Chapter 15: The Biosphere and Chapter 16: Human Impact on Ecosystems

Freshman Honors Biology

Chapter 15: Biomes in the BiosphereA biome is a complex system of land

communities that cover a large areaFor example: Tropical rain forests, desert,

tundraBiomes have unique climate ranges

Climate is the specific weather pattern of an area over a period of timeFor example: Climate of Indiana is that we

have four seasons; climate of Antarctica is that they have frozen water with very little snow.

Climate ZonesThe world is divided into three climatic

zones:Polar

Cold, non-humid temperatures Geographic range: Canada to the North Pole

Tropical Hot, humid temperature range Geographic range: Florida to the Equator

Temperate Mild climate; seasonal changes Geographic range: Florida to Canada

Climate & BiomesSo what influences climate?

LatitudeLocation on landmass (on the coast or inland?)Proximity to land features, like mountain ranges

Biomes have specific climate patternsBecause each species is adapted to live in a

specific set of environmental conditions, animals and plants usually die if a climate changes too muchFor example, if Indiana were to become like it was in

the Ice Age, most plants and animals would die because they couldn’t adapt to the colder weather.

Biomes, ContinuedOrganisms that live in a specific biome have

unique adaptationsGives them a better ability to live successfully

in that environmentExamples:

Cactus living in the desert that has a waxy coating to prevent water loss

Mountain goats living on top of mountains have very thick fur coats to prevent internal body temperature drop

RA ActivityEach lab group will read and learn about ONE of

the the 6 major biomesText: Pages 462-467 (Alligator)Other resources: Biomes Overview Video (26 min)

Your task: Summarize the most important distinguishing

features that set your assigned Biome apart from the others.

Write your final draft of your group summary on a large Post-It Note

Create a tree map with each of the different Biomes1: Tropical, 2: Grasslands, 3: Desert, 4: Temperate, 5: Taiga, 6: Tundra, 7: Polar Ice Caps and Mountains (p. 467)

Biome ExamplesTundraBoreal ForestTemperate ForestTemperate Woodland/ShrublandTemperate GrasslandDesertTropical SavannaTropical Seasonal ForestTropical Rain Forest

Commensalism

Biomes in DetailDeserts (hot & cold)

VERY little rainPlants and animals have adaptations to prevent

water lossTropical Rainforest/Jungle

Rain amount is very highTemperatures are stable around 75°F

Grassland (temperate/savannah)Savannah – think Safari!Temperate – like Indiana

More BiomesArctic/Tundra

Also have very little rainContain permafrost (topsoil is frozen year-round)

Deciduous ForestLeaves change colors, die, and fall to the ground

Mountainous (taiga)Animals include moose, eagles, mountain lions and

goatsSwamp/Marsh

Very moist soil, often with standing waterPlants include mangroves and lily pads

More BiomesPond/Lake

Sitting bodies of waterAnimals include turtles, fish (carp, trout, bass, etc.), egret birds

River/StreamFlowing bodies of waterAnimals include salmon, eagles, brown bears

EstuaryWhere rivers/streams meet the saltwater of the oceanFor example: New Orleans

OceanSeveral depths create many animal adaptationsRead “Open Ocean Ecosystems” on page 80 in the Zebra book

with your partner – do a Think Aloud.

RA Activity – Marine EcosystemsPages 468-470 (15.4 Alligator book)

1’s read “Intertidal Zone”2’s read “Open Ocean Ecosystems”3’s read “Coastal ocean and coral reefs”

We will then rotate and discuss! Take GOOD notes!

Chapter 16: Human Impact on Ecosystems

16.1: Human Population GrowthDemography is the study of the size of

human populationsGrowth rates are controlled by the same

factors as animal populationsBirth Rate Death RateImmigration and EmigrationAge Structure

Historical Demography•Human population used to be low and relatively stable

•Limited by resources and disease

•Past 500 years

•Exponential growth as limits have been removed

Age StructuresHistogram depicting

the number of people in each age category within a population (Figure 14, page 104, Zebra book)

Can be used to predict future growth

Ecological Footprint

What effect does Human Population Growth have on Pollution?

WaterChemicals, Trash, Temperatures, Noise, Eutrophication (causes algae overgrowth)

LandChemicals, Trash

AirChemicals and Noise

Acid Precipitation Effects

Effects of Pollution: Ozone Depletion; Ozone; Greenhouse Effect

While watching the BrainPop clips, answer the following:1. What is ozone?

Include chemical formula!

2. Why is it important to the atmosphere?

Water Quality & Pollution: Biological MagnificationChemical pollutant

becomes more concentrated as it moves up the trophic levels within a food chain or web

Very dangerous for top level predators

Fig. 16.11, page 495

Threats to BiodiversityHabitat Loss

Deforestation

Overexploitation (overuse)Habitat FragmentationPollution

Biomagnification, Acid PrecipitationIntroduction of Invasive SpeciesThreats to Biodiversity

Overexploitation (overuse)The excessive use of species that have

economic valueBison hunted for meat, hides, and just for sport

Population went from 50 million to 1000Passenger pigeons

Now extinctOcelot and white rhinoceros

Overexploitation used to be the number one reason for extinction; now it’s habitat destruction

Habitat Loss

Habitat Fragmentation – page 499

Invasive (Introduced)SpeciesAlso called non-

native speciesIntroduced to new

habitat Often grows

without check because of lack of natural predators or disease in the area

Pages 500-501

Losing BiodiversitySpecies experiences a decline in growthThreatened

Canadian lynxPrairie dog

Endangered Bald EagleMany Marine Mammals

ExtinctDodoPassenger Pigeon

Section 3: Conserving BiodiversityPages 502-505Class Activity: reading “16.5 Conservation” 1’s Read “Sustainable Development…”2’s Read “Conservation practices…”3’s Read “Protecting Earth’s resources…”Take good notes to share ideas about how we

can conserve biodiversity…do you have ideas that are not in the text?