What is Climate? The Effects of Latitude on Climate

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1 Interest Grabber Interest Grabber continued Section 4-1 Section 4-1 Local Conditions How would you describe your climate, or the average, year-after-year conditions of temperature and precipitation where you live? Does your area receive a great deal of precipitation rain and snow or is your area very dry? 1. When does the area in which you live experience the lowest temperatures? Does the temperature ever get below freezing? If so, how often does this occur? 2. When does the area in which you live have the highest temperatures? About how high is the highest temperature? 3. How often does it rain where you live? Is one season rainier than the others? 4. Does it ever snow where you live? If so, what is the heaviest snowfall you can remember? 5. What are two factors that may affect climate? Section Outline Section 4-1 What is Climate? 4 1 The Role of Climate A. What Is Climate? B. The Greenhouse Effect C. The Effect of Latitude on Climate D. Heat Transport in the Biosphere Weather is the day-to-day condition of Earth s atmosphere at a particular time and place. Climate is the year-after-year conditions of temperature and precipitation in a particular region. Climate is caused by the interplay of several factors such as the trapping of heat by the atmosphere, the latitude, the transport of heat by winds and ocean currents, and the amount of precipitation that results. Energy from incoming sunlight drives Earth s weather and helps determine climate. Greenhouse Effect Temperature on Earth remains in a range suitable for life because it has a natural insulating blanket - the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and a few other atmospheric 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. Earth s surface Some heat escapes into space Greenhouse gases trap some heat Most direct sunlight The Effects of Latitude on Climate Different Latitudes 90 N North Pole 66.5 N Arctic circle 23.5 N Tropic of Cancer Equator 0 Tropic of Capricorn 23.5 S Arctic circle 66.5 S 90 S South Pole Because Earth s axis is on a tilt, the rays of light from the sun hit Earth at different angles. As a result of differences in latitude and thus the angle of heating, Earth has three main climate zones, polar, temperate, and tropical. The polar zones are extremely cold and are located around the North and South Pole, 66.5 and 90. The temperate zone is in the middle of the Earth, As a result, it has 4 seasons. The tropical zone is located near the equator, It receives almost direct sunlight. As a result, it is usually always warm. 1

2 Heat Transport in the Biosphere The unequal heating of Earth s surface drives winds and ocean currents, which transports heat throughout the biosphere. Winds form because warm air rises and cool air sinks. The same thing happens with ocean water. The cold water near the poles sinks and runs parallel to the ocean s bottom, eventually rising near the equator through a process called upwelling. The surface water is moved by the winds. The Greenhouse Effect Figures 4-1 and 4-2 Heating of the Earth s Surface and Some Factors That Affect Climate Section 4-1 Section 4-1 Greenhouse Effect Different Latitudes Some heat escapes into space Greenhouse gases trap some heat Some heat escapes into space Greenhouse gases trap some heat Most direct sunlight 90 N North Pole 66.5 N Arctic circle Tropic of Cancer 23.5 N Equator 0 Tropic of Capricorn 23.5 S Atmosphere Earth s surface Atmosphere Earth s surface Arctic circle 66.5 S 90 S South Pole Interest Grabber Section Outline Section 4-2 Section 4-2 Fitting In Organisms not only live together in ecological communities, but they also constantly interact with one another. These interactions, which include predation and competition, help shape the ecosystem in which they live. 1. Based on your own experiences, define predation. Give one example of predation. 2. Based on your own experiences, define competition. Give one example of competition. 4 2 What Shapes an Ecosystem? A. Biotic and Abiotic Factors B. The Niche C. Community Interactions 1. Competition 2. Predation 3. Symbiosis D. Ecological Succession 1. Primary Succession 2. Secondary Succession 3. Succession in a Marine Ecosystem 2

