The Biosphere As A Closed System PDF

The Biosphere as a Closed System Chapter 1 NASA Video Clip of Earth Outcomes ❏ A1.3k explain the structure of ecosystem trophic levels, using models such as food chains and food webs ❏ B1.1k define species, population, community and ecosystem and explain the interrel...

The Biosphere as a Closed System Chapter 1 NASA Video Clip of Earth Outcomes ❏ A1.3k explain the structure of ecosystem trophic levels, using models such as food chains and food webs ❏ B1.1k define species, population, community and ecosystem and explain the interrelationships among them ❏ B1.2k explain how terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems support a diversity of organisms through a variety of habitats and niches ❏ B1.3k identify biotic and abiotic characteristics and explain their influence in an aquatic and a terrestrial ecosystem in the local region The Biosphere Biosphere is the narrow zone around Earth that has life, there are 3 zones: Lithosphere - land Hydrosphere - water Atmosphere - air Upper atmosphere and Earth’s crust are not apart of the biosphere but still affect living organisms Nature is Full of Interconnections and Complexities Earth is a closed system any system in which matter is not exchanged with its surroundings Exchanges energy with its surroundings All living things interact with each other and with the non-living components of our planet Are oceans open or closed systems? Are human bodies open or closed systems? Dynamic Equilibrium Each component of Earth’s environment must be in a state of balance (equilibrium) with every component Dynamic equilibrium - any system with constant change in which the components can adjust to the changes without disturbing the entire system. This means, if one thing in an environment changes, something else needs to balance it out to not disturb the ecosystem. Today Earth’s equilibrium is being upset because of humans  " At the heart of this assessment is a stark warning. Human activity is putting such a strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted." The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment by the United Nations. A comprehensive, peer-reviewed scientific analysis by 1,300 experts. In your opinion, is our planet’s equilibrium upset? If so, describe how. http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ So why aren't we doing something about it?  Paths we can choose: What kind of future would you like and how can we get there?  Paths we can choose: What kind of future would you like and how can we get there? despair resignation ignorance  Paths we can choose: What kind of future would you like and how can we get there? hope despair action resignation inspiration ignorance  "The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice "You must be the change you wish to something today for future generations see in the world." whose words of thanks will not be — Mahatma Gandhi heard." — Gaylord Nelson former governor of Wisconsin, "To be yourself in a world co-founder of Earth Day that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest "We must consider our planet to be on accomplishment." loan from our children, rather than — Ralph Waldo Emerson being a gift from our ancestors." -- Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway 2040 Film Response Due: Ecology Study of the relationships between living things and their nonliving surroundings, the environment. (latin for the study of our home) Bad News: Ecology is a complex and challenging field of science! Good news: Ecology is a complex and challenging field of science! The Components Biotic: living things in the environment Can you think of some examples? Bio = “life” in Greek a = prefix meaning “not” or Abiotic: non-living things in the environment “opposite” Can you think of some examples? The Components Biotic: living things in the environment - animals - plants - fungi - bacteria Abiotic: non-living things in the environment - air - water - soil - sunlight - minerals and nutrients Think About an Aquatic Ecosystem What biotic factors are at play? What abiotic factors are at play? The Hierarchy When biologists study an ecosystem they need to organize organisms into groups to understand how the biosphere operates as an integrated unit. Individual Organisms At the level of the individual, ecologists often focus on learning about how the abiotic environment affects its behaviour and physical features... E.g. Surface-dwelling fish in the Antarctic Ocean possess a number of unique adaptations which allow them to thrive in the cold water Populations Population ecologists focus on how a group of individuals of the same species changes in size and distribution over time… Populations may be impacted by: competition for resources changes in environment Communities In nature, populations are rarely isolated. Community ecologists study the interactions among members of different populations. Competition between species Predator-prey relationships Resource availability All impact community dynamics. What factors might influence the structure of each community above? Biomes Ecosystems An ecosystem ecologist studies how all of the biotic and abiotic factors in a given area interact to shape an ecosystem. Think About an Aquatic Ecosystem How do communities interact with one another? Think About an Aquatic Ecosystem How do individuals within a population interact with one another? Biodiversity Biodiversity is the number of species in an ecosystem Because every organism is connected in an ecosystem, extinction can cause a domino effect collapsing a food chain. In general...the more biodiversity there is in an ecosystem the more immune it is from collapse. In general...the more biodiversity there is in an ecosystem the more immune it is more collapse. More options with more cards Food Chains A food chain is a step-by-step sequence linking organisms that feed on each other Food Chains - What is at the bottom of the food chain? Food Chains Producers: organisms that produce food energy for themselves and all other organisms on Earth - Use energy from the Sun and nutrients in the soil/water to grow - Plants and algae Food Chains What is after the producers?  