APES UNIT 1
Herbivore
(plant eaters) eat plants for energy (giraffe & tree)
Biome
large area with similar climate conditions that determine plant & animal species there Ex: (tropical rainforest)
Parasitoids:
lay eggs inside a host organism; eggs hatch & larvae eat host for energy Ex: parasitic wasps, bot fly
Biome characteristics - Latitude?
1. Precipitation 2. Average temperature 3. Geography 4. Latitude 5. Altitude 6. Nutrient availability 7. Soil
Community
All the different populations that live together in an area
Where is nitrogen a limiting nutrient?
Although nitrogen is incredibly abundant in the air we breathe, it is often a limiting nutrient for the growth of living organisms. This is the main reason to produce fertilizers! This is because the particular form of nitrogen found in air—nitrogen gas—cannot be assimilated by most organisms.
Symbiosis
Any close and long-term interaction between two organisms of different species Mutualism (+/+), commensalism (+/0), and parasitism (+/-) are all symbiotic relationships
ecological niche
• The role a species plays in an ecosystem • Includes all physical, biological, and chemical conditions a species lives and reproduces under
Carbon - where found - sink - source - short-term processes - underground?
•Carbon is found in the land, water and atmosphere. •A carbon sink is stored in plants, the ocean and soil. •Carbon sources include forest fires, respiration, and burning fossil fuels. •Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are seen as short-term cycles. •Burning fossil fuels interrupts the long-term storage for them in underground reservoirs. •OIL IS A CARBON COMPOUND (80-85%)
Mangroves
•Dominate species = Mangrove tree •Adapted to living in saltwater •Create important breakwater for storms and breeding ground •Critical habitat for marine species
There are two ways atmospheric nitrogen is made into usable nitrogen
•Lightening •Nitrogen fixation
tROP RAINFOREST NPP
- temp. range - precip. range - major plant types - major species - example location
Identify an organism found in an aquatic biome and explain how that organism is uniquely adapted to live in that biome.
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Freshwater: Inland Wetlands
1. Marshes 2. Swamps 3. Bogs (HIGH NPP) •Areas of land covered in water year round or seasonally •Highly productive due to high nutrient levels and sunlight •Critically important habitat
PRECIPITATION Biome distribution is based on several factors:
1. Precipitation2. Average temperature3. Geography 4. Latitude5. Altitude6. Nutrient availability7. Soil
Rivers and Streams: Lotic System
3 zones: source, transition, floodplain •The system falls within a watershed (aka: drainage basin) •An area of land that drains runoff sediments, and dissolved substances into a stream, river, or wetland
Population
A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
Biome
Biome: an area that shares a combination of avg, yearly temp. & precipitation (climate)
Shifting Biomes: how?
Biomes shift in location on earth as climate changes Ex: warming climate will shift boreal forests further north as tundra permafrost soil melts & lower latitudes become too warm for aspen & spruce
Nutrient availability - Boreal Forest
Boreal forest = nutrient-poor soil (low temp. & low decomp. rate of dead org. matter)
Mutualism exs.
Coral (animals) provide reef structure & CO2 for algae; algae provide sugars for coral to use as energy Lichen = composite organism of fungi living with algae; algae provide sugars (energy) & fungi provides nutrients
TEMP RAINFOREST V2
Costal biome Moderate temperatures High precipitation Almost year long growing season Lots of plants! Large trees Slow decomp Low soil nutrients Plants use them rapidly
Flow
Determines which plants & organisms can survive, how much O2 can dissolve into water
TROP RAINFOREST V2
Due to high temperatures and precipitation, VERY high productivity Rapid decomposition Low soil nutrients due to rapid plant growth High productivity = high demand for agriculture High levels of biodiversity ⅔ terrestrial species
WOODLAND V2
Hot dry summers; mild, rainy winters 12 month growing season Plant growth limited by high temp and low precip In summer Wildfire common Species in this biome evolved around regular fires Low soil nutrients due to leaching from winter rains
Salinity
How much salt there is in a body of water, determines which species can survive & usability for drinking (Fresh water vs. estuary vs. ocean)
Temp rainforest NPP
Important Facts: •Coastal Biome •High precipitation + moderate temperatures = high NPP •BIG TREES! •Rapid plant growth = low soil nutrient levels
sAVANNA NPP
Important Facts: •Distinct wet and dry seasons •High decomposition rate = fertile soil = agriculture •NPP limited by precipitation •Grazing and regular wild fire keeps large, woody plants at bay
Woodland NPP
Important Facts: •NPP limited by summer high temperatures and low precipitation •Species evolved around regular wildfire cycles
TEMP Grassland NPP
Important Facts: •NPP limited by temperature and precipitation •Species evolved around regular wildfire cycles •Why there are so few trees
Deciduous Forest NPP
Important Facts: •Warmer temps = rapid decomposition = high soil nutrient levels •High NPP •Prime target for agricultural development
Depth
Influences how much sunlight can penetrate and reach plants below the surface for photosynthesis
Lakes - Define
Lakes = standing bodies of fresh H2O (key drinking H2O source)
Open ocean
Low productivity/area as only algae & phytoplankton can survive in most of ocean - So large though, that algae & phytoplankton of ocean produce a lot of earth's O2 & absorb a lot of atmospheric CO2
Mutualism: coral and algae
Mutualistic relationship between coral (animals) & algae (plants) - Coral take CO2 out of ocean to create calcium carbonate exoskeleton (the reef) & also provide CO2 to the algae - Algae live in the reef & provide sugar (energy) to the coral through photosynthesis - Coral couldn't survive without energy from algae. Algae need the home of the reef & CO2 from the coral
Intertidal - Define - Organisms adapt?
