Chapter 40: Population Ecology and the Distribution of Organisms
● Ecology- the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the
environment
●
40.1
,● The most significant influence on the distribution of organisms on land is
climate
● Climate- the long term prevailing weather conditions at a given place
○ Temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind; are particularly
important components of climate
● Abiotic- nonliving; referring to the physical and chemical properties of an
environment
● Biotic- pertaining to the living factors in an environment
● Abiotic and biotic factors influence the distribution and abundance of life
● Global climate pattern are determined largely by the input of solar energy,
and earth's movement in space
○ The sun warms the atmosphere, land, and water. This warming
establishes the temperature variations, movements of air and
weather, and evaporation of water that cause dramatic latitudinal
variations in climate
, ●
● Climate varies seasonally and can be modified by other factors such as
oceans and mountain ranges
● In middle to high latitudes, Earth’s tilted axis of rotation and its annual
passage around the sun cause strong seasonal cycles in day length, solar
radiation, and temperature
○ The changing angle of the sun over the course of the year also affects
local environments.
● Ecology- the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the
environment
●
40.1
,● The most significant influence on the distribution of organisms on land is
climate
● Climate- the long term prevailing weather conditions at a given place
○ Temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind; are particularly
important components of climate
● Abiotic- nonliving; referring to the physical and chemical properties of an
environment
● Biotic- pertaining to the living factors in an environment
● Abiotic and biotic factors influence the distribution and abundance of life
● Global climate pattern are determined largely by the input of solar energy,
and earth's movement in space
○ The sun warms the atmosphere, land, and water. This warming
establishes the temperature variations, movements of air and
weather, and evaporation of water that cause dramatic latitudinal
variations in climate
, ●
● Climate varies seasonally and can be modified by other factors such as
oceans and mountain ranges
● In middle to high latitudes, Earth’s tilted axis of rotation and its annual
passage around the sun cause strong seasonal cycles in day length, solar
radiation, and temperature
○ The changing angle of the sun over the course of the year also affects
local environments.
