fires
regrowth matures and
prepares for the next fire.
Temperate Deciduous Forests
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In N. America, the deciduous
forest consists of several types
including the mixed mesophytic
forest; Appalachian Plateau,
beech-maple and northern
hardwoods, maple-basswood
forest of Great Lakes, oakchestnut of central hardwood of
Appalachian, magnolia-oak
forests of Gulf and oak-hickory of
ozarks .
There are also Asiatic broadleaf
forests in eastern China, Japan,
Taiwan and Korea; as well as in
New Zealand, Tasmania, southern
Australia.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
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Very hot summers to very cold
winters.
The average
annual temperature ranges up
to about 20° C down to freezing.
Precipitation ranges from around
50 cm yr in the colder regions to
over 200 cm/yr. (lake-effect
snows in the winter-until the lake
freezes).
Broad-leaf vegetation; large and
flat leaves with a shrub layers and
ground layer of herbs, ferns, and
mosses.
Animals include small herbivores,
deer, bear, rabbits, mice,
salamanders and several types of
birds.
Threats- Acid Rain, logging,
human population and
development, global warming
also the soils are rich and easily
converted to agriculture
Taiga or Boreal Forest
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Climate in the taiga is cold,
with average annual
temperatures from about
+5° to -5° C
20 cm of precipitation per
year to over 200 cm
growing season is short,
usually less than 3 months.
broad bands across North
America and Eurasia
(Russia/Siberia)
Coniferous trees
Threats-animal poaching,
exploration and
development of oil and
natural gas reserves,
development and logging is
always a threat however,
most serious threat is Global
Warming.
Tundra
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In the tundra, conditions are
cold, with an annual average
temperature less than 5° C, and
precipitation (mostly in the form
of snow) less than 100 mm per
year (see figure at right).
The summer is brief, with
temperatures above freezing
lasting for only a few weeks at
most.
The ecology of the tundra is
controlled by the cold climate
and the northern latitude. The
former means that a unique soil
structure, permafrost, forms and
dominates the biology.
Lichens and mosses, willows,
sedges and grasses
Threats-airborne pollutants, oil
and gas development , global
warming
Biome Boxes
 Go
around the room and place your hand in EACH
box.

Be specific in your observations: shape/type of plant,
moisture, temperature, soil,
 Then,
complete the data table (bullet)
 Keep in mind this is a “pre-learning”, thought-provoking
even though you may not know the exact responses
yet.
The Nature of
Evolution:
1.
A timeline of life on Earth-on poster board
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
2.
Toothed birds
Pangaea
Most recent ice age
Dinosaurs
Flowering plants
First Blue-green algae
Horseshoe crab
Lucy
Chimpanzee
Extinction of dinosaurs
1st mammals
1st insects and amphibians
Break-up of Pangaea
Darwin’s finches- read and share
Introduction to Natural Selection:
Observation and
application
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What are your specific
adaptations? What makes
you more “fit” that other
speices to survive.
On the large piece of paper,
compare yourself to a
primitive animal species of
choice and a species that is
better adapted than yourself.
List both the adaptations and
“down falls” of all three
species.
Within your justification,
provide at least 5 specific
adaptations for yourself and
at least 5 for the weaker
species, and 5 for the better
adapted animal.
Be prepared to share your
interesting thoughts with the
class.
Darwin’s Finches-seperate piece
of paper
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
How old was Darwin when he set-out on
the HMS Beagle?
What does the principle of
“uniformitarianism” mean?
Even though there was only one finch,
from the northern latitudes, that could
have evolved into the species on the
Galapagos, how many finch species did
Darwin identify on the island?
Connect the different shapes of the beak
with the diet of the specific species of
finch. How does this demonstrate
adaption?
How did Darwin’s theory of natural
selection contradict the creation of man
for this time period? Explain.
What is the leading characteristic or
factor that guides adaptation within a
population and ultimately evolution?
What are the two misconceptions as to
Darwin’s studies. List and explain how
they misunderstood.
Evolution

Evolution- “a change over time”
A slow molding, based of environmental influences
 To allow more success and reproduction of the species
A. Natural Selection: the process by which traits that improve
the organism’s chances for survival or reproduction.
(females become more attracted to striped fish)

1.
2.
Fitness-reproductive success = higher fitness (not stronger or
faster)
Adaptation: heritable trait that increases the animal’s
fitness is passed through following generations.
What can cause for adaptions:
A. Mutation: changes to the DNA (ex: stripes on fish)
B.
Migration: immigration of anothe population (striped
breeds with non-striped fish)
C. Genetic Drift: a gene pool becomes sepearted by
humans development or natural disaster. Now seperates
species and small gene pool.
Examples of Adaptations to The environment:

Coping with climatic and other abiotic factors
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For obtaining food and water in the case of animals and
nutrient, energy, and water in the case of plants.
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Examples?
Migration adaptations for animals and dispersal of seeds in
case of plants.
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Examples?
For reproduction, for finding or attracting mates and for
pollination and setting seed in plant populations.
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Examples?
Escaping from or protecting against predation and for
resistance to disease causing or parasitic organisms
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
Examples?
Examples?
Focus of next two chapters- next week.
Plant adaptations for water- Cacti
More Plant Adaptations:
Red oak has smaller leaves on top of
the tree and larger on the bottom to
have equal amounts of sunlight for
photosynthesis
Green Rhododendrons curl their
leaves in drought to hold more water
and avoid excessive sunlight
Red maples extend
their roots
horizontally to
absorb any water
close to the surface.
Mouthparts reflect how an
organism obtains their food
Whales have baleen to
filter feed for
microscopic plankton
and krill.
Herbivores have large
flat teeth for grinding
vegetation.
The butterfly drinks
nectar from flowers. It
has a very long
mouthpart called a
proboscis
Orcas and dolphins
have coned teeth for
tearing meat of tuna
and seals.
Humming birds are small birds with
long beaks and a long tongue.
They also drink the nectar from
flowers
The flamingo is also a filter feeder.
It puts its head upside down into
the water and moves its head
from side to side.
 Herbivores will have to eat a higher
Adaptations
of Herbivores
mass of food to fill their requirements
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because animal meat is higher in
proteins and fat; 50 to for plants, 10 to
1 for animal tissue.
Herbivores are classified by the plant
material they eat:
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Grazer- feed on leafy material,
especially grasses
Due to low protein, these feeders rely on
specialized bacteria in their stomachs
 Ruminants, such as cows and deer,
have four stomachs to digests the grass.
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Browser- feed on woody material
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Lagomorphs such as rabbits will eat their
feces in there is a shortage of minerals.
Granivore- feed on seeds and fruit
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Seed eating birds like chickens have a
gizzard which are powerful grinding
organs
Adapted Animal Project!
 Must
demonstrate
biome
 Must
demonstrate
lifestyle of the
critter as well as
adaptations to
survive in its
specific biome.
Adaptations of Carnivores and
Omnivores
Carnivores
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Omnivores
 An omnivores food habits vary
Carnivores do not have the
seasonally, changes in stages of life
problems of digesting cellulose,
or growth rate.
their major problem is obtaining
food.
 The red fox feeds on mostly
berries, insects and small
Carnivores have short intestines
rodents.
and simple stomachs.
 The black bears feed heavily on
 Carnivore birds such as hawks
vegetation- tree bark, berries,
and owls, the gizzard is more
nuts and leaves but a
than a grinder. The gizzard acts
supplemented with insects, fish
as a barrier against hair, bones
and small mammals.
and feathers that is then
regurgitated by the bird.
LIFE: In-ClassIndependent Assignment:
Introduction into Adaptations
 On
a separate piece of paper, for FOUR organisms
demonstrated in the video, list the following:
A. Name the organism
B. Name and describe it’s habitat/environment
C. TWO adaptations of this creature (1 obvious and
discussed, the other not as obvious)
D. Provide reasoning for each adaption
Hierarchy of Ecology
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Biosphere: All ecosystems,
both land and water, and
their exchanges of materials
and energy
Biome: broad –scale
collection of ecosystems
based on similar biotic and
abiotic factors
Ecosystem: all interacting
biotic and abiotic factors in a
given area
Community: All populations of
different species interacting
within an ecosystem
Population: a group of
individuals of the same species
in a specific area
Individual: single organism in
an ecosystem
The movement of energy through an ecosystem can be shown in
diagrams called:
A. Food web
B. Food chain


