bio test.txt

The continent of North America stretches almost from the North Pole to the equator. Its life forms-from polar bears to iguanas-reflect this diversity in climate. The climate is warmest nearest the equator, where the sun's rays strike the Earth most directly. Near the equator, the sun's rays strike...

The continent of North America stretches almost from the North Pole to the equator. Its life forms-from polar bears to iguanas-reflect this diversity in climate. The climate is warmest nearest the equator, where the sun's rays strike the Earth most directly. Near the equator, the sun's rays strike at more of an angle, so their energy is spread out over a larger area. The of the Earth in relation to the sun causes the seasons. In June, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. In December, North America tilts away from the sun. In addition to temperature differences, wind and rain are important aspects of climate. The sun's heat warms air and evaporates moisture near the equator. The warm air is less dense than cold air, so it rises. The rising air near the equator creates an area of calm, light winds called the doldrums. The moist air cools as it ascends, and its moisture condenses and falls as rain, watering the tropical forests of Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama. After losing their moisture, the high-altitude air masses spread away from the equator. Cool air is denser than warm air, so the air descends around 30 degrees north and south of the equator. This dry air is responsible for the arid landscape of Mexico and the southwest United States. Some of the dry air spreads back toward the equator, and some picks up moisture and spreads toward temperate latitudes. This air will cool and drop its moisture as it spreads farther from the equator, into areas such as the eastern United States. The rise and fall of air masses and their resulting spread from place to place is deflected by the rotation of the Earth to create the prevailing winds. Wind rushes back to replace rising air at the equator, creating the westerlies, which dominate the tropics. The Earth's rotation causes the winds to blow from the east to west in the Northern Hemisphere. Ocean currents are created by the combined effects of unequal heating of surface waters, prevailing winds, the Earth's rotation, and the locations of the continents. Currents profoundly affect local climate. The cold Japanese current creates the foggy conditions that water the redwood forests of northern California. The gulf stream warms the southeastern United States, as well as western Europe. Thus, oceans moderate the climate of nearby land. Objectives. SWBAT: 1. Define Ecosystem, community, population and organism, and be able to place them in heicrchal order 2. Distinguish between biotic and abiotic factoes 3. Describe the process of natural selection and how it leads to evolution of a population 4. Explain how solar heat, wind, water, circulation and patterns of affect climate 5. Describe defining characteristics of aquatic and terrestrial biomes I Definitions A. Ecology is the study of the organisms and their environment B. Biosphere is the area of the planet where all life exists * from the bottom of the ocean to above the tops of the highest mountains into the atmosphere. C. Biome is a large, relatively distinct regions of land/water characterized by similar climate/soil/plants/animals * Biomes may occur in more than one place on the earth * Because it is so large an area, a biome encompasses many interacting ecosystems. II Levels of Study in Ecology: Ecologists study environmental interactions at these levels (small to large) 1. Organisms - 1 living thing 2. Populations - group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area 3. Community - group of organisms (species) living together & potentially interacting in a particular area 4. Ecosystem - all the organisms in the environment + nonliving factors they interact with (land and animals) 5. Landscape - arrays of ecosystems III Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors 1. Ecosystem interactions involve living (biotic) communities and non living (abiotic) components 1. Biotic components include all organisms 2. Abiotic components include atmospheric gases/energy/nutrients/water 3. Organisms are affected by both components of their environment 4. Their presence and activities often change the environment they inhabit 2. 