3 Abiotic and Biotic Factors Section 4-2 Biotic and Abiotic Factors Biotic factors - Biological influences on organisms within an ecosystem. Any living thing; trees, grass, birds, deer, etc. Abiotic factors - Physical, or nonliving, factors that shape ecosystems. Nonliving things, rocks, water, air, wind, climate, etc. Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors Together, biotic and abiotic factors determine the survival and growth of an organism and the productivity of the ecosystem in which the organism lives. The area where an organism lives is called its habitat. ECOSYSTEM Abiotic and Biotic Factors Section 4-2 The Niche Biotic Factors ECOSYSTEM Abiotic Factors 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. In other words, a niche is an organism s job in the ecosystem. A niche can include its place in a food web, temperatures needed for survival, typed of food it eats, how it gets its food, and how and when it reproduces. Section 4-2 Figure 4-5 Three Species of Warblers and Their Niches Community Interactions Bay-Breasted Warbler Feeds in the middle part of the tree Spruce tree Cape May Warbler Feeds at the tips of branches near the top of the tree Yellow-Rumped Warbler Feeds in the lower part of the tree and at the bases of the middle branches Community interactions, such as competition, predation, and various forms of symbiosis, can powerfully affect an ecosystem. No two organisms can occupy the same niche in the same place at the same time. 3

4 Competition Competition occurs when organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an ecological resource in the same place at the same time. A resource is any necessity of life, such as water, food, space. Direct competition in nature leads to a winner and a loser, who may not survive. Competitive exclusion principle states that no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time. Predation A predator is an organism that captures and feeds on another organism. The organism that is eaten is called the prey. Symbiosis Any relationship in which two species live closely together. There are three types of symbiosis: Mutualism Both organisms benefit from the relationship. Commensalism One member of the association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. Parasitism One organism lives on or inside another organism and harms it. The organism that is harmed is called the host. A parasite weakens but does not kill the host and is usually smaller. Ecological Succession Ecosystems are constantly changing in response to natural and human disturbances. As an ecosystem changes, older inhabitants gradually die out and new organisms move in, causing further changes in the community. The series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time is called ecological succession. These changes can be slow or sudden. 4

5 Primary Succession Occurs on surfaces where no soil exists. Example: After a volcanic eruption or bear rock caused by a glacier. The first species to occupy the area are called pioneer species. The pioneer species of a volcanic eruption would be lichens (Fungus and alga). Secondary Succession Ecosystems can be changed by fires or human activities. When the disturbance is over, community interactions tend to restore the ecosystem to its original condition. This process is called Secondary Succession. Section 4-3 Interest Grabber Section 4-3 Interest Grabber continued Who s There? If you have ever been to a zoo or a botanical garden, you may have noticed that the signs that identify the animals or plants also identify the part of the world where these organisms are found. Different kinds of animals and plants are found in different parts of the world. 1. Describe the climate where you live. 2. What types of plant and animal life are found in your area? Describe a few of the major characteristics of these organisms. 3. Suppose that you had to move to an area with a climate that was very different from the climate you now live in. How would the plant and animal life in this new area be different from the plant and animal life where you live now? Section 4-3 Section Outline Section 4-3 Figure 4-11 The World s Major Land Biomes 4 3 Biomes A. Biomes and Climate B. The Major Biomes C. Other Land Areas 1. Mountain Ranges 2. Polar Ice Caps Tropical rain forest Temperate grassland Temperate forest Tundra Tropical dry forest Desert Northwestern Mountains and Tropical savanna Temperate woodland and shrubland coniferous forest Boreal forest (Taiga) ice caps 5

