2.1 & 2.2 Sustainable Ecosystems

UNIT 3 Sustainable Ecosystems What do you Think? 1. Oceans make up the majority of Earth’s mass. Agree/disagree? What do you think? 2. All of the particles that make up your body are being continuously replaced by new ones. Agree/disagree? What do you think? 3. Animals need plants for food, but plants do not need animals. Agree/disagree? What do you think? 4. All organisms are helpful in the environment. Agree/disagree? What do you think? 5. Humans are one of the few species that do not compete with other species. Agree/disagree? What do you think? 6. Humans have been successful because they are able to change the natural environment. Agree/Disagree? Ecology: The Study of the Place Where We Live Earth is home to countless organisms and habitat types. Habitat : the place where an organism lives; can be terrestrial or aquatic. The Earth is perfectly suited for life… Life on Planet Earth The Spheres of Earth Atmosphere : the layer of gases surrounding Earth ◼ ◼ ◼ 78% nitrogen gas (N2) 21% oxygen gas (O2) <1 % → argon, water vapour, CO2… Moderates surface temperatures by acting as an insulator → prevents excessive heating during the day and cooling during the night Blocks solar radiation (UV light) Without the atmosphere, most species would not be able to survive The Spheres of Earth Lithosphere is the rocky outer shell of Earth → consists of rocks and minerals that make up the mountains, ocean floors and the rest of the Earth’s solid landscape. Hydrosphere consists of all the water, on, above and below Earth’s surface (oceans, lakes, ice, groundwater, and clouds). 97% of Earth’s water is contained in the oceans. Biosphere Zone around Earth where life can exist (within the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere) Biosphere is very thin in comparison to the size of the planet All living things need space, water, and nutrients to survive Supply of these resources is limited and impacts survival of species atmosphere hydrosphere lithosphere • Each of the 4 spheres overlap and interact with each other • Changing the conditions in one sphere will impact all other spheres • Example: Cutting down a forest (biosphere, hydrosphere) on land (lithosphere) decreases plant life (biosphere, hydrosphere) and increases carbon dioxide (atmosphere) Homework 1. Read pages 29-31 and copy key terms 2. Complete Q# 2, 4, 5, on p. 31 Introducing Ecosystems Ecosystem: all the living organisms that share a region and interact with each other and their nonliving environment Ecosystems are composed of both living and non-living components Introducing Ecosystems The living components, called biotic factors, include all organisms, their remains, and their products or wastes. The non-living components, or abiotic factors, include physical and chemical components such as temperature, wind, water, minerals and air. Introducing Ecosystems Ecosystems can be characterized by their particular organisms, temperature range, or water depth. More about Abiotic Factors Water Oxygen Light Nutrients Soil Sustainable Ecosystems An ecosystem that is maintained through natural processes Sustainability is the ability to maintain natural ecological conditions or processes without interruption, weakening, or loss of value. These types of ecosystems support a wide variety of organisms. Describing Ecosystems Ecosystems are composed of individual organisms, populations, communities and the physical surroundings in which communities of organisms live. Individuals from many species share an ecosystem. Together, all the individuals of a single species in a particular area make a population. Describing Ecosystems Individuals from all of the populations in a particular place form the community. (residents of a neighbourhood) An ecosystem is the community and its interaction with the abiotic environment. Homework 1. Read pages 32-35 and copy key terms 2. Complete Q# 1, 4, on page 35 (Sec. 2.2)