Organisms must be adapted to survive crashing waves & direct sunlight/heat during low tide Ex: Barnacles, sea stars, crabs that can attach themselves to rocks Shells & tough outer skin can prevent drying out (desiccation) during low tides
Individual
a single organism
How does nutrient availability effect plants? 2. Provide an example
Plants need soil nutrients to grow, so availability determines which plants can survive in a biome Ex: frozen soils of tundra don't allow nutrients in dead org. matter to be broken down by decomposers Low soil nutrients Low water availability Few plants survive here
Biomes classified by latitude:
Polar: 60+ Tundra - N and S Taiga - N Temperate: 30-60 Equatorial: 0-30 - Tropic of Cancer = N - Tropic of Capricorn = South
TAIGA V2
Primarily coniferous evergreens Cold Winters Short growing season Between 50° N to 60° N (North America, Europe, and Russia) Low temperatures and low precipitation Nutrient poor soil due to low decomposition rates
Nitrogen fixation
Process of N2 gas being converted into biologically available (useable by plants) NH3 (ammonia) or NO3- (nitrate) - bacterial or synthetic
What does competition do to population size?
Reduces pop. size since there are fewer resources available & fewer organisms can survive
photic vs aphotic zone
Regions of the littoral and limnetic zone that receive sunlight and photosynthesis occurs are called photic zone Regions of the littoral, limnetic and benthic zones that do not receive sunlight and photosynthesis does not occur is called the aphotic zone
Freshwater: River characteristics
Rivers have high O2 due to flow mixing water & air, also carry nutrient-rich sediments (deltas & flood plains = fertile soil)
Nutrient availability - Temperate forest
Temp. forest = nutrient-rich soil (lots of dead org. matter - leaves & warm temp/moisture for decomp.)
Tundra - temp range - precip. range - major plant types - major species - example location
Temperature range (℃): •-10 to 5 (14 to 41℉) Precipitation Range (cm): •0 to 100 ( 0 to ~40 in) Major Plant Types: •Shrubs, lichens. NO TREES Example Animal Species: •Hare, Arctic Fox, Polar Bear, Caribou Example Location: •Greenland, Extreme Northern Asia and North America
Boreal Forest / Taiga (Northern) - temp. range - precip. range - major plant types - major species - example location
Temperature range (℃): •-5 to 10 (23 to 14 ℉) Precipitation Range (cm): •25 to 200 (10 to ~79 in) Major Plant Types: •Conifers (i.e.: Pine, Spruce, etc.) Example Animal Species: •Moose, Wolf, Bear, Beaver Example Location: •Between 50° N to 60° N (North America, Europe, and Russia)
Woodland/ Shrubland/ Chaparral - temp. range - precip. range - major plant types - major species - example location
Temperature range (℃): •-5 to 20 (23 to 68 ℉) Precipitation Range (cm): 25 to 125 (~20 to ~49 in Major Plant Types: •Drought resistant shrubs (Sages, Yucca, etc) Example Animal Species: •Mule Deer, Roadrunner, Coyote, Jack Rabbit Example Location: •Mediterranean coast, Southern California
TEMP Grassland - temp. range - precip. range - major plant types - major species - example location
Temperature range (℃): •-5 to 20 (23 to 68 ℉) Precipitation Range (cm): •0 to 50 (0 to ~20 in) Major Plant Types: •Grasses Example Animal Species: •Bison, Pronghorn, Prairie Dog, Black-footed Ferret, Sage Grouse Major Plant Types: •Grasses Example Animal Species: •Bison, Pronghorn, Prairie Dog, Black-footed Ferret, Sage Grouse
Desert - temp. range - precip. range - major plant types - major species - example location
Temperature range (℃): •18 to 31 (~68 to ~88℉) Precipitation Range (cm): •0 to 100 (0 to ~40 in) Major Plant Types: •Cacti and succulents Example Animal Species: •Camel, Kangaroo Rat, Gila Monster, Scorpion, Jackal Example Location: •The Sahara, The Gobi, The Mojave
Tropical Rainforest - temp. range - precip. range - major plant types - major species - example location
Temperature range (℃): •20 to 30 (68 to 86 ℉) Precipitation Range (cm): •250 to 450 (~98 to ~177 in) Major Plant Types: •Broad-leaf Evergreens Example Animal Species: •Poison Dart Frog, Gorilla, Orangutan, Chimpanzee, Jaguar Example Location: •Amazon, The Congo Basin, Sumatra
Tropical Seasonal / Tropical Dry Forest / Savanna