6 Tropical Rain Forest Facts - Largest # of different species than all other biomes combined; Canopy; Understory. Abiotic Factors - Hot and wet; thin, nutrient-poor soil. Dominant Plants - Broad-leafy evergreens; ferns; large, woody vines; orchids. Dominant Wildlife - Sloths; Jaguars; Monkeys; Toucans; Anacondas. Geographic Distribution - South and Central South America; Southeast Asia; Parts of Africa; Southern India; Northeast Australia. Tropical Savanna Temperate Grasslands Tropical Dry Forest Facts - Found where rainfall is seasonal; Trees drop leaves during dry season; Deciduous trees. Abiotic Factors - Warm year-round; Wet and dry seasons; Rich soil. Dominant Plants - Deciduous Trees; orchids; Bromeliads; Aloes and other succulents. Dominant Wildlife - Tigers; Monkeys; Elephants; Rhinoceroses; Termites; Monitor Lizards. Geographic Distribution - Africa; South and Central America; Mexico; India; Australia; Tropical Islands. Facts - Receives more rain than deserts but less than TDF; Spotted with isolated trees; Compact soil; Frequent fires. Abiotic Factors - Warm temperature; seasonal rainfall; compact soil; fires from lightning. Dominant Plants - tall, perennial grasses; drought-tolerant and fireresistant trees and shrubs. Dominant Wildlife - Lions; Leopards; Cheetahs; Hyenas; Aardvarks; Giraffes; Geographic Distribution - Eastern Africa; Southern Brazil; Northern Austrailia. Desert Temperate Woodland and Shrubland Facts - Semiarid climate; Chaparral; Low plants that contain flammable oils make fires a constant threat. Abiotic Factors - hot, dry summers; cool, moist winters; thin, nutrient-poor soils. Dominant Plants - Woody evergreen shrubs; fragrant, oily herbs. Dominant Wildlife - Coyotes, Foxes, mountain lions, Blacktailed deer, rabbits, squirrels. Geographic Distribution - Western coasts of North and South America; Around Mediterranean Sea, South Africa, and Australia. Facts - Grasses, rich soil, Converted into farms. Abiotic Factors - Warm summers, Cold winters, precipitation, fertile soil. Dominant Plants - Perennial grasses and herbs; resistant to drought, fire, and cold. Dominant Wildlife - Coyotes; Mule deer; Rabbits; Prairie dogs; Hawks; Owls; snakes. Geographic Distribution - Central Asia; North America; Australia; Central Europe. Facts - < 25 cm of H2O; Undergo extreme temperature changes; Organisms tolerate extreme conditions. Abiotic Factors - Low H2O; Variable temps; soils rich in minerals but low in organic matter. Dominant Plants - Cacti; Creosote bush and other plants with short growth cycles. Dominant Wildlife - Mountain lions; Gray foxes; Bobcats; Mule deer; Antelopes; Kangaroos. Geographic Distribution - Africa, Asia, Middle East, US, Mexico, South America. 6

7 Temperate Forest Northwest Coniferous Forest Facts - Mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees; cold winters; soil rich in humus. Abiotic Factors - cold winters, warm summers, year round H2O, fertile soils. Dominant Plants - Deciduous trees, some conifers, flowering shrubs, mosses and ferns. Dominant Wildlife - deer; black bears; bobcats; squirrels; raccoons; skunks, turkeys. Geographic Distribution - Eastern US, SE Canada, Europe, parts of Japan, China, and Australia. Facts - Mild moist air form PO provides abundant rainfall; Mix of Conifers; Temperate Rain Forest. Abiotic Factors - Mild temperatures; abundant precipitation; cool, dry summers; rocky, acidic soil. Dominant Plants - Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, redwood. Dominant Wildlife - Bears; elk; deer; beavers; owls; bobcats. Geographic Distribution - Pacific coast on NW US and Canada. Boreal Forest Tundra Facts - Characterized by the permafrost; short cool summers that thaw only a few cm deep; plants are small and stunted. Humus-poor soil. Abiotic Factors - Strong winds; low precipitation; short summers; long, cold and dark winters; permafrost. Dominant Plants - mosses, lichens, sedges, and short grasses. Dominant Wildlife - Migratory waterfowl, musk ox, arctic foxes, caribou. Geographic Distribution - Northern North America, Asia, and Europe. Facts - AKA the Taiga; bitterly cold winters; mild summers; Means north. Abiotic Factors - long, cold winters; short, mild summers; precipitation; acidic, nutrient-poor soil. Dominant Plants - Coniferous trees; some deciduous trees; small, berrybearing shrubs. Dominant Wildlife - Lynxes, timber wolves, moose, beavers, migratory birds. Geographic Distribution - North America, Asia, Northern Europe. Compare/Contrast Table Section 4-3 Other Land Areas Mountain Ranges: Biotic and Abiotic conditions change with elevation. As elevation increases, the temperature gets colder and precipitation increases. Polar Ice Caps: They are cold year round. In the north, dominant plants include mosses and lichens. Animals include polar bears, seals, insects, and mites. In the south, Antarctica is covered by a layer of ice 5 km thick. Wildlife includes penguins and marine mammals. Ten Major Biomes Biome Precipitation Temperature Soil Diversity Trees Grasses Tropical Rain Forest high hot poor high dense Tropical Dry Forest variable mild rich medium medium Tropical Savanna variable Desert low Temperate Grassland mild variable summer hot clay poor rich absent dense dense Temperate woodland and Shrubland summer low, winter summer hot poor low medium medium Temperate Forest summer, rich winter cold high dense Northwestern Coniferous Forest Boreal Forest high rocky, acidic low dense poor, acidic dense Tundra low summer mild, winter cold summer mild, winter cool summer mild, winter cold poor low absent medium 7

