Earth and Environmental Honors Unit 5

Biosphere

Non-living factors (sand, rock, silt)

Abiotic

Living factors (fish, animals, plants)

Biotic Factors

A lot of one species

Population

A lot of multiple species

Community

Many species and abiotic factors

Ecosystem

A simple diagram that shows the transfer of energy in an ecosystem 

Food Chain

Only 10% of available energy in one trophic level gets passed to the next

Rule of 10

If there are 10,000 kcal of energy available to the grass, how much energy will

less than or equal to 1,000

models the 10% rule

Food Pyramid

What is the difference between food chains and food pyramids

1. shows linear pattern of energy

2. shows the energy flow between each trophic level

the maximum number of individuals an ecosystem can support

Carrying Capacity

Limits the carrying capacity

food/water/shelter supply, predation, competition

the classification of ecosystems

Biome

Plant Life

Biome Classification

an area of land covered by water found in swamps, bogs, marshes

Wetland

where freshwater and ocean water meet, which has high amounts of nutrients found in river deltas and sounds

Estuary

a diverse underwater ecosystem where small animals called coral form a habitat for others found in tropical waters

Coral Reefs

Grassland, Forest, Tundra, Desert

4 Major Land Biomes

very warm year-round, around the equator

Tropical Forest

warm summers, mild winters, plenty of rain, 4 seasons, middle latitudes (30-50)

Temperate Forest

mild summers, cool winters, plenty of rainfall, upper middle tattitude (50-80)

Taiga

wet and dry seasons, typically warm, near rainforests and deserts (in Africa)

Savanna

very dry, typically warm, but can also get cold, around 30 degrees latitude on the sides of mountains

Desert

very cold, very dry, by the poles.

Tundra

the number and variety of species within an ecosystem

Biodiversity

Genetic, Species, Ecosystem

3 levels of biodiversity

Most diverse biome

Rainforests

Neutral temps and Nutrients

Increase Biodiversity

geographic isolation, habitat loss, invasive species

Decrease Biodiversity

Non-native species that causes harm to the ecosystem

Invasive Species

disturbing natural balances, reducing biodiversity, altering habitats

Invasive Impact

prevention, early detection, long- term management

Containment of Invasive Species

When a species dies out

Extinction

Habitat loss

Invasive species

Population growth

Pollution

Overharvesting

Cause extinction