Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Name: _____Class key_______
Period: ________________________
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The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Chapter 3 assignments
Pages/Sections
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Topic:
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Communities
Objective: Describe and define communities in biology.
 _Community_ ≡ _interacting_ populations in a certain
____area____ in a certain ____time____.
o Life in a Community
 Various combinations of ___abiotic___ and
___biotic___ factors ___interact___ in
__different__ places around the world.
 The result is that _conditions_ in one ___part___ of
the world are __suitable__ for supporting
___certain___ forms of ___life___, but not others.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Limiting Factors
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define limiting factors in biology.
 Limiting factors
o __Limiting__ factor ≡ any ___biotic____ or
___abiotic___ factor that ___restricts___ the
__existence__, ___numbers___, __reproduction__, or
__distribution__ of organisms.
o ___factors___ that limit one __population__ in a
community may also have an indirect ___effect___ on
___another___ population.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Common Limiting Factors
Sunlight
Climate
Atmospheric gases
Temperature
Water
Nutrients/Food
Fire
Soil chemistry
Space
Other organisms
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The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Succession
Topic:
Objective: Describe how ecosystems change over time.
 __Succession__ ≡ the __orderly__, ___natural___ changes
and species _replacements_ that take place _____in_____
the communities of an __ecosystem__.
o __succession__ occurs in ___stages___. At each stage,
__different__ ____species___ of plants and animals may
be present.
o There are ____two_____ types of __succession__ —
__primary__ and __secondary__.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Primary Succession
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define initial succession.
 Primary (_____1°_____) __succession__ ≡ the _colonization_
of ___barren___ land by communities of organisms.
o __primary__ succession takes place on land
___where___ there are _____no_____ existing
___living___ organisms.
o The ___first___ species to take hold _____in_____ an
____area____ like this are called __pioneer__ species.
o An example of a __pioneer__ species is ___lichen___.
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The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
 1° succession
o Decaying ___lichens___, along with bits of
__sediments__ in cracks and crevices of rock, make up
the ___first___ stage of ____soil____ development.
o New ____soil____ makes it ___possible__ for
___small___ weedy ___plants___, small ____ferns___,
___fungi___, and ___insects___ to become established.
Exposed rock
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Primary succession
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Primary Succession
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define initial succession.
o After some time, ___primary___ succession
___slows___ down and the __community__ becomes
fairly ___stable___, or reaches equilibrium.
o A ___stable___, mature __community__ that undergoes
little or no change in species _____is_____ a
___climax___ community.
Succession
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Climax community
Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Topic:
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Succession of Species
Objective: Describe and define rebuilding succession.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Secondary Succession
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define rebuilding succession.
 Secondary (_____2°_____) succession ≡ occurs
____after____ a ____fire____ has __removed__ the
__vegetation__ but left the soil intact.
o ___grasses___ grow ____first___, then trees and other
organisms.
o May take ____less____ ____time____ than primary
__succession__ to reach a climax community.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Notes page:
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The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Name: ________________
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Period: ____________________
Carefully remove this sheet from your packet to hand in.
Work silently and alone to complete this graded exercise.
Check for Understanding
1. Describe a biological community in your own words.
a. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. What is a limiting factor?
a. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. Describe the type of succession that would take place if
humans colonized the barren Mars surface.
a. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
(Cont’d on back)
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
4. Describe the type of succession that would occur after a
violent volcanic eruption.
a. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Biomes
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define ecosystems biomes.
 Biomes
o ____Biome____ ≡ _ecosystem _ on ____land____ based
primarily by ____plant___ ____types___.
o ___biomes___ also ___change___ with __altitude__ as
well as latitude.
o ___higher___ elevation is ___cooler___ biome;
___windward__ is ___wetter___ biome.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Topic: Tropical Rainforest Biome
Objective: Describe and define a Tropical Rainforest biome.
 Tropical __rainforest__ biome
o ____high____ biodiversity.
o __abundant__ rain & sunlight.
o ____warm____ temperatures with ____narrow___
temperature ___range___.
o ____many____ species of ____plants___ and
___animals__.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Savanna Biome
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define a Savanna biome.
 __Savannah__ biome
o ___medium___ biodiversity.
o ____dry_____ season/____wet_____ season, always
____warm____.
o Frequent ____fires____ in dry season.
o Many __herbivores__.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Desert Biome
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define a Desert biome.
 ___Desert___ biome
o ____low_____ biodiversity.
o Very ____dry_____, _____hot____ days with
____cold____ nights.
o Very ____few_____ plant ____species___.
o ___small____ animals: ___reptiles___, ___insects___,
___rodents___, and ____birds___ .
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Chaparral Biome
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define a Chaparral biome.
 __Chaparral__ biome
o Consists of __scrublands__, usually found along
__coastlines__.
o Encounters ____mild____, rainy ___winters___ and
long, ____hot_____, dry ___summers___.
o
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Topic: Temperate Grassland Biome
Objective: Describe and define a Temperate Grassland biome.
