Unit 3 What shapes an Ecosystem?

Climate

• Weather – day to day condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place

• Climate a year to year conditions of temperature and precipitation in a particular region

Factors that effect climate

Trapping of heat by the atmosphere

latitude Transport of heat and wind

and ocean currents

Amount of precipitation

Shape of landmass

Elevation of landmass

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

• Carbon dioxide-methane-water vapor and other atmosphere gases trap heat energy and maintain Earth’s temperature range. The natural situation in which heat is retained by this layer of greenhouse gases is called the greenhouse effect.

Latitude

• As a result of differences in latitude and the angle of heating, Earth has three main climates zones:– Temperate– Tropical– polar

Biotic Factors

• Living Factors that influence an ecosystem

• Plant life• Animal life

Abiotic Factors

• Physical, non-living factors that influence an ecosystem

• Examples-temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, nutrients, sunlight

Biotic and Abiotic factors determine the survival and growth of an organism and the productivity of the ecosystem in

which an organism lives.

• The area where an organism lives is called its habitat.

• A niche is the full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions. It is an organisms’ occupation.

• Ecological Succession

a series of predictable changes in an environment

Succession

• Primary Succession – succession that occurs on the surface where no soil exists

• Pioneer Species first species to populate the area

• Examples- lichen and moss

Examples of Pioneer Species

• Lichen

Succession

• Secondary Succession – following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil.

• Example- land cleared and plowed for farming

• Example – Fires set by lightning