The more accurate and
realistic approach to
demonstrate how elements
and energy are transferred.
Demonstrated in many over
lapping food chains in one
ecosystem
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Is a more simplistic series of
events in which on organism
eats another and obtains
energy
A linkage to show who eats
who…
Energy, essential elements and
compounds are transferred
Trophic Levels
Producers- produce their own food
(plants, algae)
B.
Primary Consumers- herbivores that
eat the producers
C.
Secondary Consumers- small
carnivores
D.
Tertiary Consumers- large predators
Other parts of food webs:
a.
omnivore- consumes plants and
animals
b.
Scavenger- is a carnivore that
feeds on bodies of dead organisms
c.
Decomposers-organisms that break
down wastes and dead organisms
and return raw materials to the
environment.
A.
The most energy is available at the producer
level of an energy pyramid, as you move up, less
energy is available.
Only about 10% of energy at one level is
transferred to the next higher level
 Energy for organisms is
obtained based on what
they eat.
Heterotrophic- food from eating
Autotrophic- makes on food
Do Now: TEST FRIDAY
1.
What is a niche?
The role of an organism in its environment
2.
What is transferred through a food chain?
ENERGY
3.
What are some adaptations of an owl?
excellent eye sight, large wingspan to glide on heat
currents, specialized gizzard
4.
What is the trophic level of the owl?
tertiary consumer
5.
What biomes can we find owls?
Temperate Deciduous Forest, Boreal Forest/Taiga
and Tundra
Owl Pellets Investigation

Setup:
1.
Complete the
measurements as listed
on the front of your lab
2.
Soak your pellet over
night in water so that it is
easier to remove.
3.
The next, be dissecting
and seperateing the
bones.
4.
Once you have identify
the type of animal that
you have, then use the
skeleton model to
reconstruct the animals
bones.
 Materials:
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Dissecting pan
Triple Beam Balance
Forceps
Ruler
Cardboard and glue
Skeleton key
Ecology Relationships
A.
Niche: the fundamental role of a species in a community.
(ecological role)
a.
b.
B.
Fundamental niche: full niche/role of a species, with no competitors, (an
organism can exploit its full fundamental niche)
Realized niche: a partial role because of competition or other species
interactions (when competition restrict the organism from exploiting its
niche)
Predation: the process by which individuals of one species, a
predator, hunt, capture, kill, and consume individuals of
another species (prey).
Predation has evolutionary ramifications…examples?
b.
Predation plays a huge role in population dynamics..examples?
Ex; Zebra Mussel predation on phytoplankton- mussels have reduced
plankton up to 90% in Great lakes and Chesapeake Bay . Causes
changes to the food webs, causes biomass to decrease.
a.
C.
Mutualism-a relationship in which two or more species
benefit from the interaction (one provides resource, other
provides a service) Examples?????
How important can one
species be to an
ecosystem?
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
Toucan Story from npr.com
Toucan Story in Prezi
Types of Succession
Primary
Succession
Pioneer speciesspecies colonizes
newly exposed land
first (spores or
seeds)
Secondary
Successionoccurs after
a natural
disaster
such as
forest fire or
volcanic
eruption
I Species
Climax community-is a stable community the
“completes” the successin process.
B. Keystone Species- a species that has a particularly
strong influence or far-reaching impact.
 Some species have a greater influence than others
u ually top of the food chain carnivores
 Examples: ???
 Invasive species- a nonnative organism thta spreads
widely in a community.
 Can cause a massive disruptance in a community.
A.
 Examples:
Austrailian Rabbits, Boa Constrictors, Zebra
Mussles...others????
 Are
huamns an invsaive species?
Carbon Cycle
Good:
• Provides CO2 for plants
photosynthesis and
respiration
Bad:
• Excess create Global warming
• Deforestation allows for more CO2 in air
• Increased CO2 in oceans causing
oceans to become acidic
Nitrogen Cycle
Bad:
Good:
• Provides mineral for plant
growth
• Given off by bacteria
• 78% of our air
• Nitrous oxide Released from cars/factories
and creates smog
• Nitrous oxide creates acid rain
• Nitrogen Runoff Create eutrophication
and dead zones in our bodies of water
Phosphorus Cycle
Good:
• Provides mineral for plant
growth
• Used as fertilizers
• Found in feces
Bad:
• Farm Runoff is leading cause for water
destruction
• Phosphorus Runoff Create eutrophication
and dead zones in our bodies of water
The Happening
 What
was the cause the of death to
humans? What was secreted and how
did it thravel through the air?
 Is
it possible for the Earth or Earth’s species
to fight back against something that is
threatening it, such as an animal fights of
a virus?
Gaia Hypothesis
 What
is the Gaia hypothesis?
 What events on earth have demonstrated
or supported this theory?
 Do YOU believe this theory, why or why
not? Use an example to support your
ideas.
Review for TEST!!!!
 Will
include content from BOTH power
points.
 Two-day Exam