8 Interest Grabber Interest Grabber continued Section 4-4 Section 4-4 Ride the Waves The marine ecosystem that is exposed to regular and extreme changes in its surroundings is the intertidal zone. During high tide, the intertidal zone is covered by sea water. During low tide, this area is exposed to air, sunlight, and heat. 1. What types of organisms would you expect to find living in the intertidal zone? 2. What characteristics do you think these organisms have that enable them to live in this zone? 3. What effect do waves have on the intertidal zone? Section 4-4 Section Outline 4 4 Aquatic Ecosystems A. Freshwater Ecosystems 1. Flowing-Water Ecosystems 2. Standing-Water Ecosystems 3. Freshwater Wetlands B. Estuaries C. Marine Ecosystems 1. Intertidal Zone 2. Coastal Ocean 3. Coral Reefs 4. Open Ocean 5. Benthic Zone Freshwater Ecosystems Flowing-water Ecosystems Rivers, Streams, Creeks, and Brooks Organisms are well adapted for the conditions (hooks, suckers, and stream-lined bodies) Standing-water Ecosystems Lakes and Ponds Habitat for Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Fresh-Water Wetlands Can be flowing, standing, fresh water, salt water or brackish. Bogs - Formed in depressions. Dominated by sphagnum moss. Marshes - found along rivers. Contain cattails, rushes, and grasslike plants. Swamps - Wet year round. Contain trees and shrubs. Flooded all year. Section 4-4 Freshwater Pond Ecosystem Frogs lay eggs in the shallow water near shore.the eggs hatch in the water as tadpoles and move to the land as adults. Spoonbill Frog Water lilies Mosquito larvae Duckweed The roots of water lilies Snail cling to the pond bottom, Diving Pickerel while their leaves, on long beetle Fish share the pond flexible stems, float on the with turtles and other surface. animals. Many of them feed on insects at the water s edge. The bottom of the pond is Trout inhabited by decomposers and Hydra other organisms that feed on particles drifting down from the Snail Crayfish surface. The shore is lined with grasses that provide shelter and nesting places for birds and other organisms. Duck Dragonfly Phytoplankton Plankton and the organisms that feed on them live near the surface where there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis. Microscopic algae are among the most important producers. Benthic crustaceans Estuaries Wetlands formed where rivers meet the sea. Primary producers are plants, algae, and bacteria. Support an astonishing amount of biomass. Breeding-grounds for many types of fish and shellfish. Salt Marshes - Estuary dominated by salt-tolerant grasses along the East Coast from Maine to Georgia. Largest system is the Chesapeake Bay Estuary. Mangrove Swamps - Coastal wetlands in the tropical region of the US that are dominated by salt-tolerant trees and grasses. Largest system is the Florida everglades. 8

9 Salt Marsh Mangrove Swamp Marine Ecosystem Photic Zone vs. Aphotic Zone Four other zones: Intertidal zone Coastal zone Open ocean Benthic Zone Figure 4-17 Zones of a Marine Ecosystem Section 4-4 land 200m Coastal ocean Photic zone Intertidal Zone 1000m Open ocean 4000m 6000m Ocean trench 10,000m Continental shelf Continental slope and continental rise Abyssal plain Aphotic zone Organisms are exposed to different environments twice a day. They are either covered with ocean water (high tide) or exposed to sunlight, temperature, and the wind. Organisms include barnacles, seaweed, snails, sea urchins, and sea stars. 9

10 Coastal Ocean Extends from the low tide mark all the way to the end of the continental shelf. Usually falls in the photic zone, so, photosynthesis can take place. Rich in plankton and kelp. Other organisms include snails, sea urchins, sea otters, fish, and whales. Coral Reef In the warm coastal regions, coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive environments on Earth. Open Ocean Starts at the end of the continental shelf and continues outward. It is the largest ocean zone covering 90% of the surface area of the Earth s oceans. Depth ranges from 500 m to more than 11,000 m. Organisms include plankton, swordfish, octopus, whales, and dolphins. Benthic Zone This zone includes the entire ocean floor. Main organisms include sea stars, anemones, and marine worms. These organisms are called benthos. These organisms feed on the dead organic material, detritus, that falls from the surface. Videos Video 1 Click a hyperlink to choose a video. Earth s Many Biomes, Part 1 Earth s Many Biomes, Part 2 Earth s Many Biomes, Part 1 Click the image to play the video segment. 10

11 Video 2 Go Online Earth s Many Biomes, Part 2 Career links on forestry technicians Interactive test For links on climate and the greenhouse effect, go to and enter the Web Code as follows: cbn For links on biomes, go to and enter the Web Code as follows: cbn For links on aquatic ecosystems, go to and enter the Web Code as follows: cbn Click the image to play the video segment. Interest Grabber Answers Interest Grabber Answers 1. When does the area in which you live experience the lowest temperatures? Does the temperature ever get below freezing? If so, how often does this occur? 2. When does the area in which you live have the highest temperatures? About how high is the highest temperature? 3. How often does it rain where you live? Is one season rainier than the others? 4. Does it ever snow where you live? If so, what is the heaviest snowfall you can remember? Question 1 4:Answers will vary depending on local conditions. If students have lived in a different part of the country, you may wish to have them contrast the climate in that area with the local climate. 5. What are two factors that may affect climate? Possible answers: latitude, wind, ocean currents, shape and elevation of land masses 1. Based on your own experiences, define predation. Give one example of predation. Predation is an interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism. Some examples of predation: a hawk captures and feeds on a rabbit; a cat captures and feeds on a mouse. 2. Based on your own experiences, define competition. Give one example of competition. Competition occurs when organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an ecological resource in the same place at the same time. Some examples of competition: crop plants and weeds compete for food, water, and sunlight; wolves and foxes compete for the same food (rabbits). Interest Grabber Answers Interest Grabber Answers 1. Describe the climate where you live. 2. What types of plant and animal life are found in your area? Describe a few of the major characteristics of these organisms. Questions 1 2: Answers will vary depending on the part of the country in which students live. 3. Suppose that you had to move to an area with a climate that was very different from the climate you now live in. How would the plant and animal life in this new area be different from the plant and animal life where you live now? Sample answer: If the new climate were much colder, animals would probably have thicker fur. Plants would have shorter growing seasons and would produce seeds that could withstand the cold. 1. What types of organisms would you expect to find living in the intertidal zone? Students may say that plants and animals would be small. 2. What characteristics do you think these organisms have that enable them to live in this zone? Possible answer: Plants would have thick outer layers to resist drying during low tide. Animals would be able to burrow into the sand or have coverings that could hold in water. 3. What effect do waves have on the intertidal zone? Waves pound living things, causing them to bounce around, unless they have some means of staying attached to the sand or rocks on the bottom. 11

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