Biology Notes – The Biosphere (15.1-3)
* The Earth’s four major systems
- systems ______________ affect each other
1. _____________________________
- is composed of all of the Earth’s ______________________ together
- biota = __________________________ of the biosphere
2. ___________________________
- the Earth’s water, ice, and water vapor
3. _________________________________
- the air surrounding the Earth
4. __________________________________
- the Earth’s solid surface = _________________________________________________
* Weather vs climate
- _________________________ – the ___________________ and _______________________ for an
ecosystem (for that day or week = short term)
- _____________________ – the long-term weather pattern for an ecosystem
~ is made up of the area’s abiotic factors: ______________________________________
Ex: a desert’s climate is hot and dry
~ determines the types of ___________________________ that will live there
* The Earth’s three main climate zones
- the _______________________ of Earth by the ________ results in three different climate zones
- areas ________________ to the equator have _________________ precipitation
~ when the warm, humid-filled air ___________, it ____________, releasing
______________________________ (rain)
- areas closer to bodies of water have:
~ ____________________ changes in temperature than those farther inland, which have a
___________________________________________________________
~ ______________________ amounts of precipitation, due to humid-filled air from water
evaporating from the body of water
- organisms have _________________________ which allow them to survive in a specific climate
* The Earth’s 3 major climates
1. ________________ climate
- the Earth’s ____________________________________ regions
- ________________________________
- conditions: ____________________________
- _________________ amount of ________________________
2. _________________ climate
- ______________________ the equator
- sunlight strikes most directly (_______________________________)
- conditions: __________________________________
- ________________________ amount of biodiversity
3. __________________ climate
- area __________________________________________ climates
- _____________ intense sunlight
- conditions: _____________________________________________________
*The Earth’s biomes
- biomes are categorized based on their ___________________ factors
- ecosystems in the same biome (no matter where they are located on the Earth) will have
_______________________________________________
- _____________________________ (Antarctica and parts of Greenland) are ______ considered a biome
~ no soil, are frozen all year long (_______________), no specific plant community
- ______________________ are not considered a biome
~ plant and animal population _____________________________________
- there are six major biomes
1. ________________________
- tropical rain forest
2. __________________________
- tropical grassland
- temperate grassland
3. ___________________
4. _______________________________
- temperate deciduous forest
- temperate rain forest
5. ________________________
6. ________________________
- a __________________ is a _____________ biome
~ is found throughout the Earth in US is found in ________________________________________
~ contains _______________________________ = helps _________________________, but is
also a ________________________________ (promotes fires)
Biology Notes – The Biosphere (15.4-5)
* Ocean Zones
- based on the _______________________________ and _______________________, the ocean
can be divided into 4 major zones
1. _____________________________________
~ located between the ______________________________________ (when
you walk on the beach!)
2. _____________________________________
~ located from the edge of the _______________________________________
~ depth = a ___________________________________________________
~ contains __________ more ______________ than the other ocean zones
~ ________________________ – tiny, __________________ organisms in the water
- makes up ___________ of the neritic zone’s _________
_______________________
(_________________ plankton)
is a ________ source for whales
____________________________
(______________________ plankton)
largest contributor of ____________ to our air
~ the neritic zone also contains __________________ and _______________________
- _____________________________
= found in _______________ waters of ______________ climate
= _____________________ relationship with algae (coral provides
________ for algae and algae provides _____________ for coral)
- ___________________________ (is a seaweed)
= found in ______________ waters
= grows from ___________________, can grow as much as 100ft
= is a ________________________ for marine life
3. _____________________________________
~ located from edge of __________________ to the base of the
_________________________
~ depth = _________________ meters
4. _____________________________________
~ depth = _______________ meters
~ _____________________________
~ contains light producing organisms such as _____________________
~ ____________________________________ found in
__________________________________ located on the ocean floor
* Estuaries and freshwater ecosystems
- each type of ecosystem is home to species with ________________________ suited to its condition
Examples:
~ in _________________ – organisms must be able to adapt to quickly changing
conditions, such as changes to salinity levels (the amount of _______) in the water
- a drought may cause an __________________ in salinity
~ in _____________________________ - trout have ______________________ which
allow them to swim against the current; some fish have __________ or suckers which
allow them to anchor to avoid being swept away by the current
- _____________________
~ are the place where a __________ (fresh water) flows into an __________ (salt water)
~ are high in ______________________
~ are threatened by human land development
- _____________________________
- watersheds
~ are the areas of ___________ that empties out into body of ______________ (river,
stream, etc.)
- freshwater ponds and lakes are divided into 3 zones:
1. ______________________________
- like the ocean’s intertidal zone
- shoreline (high and low tide marks)
2.
_______________________________
- open water
3.
_______________________________
- bottom of lake or pond
- home of _______________________
Biology Notes – Human Impact on Ecosystems (Ch 16)
* Humans have 4 major ways in which they have a direct impact on ecosystems
1. resource depletion
1. _________________________________ = are used up faster than they are formed
Ex: oil & coal (______________________) – we burn these as fuel and use for energy
2.
_________________________________ = cannot be used up or can replenish itself over time
Ex: wind energy, solar energy, trees
~ can become __________________ if we do not use these resources carefully
2. air pollution
1. _____________ – chemicals in air released by burning of fuels (gas, oil); causes respiratory
problems
2. __________________ – chemicals react with water vapor, causing water pH to drop below
normal; causes plant and aquatic life death
3. ____________________________ – hole in ozone layer of atmosphere
- caused by __________________________________ (CFCs)
- causes increased _____________________
3. global warming – caused by ___________________________________
- greenhouse gases act as an _______________, keeping the Earth’s surface at a normal
temperature
- air pollution increases the _____________________ of the Earth, causing global
warming
4. water pollution
- caused by _____________________________________________________
- absorbed by _____________ and the organisms ________________________
* Conservation
- it is important for humans to work to _____________________ biodiversity to minimize:
~ ____________________ (decreased biodiversity)
~ loss of _______________
- conservation can be attained through:
- ____________________________
- protecting _____________________________
- limiting introduction of species to ___________________________________