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Overview:
Ecologythe study of how organisms interact with each other and
their environment.
Global ecologyexamines how the regional exchange of energy and
materials influences the functioning and distribution of organisms
across the biosphere.
Biosphereglobal ecosystem
Landscape ecologyfocus on factors controlling exchanges of
energy, materials, and organism across multiple ecosystems.
Ecosystem ecologystudy of energy flow and chemical recycling
between organisms and the environment.
Ecosystemcommunity of organisms
Community Ecologyexamines interactions between species
Communitya group of populations of different species in an
area
Population ecology study of factors that affect population size
Populationa group of individuals of 1 species living in an area
Concept 52.1: Earths climate varies by latitude and season and is
changing rapidly
ClimateTemperature, Precipitation, Sunlight, Wind
MacroclimateLarge-scale patterns in climate; climate of an entire
region
The changing angle of the sun over the year, bodies of water,
and mountains exert seasonal, regional, and local effects on
macroclimate.
Microclimate climate patterns on a very fine scale, e.g. the specific
climatic conditions underneath a log.
Fine-scale differences in abiotic factors, e.g. Sunlight and
temperature, determine microclimate.
Global climate patterns are largely determined by the input of solar
energy and Earths revolution around the sun.
How large bodies of water and mountains affect climate.
1. Cool air flows inland from the water, moderate temperatures near
the shore.
2. Air that encounters mountains flows upward, cools at higher
altitudes, and releases water as rain and snow.
3. Less moisture is left in the air reaching the leeward side, which
therefore has little precipitation. This rain shadow can create a
desert on the back side of the mountain range.
Concept 52.2: The structure and distribution of terrestrial biomes are
controlled by climate and disturbance
Tropical Forest
Desert
Savanna
Chaparral
Temperate Grassland
Northern Coniferous
Forest
Temperate Broadleaf
Forest
Tundra
Concept 52.3: Aquatic biomes are diverse and dynamic systems that
cover most of Earth
Aquatic biomes are characterized primarily by their physical
environment rather than by climate and are often layered with regard
to light penetration, temperature, and community structure.
Photic zonesufficient light for photosynthesis