Food Chains Consumers: organisms that eat other living things - they eat the food made by producers, directly or indirectly Herbivore: animals that eat Carnivore: animals that eat Omnivore: animals that eat producers; plant eaters other consumers; meat eaters producers and consumers What other examples can you think of? Food Chains What breaks down everything? Food Chains Decomposers: grow on or in waste material from plants and animals (detritus), absorbing nutrients into their own cells and recycling the remaining nutrients back into the ecosystem - Fungi and bacteria Example of Interconnectedness In 1900's sea otters were hunted almost to extinction 1970's uneven recovery found near kelp forests...why? Example of Interconnectedness Example of Interconnectedness Example of Interconnectedness In 1990 sea otter numbers started to drop again Why???? Eagles of Lake Erie and Biomagnification In the 1700s and 1800s eagles were everywhere By 1900s farmers and settlers thought the birds were threats to livestock and would kill them. ○ Toxic chemical waste produced by factories entered the food chain. The high level of toxins cause eggshells to become extremely thin. Eggs broke and eagles were born with abnormalities. Eagles depend directly and indirectly on the food chain. Top-level consumers indicate whether toxins are entering the ecosystem Biomagnification A process causing the concentration of substances to increase at higher levels of the food chain. Species at Risk In Canada, more than 450 species of plants and animals are at various degrees of risk. Check out Alberta’s Species at Risk as of January 2024 DEFINITION EXAMPLE Extirpated Species Endangered Species Threatened Species Special Concern Species at Risk In Canada, more than 450 species of plants and animals are at various degrees of risk. Check out Alberta’s Species at Risk as of January 2024 DEFINITION EXAMPLE Extirpated Species No longer exists in a part of the Black-footed country but can be found other places ferret - 1974 Endangered Close to extinction in all/most parts of Swift Fox Species the country Threatened Species Likely to become endangered Woodland Caribou Special Concern At risk because of low/declining Long toed numbers Salamander Species at Risk in Our Rocky Mountains Indicator Species Indicator species - species that are very sensitive to small changes in the environment Provide an early warning system about the balance of an ecosystem Eg. Amphibians Eggs and tadpoles live in water Adults live in forest and grass This means they are exposed hazards in two food chains They also affect two food chains Why are Amphibians Disappearing? Amphibians have been around for more than 400 million years Adapted to ice ages, droughts, floods Found in most ecosystems with water They are now dying at an unpredicted rate, 30% of North America’s frogs and toads are in trouble. This is caused by: 1. Habitat loss 2. Air and Water Quality 3. Climate change 4. Ultraviolet Radiation Which do you think places the biggest role in population decreases? Loss of Habitat Habitat - a place/environment with conditions suitable for survival of an organism Frogs need: wetlands, ponds, and lakes with clean water to breed and lay eggs Adults need a place to catch insects - field or forest They also need a safe path between them What are humans doing that change these areas? Extinction Rate By the end of the century, half of all species could be facing extinction. The rate of species extinction is up to 10,000 times higher than the natural, historical rate. Estimates of the total number of species on Earth range is about 13 million. Of all the species that have existed on Earth at some point over the past 3.5 billion years, over 95% have gone extinct. That’s part of the natural process of evolution. The difference is that the current level of extinction is almost solely caused by one particular species - humans because of global warming caused by increased levels of CO2 in the The world counts atmosphere. Air and Water Equality Frog skin is very thin with nothing protecting it because they breathe through it. Pollutants can also pass through their thin skin Pollutants like acid rain affect how a frog reproduces. Sperm cells cannot move as much in slightly acidic water so less eggs are fertilized. Egg development, embryos either don’t develop or slowly Deformed limbs Climate Change Increasing temperatures is linked to increased fossil fuel use As climates become drier, frog populations decline Ultraviolet Radiation Frogs thin skin is susceptible to ultraviolet radiation UV radiation is increasing due to the damage of our protective ozone layer which blocks harmful solar radiation. Frogs that live in higher altitudes are affected the most. The fact that human skin cancer is rising underlines the importance of studyings frogs as a bioindicator of the health of our planet. Umbrella Species A species selected for making conservation-related decisions, typically because protecting these species indirectly protects the many other species that make up the ecosystem Reading List & Textbook Questions Read Unit Opener page 2-3 Read Chapter 1.1 page 6-10 Do Questions 1-7 page 10 Read Chapter 1.2 page 11-16 Do Questions 1,3,5 page 16 Read Chapter Summary page 17 Do Questions 1-6,8,12,13 page 18-19 Environmental Solutions Presentation Due: Biosphere Matching Quiz Booklet Due: