natural habitats. outline parts of the environment biotic and abiotic factors biomes of the world...

Natural Habitats

Outline

• Parts of the Environment• Biotic and Abiotic Factors• Biomes of the World• Wetlands• Energy in Ecosystems• Natural Environmental Change• Environmental Change Due to

Human Impact

Parts of the Environment• Population: all members of one

species in a given area– Example -> all of the elk in a forest

Parts of the Environment• Community: all of the populations in an

area– Example -> all of the elk, lynx, rabbits, owls,

trees and grasses in a forest

Parts of the Environment

• Ecosystem: all of the living and non-living parts of an environment– All of the communities in an area;

combined with the air, water and ground

The Environment

Biotic Factors• Biotic Factors: the living parts of an

ecosystem– Examples -> animals, bugs, plants

Abiotic Factors

• Abiotic Factors: the nonliving parts of an ecosystem– 4 important ones

1. Water – all living things need some amount of water

2. Soil – type of soil determines what plants can grow

3. Sunlight – primary source of energy in all ecosystems

4. Temperature – living things require certain temperatures

Biomes of the World

• Biome: large areas of the world that have similar climates and similar plants/animals that live there– 3 important factors that make up a

biome1. Temperature2. Precipitation (type and amount)3. Organisms that live there (plants and

animals)

Biomes of the World

• Major Biomes of the World1. Tundra2. Taiga (coniferous forest)3. Deciduous Forest4. Tropical Rain Forest5. Desert6. Grassland7. Freshwater8. Saltwater

Wetlands

• What are wetlands?– A wetland is an area that is saturated

with water permanently or seasonally– The soil in wetlands is uniquely suited to

aquatic plants

Wetlands• Importance of

Wetlands– Very biologically

diverse ecosystem (many types of plants and animals)

– Wetlands are a natural water filtration system (helps to clean water)

Energy in Ecosystems

• Producer: any organism that produces its own energy (typically plants)– The sun is the primary source of energy in

all ecosystems

• Consumer: any living things that must eat (consume) other living things for energy– all animals are consumers

Energy in Ecosystems

Energy in Ecosystems

Natural Environmental Change

• Limiting Factors: anything that restricts (limits) the number of individuals in a population– Predators, diseases, lack of water, food,

space, or mates

Natural Environmental Change

• Succession: natural, gradual changes in the types of plants and animals that live in an area

Types of Succession• Primary succession: succession beginning

in an area with no soil (volcanic island)– Slow process

• Secondary succession: succession that occurs in an area that already has soil– Area destroyed by a forest fire or natural

disaster

• Climax community: succession is finished– Stable community of plants and animals (no

more changes)

Environmental Change Due to Human Impact

• Pollution: the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that are harmful

America the Beautiful

Oh beautiful for spacious skies,For amber waves of grain,For purple mountain majestiesAbove the fruited plain!

America! America!God shed His grace on thee,And crown thy good with brotherhood,From sea to shining sea!

~ Katherine Lee Bates

America the Beautiful

America the Not so Beautiful

Oh beautiful for smoggy skies,Insecticided grain,For strip-mined mountain’s majestyAbove the asphalt plain!

America! America!Man sheds his waste on thee,And hides the pines with billboard signsFrom sea to oily sea!

~ George Carlin (comedian)

Water Pollution

Water Pollution

Water Pollution

Water Pollution

Water Pollution

Water Pollution

Water Pollution

Alaska 198911 Million Gallons Spilled – not even in the top 50 internationally

Water Pollution

Water Pollution

Water Pollution

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill – 200 million gallons spilled (estimate)

Water Pollution

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Los Angeles at night

Los Angeles during the day

Smoggy Los Angeles

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Environmental Change Due to Human Impact

• Invasive Species: non-native species in an ecosystem (they don’t normally belong there)– Usually introduced by humans (many times

by accident)– Can compete with and kill off native species– Can be plants or animals

Invasive Species

Invasive Species

Environmental Change Due to Human Impact

• Deforestation: removal of trees and plants in a forest so that land is converted forever to non-forest use