34.3 Physical & chemical factors that influence life 1. The most important abiotic factors that determine the biosphere’s structure and dynamics include 2. Solar energy- source of energy on earth 3. Temperature range- affects metabolism 4. Water- all organisms need 5. Nutrients- soil or water - inorganic nutrients 6. Other aquatic factors- oxygen/salinity (salt)/current/tide 7. Other terrestrial factors- wind and fire IV. 34.2 The Science of Ecology provides insight into environmental problems 1. Human activities affect all parts of thr biosphere 2. Cities, farms, and highways change the landscape 3. The widespread use of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides poses issues to ppl and other ORGS 4. Rachel Carson 1. Rachel Carson was one of the 1st to perceive the global dangers of pesticide abuse 2. Carson documented her concerns in the 1962 book - Silent Spring 3. This book played a key role in the awakening og environmental awareness IV. 34.4 Organisms are adapted to abiotic and biotic factors by natural selection 1. Natural selection depends on these facts: 1. There is always some variation in the population 1. This variation must be inheritable 2. Variation is created by a random mutation in the DNA 2. There is a struggle for existence 1. Basic needs for survival, avoiding predators 3. The better adapted organisms reproduce more than those who are less adapted 1. Biotic & abiotic factors apply pressure that, “selects” who will be able to reproduce hence the term “natural selection” 4. Over generations, the traits that allow an organism to be better adapted become more common in the population 5. evolution: random 6. NS: more precise 1. Genes for the adaptation must be passed down from parent to offspring (inherit) therefore… 2. learned trait: taught you 3. inherited trait: dna 2. Result: EVOLUTION occurs within a population 3. natural selection is an indivigual 1. Natural selection is NOT random. 1. It is driven by the selective pressures of the organisms enviorment, and the traits that enable the organism to survice 2. A single organism does not evolve over its lifetime; a population evolves over generations V 34.5 Regional climate influences the distribution of terrestrial communities 1. Climate often determines the distribution of communities 2. The Earth’s global climate patterns are largely determined by the input of solar energy and the planets moving in space 3. Climate vs. Weather 1. Climate the weather patterns of an area over a long period 2. Weather conditions of the atmosphere in a short period of time 4. Solar Radiation figure 34.5A 1. Solar radiation varies with latiude due to the curvature of the earth 2. Most climatic variations are due to the uneven heating of the earths surface 3. The sun’s light strikes directly at the equator 4. Latitude zones you need to know: 1. polar 2. tempature 3. tropical zones 5. Seasons Figure 34.5B 1. The Earth’s tilt causes the seasons 2. The seasons of the year result from the permanent tilt of the planet on its axis as it orbits the sun 3. Tilted away from sun 🡪 WINTER 4. tilted toward sun🡪 SUMMER 6. Rain & Wind Patterns Figure 34.5C 1. Uneven heating and the tendency for hot air to rise and cold air to fall causes rains and wind 1. Direct intense solar radiation near the equator has an impact on the global patterns of rainfall/wind 1. The tropics experience the greatest annual input and least seasonal variation in solar radiation 2. As the air rises it cools and releases much of its water content 1. This results in the abundant precipitation typical of most tropical regions (leads to tropical rain forests) 3. After losing their moisture over equatorial zones, high altutide air masses spread away from the equator 4. …north and south (leads to deserts) 5. As the dry air descends, some of it spreads back toward the equator 1. This creates the cooling winds that dominate the tropics (easterly winds) 2. Winds are named for the direction from which they come 7. Prevailing Wind Patterns figure 34.5D 1. Prevailing wind major global air movements 1. patterns 1. In the tropics winds blow E-W easterly 2. In temperate zones winds that blow W-E westerly 2. sun having uneven heating: wind 8. Atlantic Ocean Currents Figure 34.5E 1. Ocean currents: river flow like patterns in the ocean 1. wind in the water 2. Ocean currents have a profound effect on regional climates by wamrming / cooling costal areas 3. They are created by 1. circular pattern of warm / cool air masses 2. prevailing winds 3. planet rotation 4. unequal heating of surface waters 5. the locations and shapes of the continents 9. Mountains affect rainfall figure 34.5F 1. Rainfall is affected by location of mountains, prevailing winds, and ocean current patterns 2. Rainshadow = the downwind side of a mountain receives much less rain than the upwind side 1. The tendency of the cold dry air, from the downwind side, to absorb moisture from the land in the rainshadow area leads to the formation of desserts VII Major Biomes of the Biosphere 1. Aquatic: Lakes & Ponds, Rivers & Streams, lakes and ponds, estuaries and wetlands, interdital zone, coral reefs, palegic realm (photic zone), benthic realm (aphotic zone) 2. Terrestrial: Temperate Rain Forests, Tropical Dry Forests, tropical rain forest, tropical grassland, temperate grassland, temperate desert, chaparral, temperate broadleaf forest, coniferouscarniferous forests, tundra 1. How did the desert sand help the pocket mouse? It helps the light furred mouse blend in with the sand, concealing it from predators. 