AIM: How do abiotic factors effect the environment

1. AIM: How do abiotic factors effect the environment? Hmwk # 7 P 52 � Sec 2.1 Vocabulary � main ideas P 53 Q & A 1 � 10

2. ECOLOGY Branch of biology that deals w/interactions among organisms AND between organisms & their environment BIOTIC factor � all organisms, living or dead ABIOTIC factor � non-living, physical factors of the environment such as light, water, temperature, soil

4. LIGHT Energy for ALL living things comes from the sun Amount of light changes w/LATITUDE (distance north or south of the Equator) INTENSITY (strength) & DURATION (length of time) also vary (change) w/latitude Affect plant growth & animal behavior

5. WATER Precipitation � water that falls from the atmosphere Rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog & dew Annual (yearly) precipitation is related to latitude, altitude & geographic features (mountains, oceans)

6. TEMPERATURE Varies w/latitude & altitude ALTITUDE � vertical distance above sea level As altitude temperature

7. SOIL Made of organic (living) & inorganic (never living) materials Inorganic is mostly rock particles from weathering WEATHERING � process where the freezing & thawing of water cracks the rocks Lichens (algae & fungus together) grow in the cracks. When they die, they become organic material in soil

8. Layers of soil Topsoil � organic layer that contains humus (formed from the decay of dead plants & animals) Living organisms found in this layer are plants, earthworms, insects, bacteria, fungus (mushroom) 2. Subsoil � rock particles mixed w/minerals 3. Rocks