S7L4

S7L4
Students will examine the dependence of organisms on one another and their environments.
S7L4.a
Demonstrate in a food web that matter is transferred from one organism to another and can recycle between organisms and their environments.
S7L4.b
Explain in a food web that sunlight is the source of energy and that this energy moves from organism to organism.
S7L4.c
Recognize that changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of both individuals and entire species.
S7L4.d
Categorize relationships between organisms that are competitive or mutually beneficial.
S7L4.e
Describe the characteristics of Earth’s major terrestrial biomes (i.e. tropical rain forest, savannah, temperate, desert, taiga, tundra, and mountain) and aquatic communities (i.e. freshwater, estuaries, and marine).

Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environments. Sunlight is the source of energy in a food web because it gives off nutrients to plants or producers that then make food for the animals or consumers. Environmental changes can affect the survival of individuals or species if they cannot adapt to it because if they cannot adapt to it that individual or species can die out or become extinct. Relationships between organisms that are competitive are like predator, prey situations, when only one organism gets a good thing out of the situation. Mutual relationships are when every organism is fine or gets something good out of the situation. The characteristic of earths terrestrial biomes are
Taiga:  This biome is dominated by evergreen coniferous forests . These trees can withstand the long winters when the trees must go without moisture due to the frozen ground.
Desert:  Characterized by sparse vegetation.  Much of the vegetation is dry. Few trees.
Grassland:  This biome is often associated with semi-arid conditions and is dominated by grasses. Trees are often found in low spots or near streams where the tree’s roots can access groundwater.
Savanna:  This biome refers to tropical savanna.  Savanna is dominated by tall grasses.  These tropical areas experience pronounced dry and wet seasons, which, in part, explains why fewer trees are found here.
Rainforest:  This biome refers to tropical rainforest regions of the world that are found at low latitudes.  Broadleaf evergreen forests dominate these areas, many of which receive over 80 inches of rain a year.
Tundra:  A lack of trees characterizes tundra areas.  Tree growth is hindered due to the cold temperatures and short summers.
Temperate Forest: This biome is found in parts of the world with cool winters and warm summers.  Precipitation is enough to sustain tree growth of both deciduous and coniferous trees.
And Some Aquatic Communities
 Marine Regions: Marine regions cover about three-fourths of the Earth’s surface and include oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries. Marine algae supply much of the world’s oxygen supply and take in a huge amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The evaporation of the seawater provides rainwater for the land.
Freshwater Regions: Freshwater is defined as having a low salt concentration—usually less than 1%. Plants and animals in freshwater regions are adjusted to the low salt content and would not be able to survive in areas of high salt concentration.  There are different types of freshwater regions: ponds and lakes, streams and rivers, and wetlands. The following sections describe the characteristics of these three freshwater zones.
Estuaries: Estuaries are areas where freshwater streams or rivers merge with the ocean. This mixing of waters with such different salt concentrations creates a very interesting and unique ecosystem. Algae, seaweeds, marsh grasses, and mangrove trees can be found here. Estuaries support a diverse fauna, including a variety of worms, oysters, crabs, and waterfowl.