2. How does the black lava harm the pocket mouse? The same light colored fur that conceals the mice in sand also makes them stand out in dark black lava rock. 3. How does a dark mouse appear in a light mouse population? Due to a mutation, rare and random. 4. Why can the dark fur gene spread very quickly? Hundreds of thousands of mice are born every year and each mouse has a greater advantage at turning their offspring into black mice. 5. What is the random part of evolution? Process of mutation 6. Is natural selection random? Explain No it is not, it would produce the same results under different conditions. 7. Why is it a good adaptation for mice on a lava flow to be dark? Because they won’t be seen by predators which will allow them to grow their population. 8. Describe the process of natural selection and how it leads to evolution.10:32 Change to the environment, gene mutation = a whole population can look differently in a short amount of time. The whole population may change if the predators make it harder for the mutated animals to survive. Levels of study in ecology from smallest to biggest * Organisms - 1 living thing * Populations - group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area * Community - group of organisms (species) living together & potentially interacting in a particular area * Ecosystem - all the organisms in the environment + nonliving factors they interact with (land and animals) * Landscape - arrays of ecosystems * Abiotic/biotic components, and examples for each. Which are important for plants and animals survival? * Ecosystem interactions involve living (biotic) communities and non living (abiotic) components * Biotic components include all organisms * Abiotic components include atmospheric gases/energy/nutrients/water * Organisms are affected by both components of their environment * Their presence and activities often change the environment they inhabit * How do animals use adaptations to be well fit for survival in their environment/ecosystem? desert sand helps the pocket mouse: It helps the light furred mouse blend in with the sand, concealing it from predators. * black lava harms pocket mouse: The same light colored fur that conceals the mice in sand also makes them stand out in dark black lava rock. * This adaptation is effective for mice on a lava flow to be dark because they won’t be seen by predators which will allow them to grow their population. * How does natural selection lead to evolution? What is natural selection, and how does it work? Examples?Organisms are adapted to abiotic and biotic factors by natural selection 1. Change to the environment, gene mutation = a whole population can look differently in a short amount of time. The whole population may change if the predators make it harder for the mutated animals to survive. * Natural selection depends on these facts: * There is always some variation in the population 1. This variation must be inheritable 2. Variation is created by a random mutation in the DNA * There is a struggle for existence 1. Basic needs for survival, avoiding predators * The better adapted organisms reproduce more than those who are less adapted 1. Biotic & abiotic factors apply pressure that, “selects” who will be able to reproduce - “natural selection” * natural selection is NOT random: it produces the same results under different conditions. * In populations adapting to environmental conditions, natural selection may limit the distribution of organisms * Why is solar radiation unevenly distributed on the planet? Explain Solar energy- source of energy on earth * The Earth’s global climate patterns are largely determined by the input of solar energy and the planets moving in space * Solar radiation varies with latiude due to the curvature of the earth * Direct intense solar radiation near the equator has an impact on the global patterns of rainfall/wind * The tropics experience the greatest annual input and least seasonal variation in solar radiation * 34.5 a: Earth receives uneven solar energy due to its curvature. * The sun's rays hit the equator directly (perpendicularly). * Away from the equator, rays strike at oblique angles. * This spreads the same amount of energy over a larger area. * Areas near the equator absorb more heat than those farther north or south. * What causes seasons?The Earth’s tilt causes the seasons * The seasons of the year result from the permanent tilt of the planet on its axis as it orbits the sun 1. Tilted away from sun 🡪 WINTER 2. tilted toward sun🡪 SUMMER * 34.5 B: Earth's position relative to the sun changes throughout the year. * In June, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, creating long summer days. * At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere experiences short days and winter. * In December, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, creating summer, while the Northern Hemisphere has winter. * The tropics, between latitudes 23.5° north and 23.5° south, receive the most solar energy and have the least seasonal variation. * How air circulation patterns are created—(rising at equator, descending at 30 degrees, etc.) How do they affect precipitation and wind? How do they lend to creating tropical rainforests & deserts? Uneven heating and the tendency for hot air to rise and cold air to fall causes rains and wind * Direct intense solar radiation near the equator has an impact on the global patterns of rainfall/wind 1. The tropics experience the greatest annual input and least seasonal variation in solar radiation * As the air rises it cools and releases much of its water content 1. This results in the abundant precipitation typical of most tropical regions (leads to tropical rain forests) * After losing their moisture over equatorial zones, high altutide air masses spread away from the equator * north and south (leads to deserts) * As the dry air descends, some of it spreads back toward the equator 1. This creates the cooling winds that dominate the tropics (easterly winds) 34.5C: High temperatures in the tropics cause water evaporation. * Sun-heated, moist air at the equator rises, creating calm winds (doldrums). * As the air rises, it cools, releasing moisture as rain, leading to tropical rainforests near the equator. * Dry air descends at around 30° north and south, creating deserts like the Sahara and Arabian deserts. * The descending air creates trade winds as it moves back toward the equator, picking up moisture and warming. * Temperate zones, between the tropics and polar circles, have seasonal climate variations and moderate temperatures. * Air masses above 30° pick up moisture but tend to release it at higher latitudes, making areas around 60° moist and covered with coniferous forests. * How do currents affect continents they flow by? Ocean currents: river flow like patterns in the ocean 1. wind in the water * Ocean currents have a profound effect on regional climates by wamrming / cooling costal areas * They are created by * circular pattern of warm / cool air masses * prevailing winds * planet rotation * unequal heating of surface waters * the locations and shapes of the continents 34.5 E: - Ocean currents are created by prevailing winds, Earth's rotation, uneven heating of surface waters, and the shape and location of continents. * These currents significantly impact regional climates. * For example, the Gulf Stream carries warm water north from the Gulf of Mexico, warming the climate of Great Britain's west coast in winter. * In contrast, New England, farther south, is cooled by a current flowing south from Greenland. * What a rain shadow is, and how (and where) it works in California (fig Rainfall is affected by location of mountains, prevailing winds, and ocean current patterns * Rainshadow = the downwind side of a mountain receives much less rain than the upwind side 1. The tendency of the cold dry air, from the downwind side, to absorb moisture from the land in the rainshadow area leads to the formation of desserts elsewhere. California is a temperate area in which the prevailing winds are westerlies. As moist air moves in off the Pacific Ocean and encounters the westernmost mountains (the Coast Range), it flows upward, cools at higher altitudes, and drops a large amount of water. The world's tallest trees, the coastal red- woods, thrive here. Farther inland, precipitation increases again as the air moves up and over higher mountains (the Sierra Nevada). Some of the world's deepest snow packs occur here. On the eastern side of the Sierra, there is little precipitation, and the dry descending air also absorbs moisture. This effect, called a rain shadow, is responsible fo r the desert that covers much of central Nevada. * How are prevailing winds created? How do we name the prevailing wind?Prevailing wind major global air movements 1. patterns 1. In the tropics winds blow E-W easterly 2. In temperate zones winds that blow W-E westerly 2. sun having uneven heating: wind 34.5 D: Prevailing wind ((pink arrows) result from the combined effects of the rising and falling of air masses (blue and brown arrows) and Earth's rotation (gray arrows). Because Earth is spherical, its surface moves faster at the equator (where its diameter is greatest) than an other latitudes. In the tropics, Earth's rapidly moving surface deflects vertically circulating air, making the trade winds blow from east to west. In temperate zones, the slower-moving surface produces the westerlies, winds that blow from west to east. * What direction do prevailing winds in California come from? What causes them to come from this direction? (fig 34.5D/F p687 climate drawings assignment) * west *