 Temperate __Grassland__ biome (Midwest U.S.)
o __medium__ biodiversity.
o ____dry_____ season/____wet_____ season,
____cold____ winters/____hot_____ summers.
o Frequent ____fires____ in dry season.
o Many __herbivores__.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Topic: Temperate Deciduous
Forest Biome
Objective: Describe and define a Temperate Grassland biome.
 Temperate __Deciduous__ Forest
o ____high____ biodiversity.
o __4 season__: warm ___summer___ with ___rain____,
cold ___winter___ with ____snow____.
o __deciduous__ trees, many ___mammals__,
___insects___, ____birds___, etc.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Topic: Coniferous Forest Biome
Objective: Describe and define a Coniferous Forest biome.
 __Coniferous__ Forest (____Taiga___)
o ___medium___ biodiversity.
o Northern forest, ___drier____, ___cooler___.
o __evergreens__, mammals, birds, insects, etc.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Tundra Biome
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define a Tundra biome.
 ___Tundra___
o ____low_____ biodiversity.
o ___colder___ year-round, ____dry_____
o _permafrost_ ≡ deeper ____ground___ layers
____never___ fully ____thaw____ in summer.
o __lichens__, ___mosses__, shallow root ___plants__.
o Mostly __migrating__ animals.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Notes page:
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The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Name: ________________
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Period: ____________________
Carefully remove this sheet from your packet to hand in.
Work silently and alone to complete this graded exercise.
Check for Understanding
1. Define the term biome in your own words.
a. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. Where would you expect to find a tundra biome on Earth?
a. _____________________________________________
3. Compare the savanna and chaparral biomes.
a. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
4. What biome do you live in? Explain based on the examples
given.
a. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
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The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Aquatic Environments
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define different aquatic ecosystems.
 Lakes
o Classified on the ____basis___ of their ___nutrient___
content and __productivity__.
 __eutrophic__ lakes are nutrition-____rich____
and ____high____ biodiversity.
 _oligotrophic_ lakes are nutrient-____poor____
and ____low_____ biodiversity.
 __temperate__ lakes turn over ___twice___ a year,
__mixing__ ___oxygen__ and __nutrients__ that
were __stratified__ as a result of the thermocline.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Aquatic Environments
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define different aquatic ecosystems.
 ___rivers___ and ___streams___
o Comprised of __freshwater__ communities that
___change___ significantly ____from____ the
____source____ to the final ___destination___ (lake or
ocean).
o ___upstream__ areas contain organisms associated with
____clear____ water, ____cool____ temperatures, and
____rocky____ substrates.
o __downstream__ organisms can tolerate ___murkier___
water and ___warmer___ temperatures.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Aquatic Environments
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define different aquatic ecosystems.
 __Wetlands__
o Range from having __periodically__ flooded to
__permanently__ saturated soil.
o Contain __hydrophytes__ or adapted ___plants___,
which can ____grow____ in ____water___ or
____soil____, and are periodically anaerobic.
o They can either be ___aquatic___ (freshwater) wetlands
or ___marine___ (saltwater) wetlands.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Marine Environments
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define Marine environments.
 Marine Environments
o ___marine___ (Ocean) _ecosystems_ are not biomes,
the same as aquatic environments.
 Estuary
o __estuary__ is the __transition__ zone
between a ___river___ or stream and the
____ocean___, into which it empties.
o Large _fluctuations_ in __salinity__ occur.
o Supports an __abundance__ of both
___aquatic___ and ___semi____ ___aquatic___ organisms.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
 Rocky Intertidal zone
o A __vertically__ stratified ___biome___ found
on ocean __shorelines__.
o __periodically__ inundated by __seawater__.
o Organisms in the __uppermost__ zone, which
are frequently __exposed__ to _____air____ and
sun, continually ____adapt___ to prevent
_desiccation_ and overheating.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Marine Environments
Topic:
Objective: Describe and define Marine environments.
 Coral reef
o Found in nutrient-____rich____ and
____warm____ tropical waters.
o __skeletons__ of ____coral___ animals form
complex ___structures___ among which a very
___diverse___ number of __invertabrates__ and
____fish____ live.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
 Ocean pelagic zone
o Includes ____most____ of the open
___ocean____.
o _phytoplankton_ and _zooplankton_ occupy the
upper layers.
 Benthic zone
o The ___ocean___ ___bottom__ below the
pelagic zone.
o Occupied by communities of __organisms__
called benthos, which ___subsist___ largely on
___detritus___ that “___rains___” down from
the pelagic zone.
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Notes page:
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The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Name: ________________
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
Period: ____________________
Carefully remove this sheet from your packet to hand in.
Work silently and alone to complete this graded exercise.
Check for Understanding
1. Why are aquatic areas environments and not biomes?
a. _____________________________________________
2. Compare and/or contrast wetlands and estuaries.
a. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. Coral reefs are some of the most biodiverse areas. Explain
why.
a. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
(Cont’d on back)
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch
4. Explain why you would expect marine scientists to know
more about the pelagic zone or the benthic zone.
a. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
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Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 3: Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems-class key
Notes page:
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The Living Environment ’14-‘15
Mr. Murdoch