Temperature range (℃): •20 to 30 (68 to 86 ℉) Precipitation Range (cm): •50 to 275 (~20 to ~108 in) Major Plant Types: •Broad-leaf Grasses Example Animal Species: •Zebra, Lion, Elephant, Rhino Major Plant Types: •Broad-leaf Grasses Example Animal Species: •Zebra, Lion, Elephant, Rhino
Temperate Rainforest - temp. range - precip. range - major plant types - major species - example location
Temperature range (℃): •5 to 20 (41 to 68 ℉) Precipitation Range (cm): •150 to 350 (59 to ~138 in) Major Plant Types: •Conifers (i.e.: Pine, Spruce, etc.) Example Animal Species: •Bear, Grouse, Banana slug, spotted owl Example Location: •Pacific North West, West Coast of Canada
Temperate Seasonal (Deciduous) Forest - temp. range - precip. range - major plant types - major species - example location
Temperature range (℃): •5 to 20 (41 to 68 ℉) Precipitation Range (cm): •50 to 225 (~20 to ~89 in) Major Plant Types: •Broad-leaf deciduous trees (i.e. Oak, Maple, Hickory, etc.) Example Animal Species: •Squirrel, Chipmunk, Bobcat, White-tailed Deer Example Location: •New England
Plants and animals in a biome?
The community of org. (plants & animals) in a biome are uniquely adapted to live in that biome - Ex: camels & cacti have water preserving traits for desert; shrubs & wildflowers store lots of energy in roots to recover quickly from fire in grasslands
reservoir
Things that store matter temporarily
TUNDRA V2
Treeless Soil freezes in winter. Subsoil is permanently frozen (permafrost) Little precipitation. Enough to support some plant growth. No deep rooted plants 4 month growing season Slow rate of decomposition
The 9 Terrestrial Biomes
Tropical Forest Desert Savanna Temperate Grassland Coniferous Forest Tundra Polar Ice Chaparral Temperate Deciduous Forest
Nutrient availability - tropical RF
Tropical RF = nutrient-poor soil (high competition from so many diff. plant species)
Species
Unique plants (vegetation) and animals that have adapted to the climate of a specific biome
Coral Reef
Warm shallow waters beyond the shoreline; most diverse marine (ocean) biome on earth - HIGH NPP
DECIDUOUS FOREST V2
Warm summers, cold winters Dominated by broadleaf deciduous trees Warm summer = rapid decomposition Higher soil nutrient content More plant productivity than boreal forest One of the first biomes targeted for agriculture
SAVANNA V2
Warm temperatures; distinct wet-dry seasons Plants adapted to conserve resources during dry season New growth during wet season Grazing and fire keeps large, woody plants at bay Warm temp promotes decomp but low precipitation limits plant growth
Temp.
Warmer water holds less dissolved O2 so it can support fewer aq. organisms
Freshwater - Define - Type of marine plants?
Wetland: area with soil submerged/saturated in water for at least part of the year, but shallow enough for emergent plants - Plants living here have to be adapted to living with roots submerged in standing water (cattails, lily pads, reeds)
TEMP GRASSLAND V2
Wildfire moves rapidly due to high, unobstructed winds Plants adapted to burning and grazing Deep roots Height of plants determined by rainfall and fires Cold, harsh winters; hot, dry summers Wildfire is common
True Predators
carnivores) kill and eat prey for energy (leopard & giraffe)
bacterial fixation
certain bacteria that live in the soil, or in symbiotic relationship with plant root nodules convert N2 into ammonia (NH3) -humans combust FFs to convert N2 gas into nitrate (NO3-
Resource partitioning
different species using the same resource in diff. ways to reduce competition
source
move matter around between the atmosphere and water resevoirs
nitrogen cycle processes
nitrogen fixation, assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, denitrification
Predation
one organism using another for energy source (hunters, parasites, even herbivores)
Competition
organisms fighting over a resource like food or shelter; limits pop. size
Permafrost
permanently frozen subsoil in tundras
Mutualism
relationship that benefits both organisms (coral reef)
Commensalism
relationship that benefits one organism & doesn't impact the other (birds nest in trees)
sink
reservoir that stores more matter than it gives off
Carbon Cycle - Define - Element abundance? Importance?
the process that moves carbon between plants, animals, and microbes; minerals in the earth; and the atmosphere. Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe. With its ability to form complex molecules such as DNA and proteins, carbon makes life on Earth possible.
Nitrogen sinks
u78% percent of the atmosphere is composed of nitrogen which makes it the primary sink. uOther sinks include organisms, sedimentary rocks and sediments.
Parasites
use a host organism for energy, often without killing the host & often living inside host Ex: mosquitoes, tapeworms, sea lamprey
spatial partitioning
using diff. areas of a shared habitat (diff. length roots)
Morphological partitioning
using diff. resources based on diff. evolved body features
temporal partitioning
using resource @ different times, such as wolves & coyotes hunting @ different times (night vs. day)
Water biome characteristics
• Light availability• Depth• Temperature• Currents and tides
Freshwater: Inland Wetlands SERVICES
•Filtering toxic water •Reducing flooding and absorbing storm runoff •Sustaining stream flow in dry seasons •Recharge groundwater supplies •Maintain biodiversity by providing habitat •Recreation •Supplying natural products
DESERT V2
•Hot temperatures and almost no precipitation •Plants adapted to conserve water •Small leaves, water stored in stem •Cacti •When it does rain, the desert transforms •Rapid plant growth •Due to low plant growth, this biome is VERY susceptible to disturbances like human development
Tundra NPP
•Low precipitation, cool temperatures, shallow soil = low NPP
Marine: Open Ocean
•Most of the planet is covered in salt water •Several major biomes exist in the ocean •The ocean itself can be divided into 5 main zones: intertidal, coastal, euphotic, bathyal and abyssal
dESERT NPP
•NPP limited by precipitation •Low NPP = high sensitivity to disturbance •Rain brings brief but rapid plant growth
Marine: intertidal - what is it - conditions for species
•Narrow band along coastlines between the high and low tide marks •Type of habitat varies sandy to steep and rocky •Challenging for species to survive in: •Exposure to elements at low tide •Rolling surf •Highly specialized species live here. (barnacles star fish)
Freshwater: Ponds and Lakes - Lentic Zones - Lake zones
•Oligotrophic: •Deep, steep sided banks, fed by ice an snow melt •Low nutrients = low NPP •Eutrophic: •Shallow, high turbidity •High nutrients = higher NPP 4 zones: littoral, limnetic, profundal, and benthic
Taiga NPP
•Short Growing Season •Low precipitation + slow decomposition (from cool temperatures) + shallow soil = low NPP
Carbon reservoirs - short term and long term
•Short Term (months to centuries) •Atmosphere •Oceans Biosphere •Long Term (millions of years) •Rocks •Fossils
Climatogram
•Show average climate conditions by month •Usually spans a year •Hybrid line-bar graph
Marine:Estuaries and Salt Marshes
•Some of the most biodiverse biomes on Earth •High nutrient levels + sunlight = very high NPP •Areas where salt and freshwater meet = "brackish" and shallow
2. Respiration
•This is the process of burning a Sugar molecule with Oxygen to form Carbon Dioxide and Water: •C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O •Producers and Consumers tend to undergo respiration •This release can be used back in photosynthesis
1. Photosynthesis
•This is the process of converting Carbon Dioxide and Water into a Sugar and Oxygen: •6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 •Plants & Algae are primary photosynthesizers
Carbon cycle: ocean
●Algae & phytoplankton: take CO2 out of the ocean & atm. through photosynthesis ●Coral reef & marine org. with shells also take CO2 out of the ocean to make calcium carbonate exoskeleton ●Sedimentation: when marine org. die, their bodies sink to ocean floor where they're broken down into sediments that contain C ●Burial: over, long, periods of time, pressure of water compresses C-containing sediments on ocean floor into sedimentary stone (limestone, sandstone) - long-term C reservoir
Burial, Extraction, & Combustion
●Burial: slow, geological process that stores C in underground sinks like sedimentary rock or fossil fuels ●Extraction & Combustion: digging up or mining FFs & burning them as energy source; releases CO2 into atm.
Spiral wrack adaption
⛰️ Diff. organisms are adapted to live in diff. Zones - Ex: Spiral wrack (type of seaweed) curls up & secretes mucus to retain water during low tide