Chapter: The Nonliving Environment

Table of Contents

Section 3: Energy Flow

Section 1: Abiotic Factors

Section 2: Cycles in Nature

• Biotic factors - features of the environment that are alive, or were once alive

• Abiotic factors - nonliving, physical features of the environment

Environmental FactorsAbiotic Factors

1

• Atmosphere - air that surrounds Earth

AirAbiotic Factors

1

• 78% nitrogen

21% oxygen

• CO2 - required for photosynthesis. Air

Abiotic Factors

1

• Oxygen released

• Respiration - cells use oxygen to release the chemical energy stored in sugar molecules

Abiotic Factors

1

• Organisms - 50 to 95% H2O

WaterAbiotic Factors

1

• More H2O = More diversity

SoilAbiotic Factors

1

• Soil - mixture of mineral and rock particles, the remains of dead organisms, water, and air

SoilAbiotic Factors

1

• Humus - decaying matter

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Abiotic Factors

1 • Sunlight - energy source

• Energy - passed to consumers when they eat producers or other consumers.

TemperatureAbiotic Factors

1

• Body temperature - 0°C to 50°C to survive

TemperatureAbiotic Factors

1

• More Sun = Higher Temperature

Abiotic Factors

1

Abiotic Factors

1

Abiotic Factors

1 • Climate - an area’s average weather conditions over time

Wind

Abiotic Factors

1

The Rain Shadow EffectAbiotic Factors

1

1Section Check

Question 1

Which is an abiotic factor?

A. insectsB. plantsC. treesD. water

1Section Check

Answer

The answer is D. Non-living, physical features of the environment are abiotic.

1Section Check

Question 2

_______ and _______ are the two most important components of climate for the majority of living things.

Answer

The answer is temperature and precipitation. The average temperature and rainfall in an area influence the type of life found there.

1Section Check

Question 3

Which best describes this illustration?

1Section Check

A. the greenhouse effectB. the nitrogen cycle

C. the rain shadow effectD. the water cycle

1Section Check

Answer

The answer is C. As wind blows toward one side of the mountain, air is forced upward by the mountain’s shape. The air cools and releases its moisture as rain or snow, losing most of its moisture before reaching the other side of the mountain.

The Cycles of Matter

• Constant supply of light

• Biosphere - fixed amount of • Water• Carbon• Nitrogen• Oxygen

Cycles in Nature

2

The Water Cycle• Evaporation -

liquid water changes into water vapor

Cycles in Nature

2

The Water Cycle• Transpiration - water vapor enters the

atmosphere from plant leaves

Cycles in Nature

2

• Condensation - changing a gas to a liquid

Cycles in Nature

2

• Water cycle - surface atmosphere surface

Cycles in Nature

2

Cycles in Nature

2

• Nitrogen - necessary ingredient of proteins• Cannot be used directly from air

Cycles in Nature

2

• Nitrogen fixation - soil bacteria forming useable nitrogen compounds

• When things die, nitrogen returns to the soil or to the atmosphere.

• Nitrogen cycle – atmosphere soil organisms atmosphere

The Nitrogen Cycle

Cycles in Nature

2

Soil NitrogenCycles in Nature

2

Cycles in Nature

2

• Carbon cycle carbon molecules move between the living and nonliving world.

The Carbon Cycle

Cycles in Nature

2

• CO2 removed from the air during photosynthesis.

• Respiration uses oxygen and releases CO2.

• Photosynthesis uses CO2 and releases oxygen.

2Section Check

Question 1Which letter corresponds with condensation?

A. AB. BC. CD. D

2Section Check

AnswerThe answer is C. Condensation is the process of changing from a gas to a liquid.

2Section Check

Question 2_______ is the process by which certain soil bacteria transform nitrogen into the usable nitrogen compounds plants need.

A. nitrogen cycleB. nitrogen eliminationC. nitrogen fixationD. nitrogenation

2Section Check

AnswerThe answer is C. The nitrogen cycle is the transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere.

2Section Check

Question 3Which is NOT a means of replacing nitrogen compounds in soil?

A. animal manureB. compostC. fertilizersD. planting crops such as corn or wheat

2Section Check

AnswerThe answer is D. When crops such as wheat and corn are planted, most of the plant is removed when it is harvested. The plants are not left in the field to decay and return their nitrogen compounds to the soil.

Converting Energy• Matter - recycled

Energy Flow

3

• Energy - NOT recycled• converted from one form to another

• Photosynthesis - light energy converted into chemical energy

Energy Flow

3 • Chemosynthesis - production of energy-rich nutrient molecules from chemicals

Food Chains• Food chain - shows how matter and energy

pass from one organism to another

Energy Flow

3

• Food web – shows feeding relationships among the organisms in a community

Energy Flow

3

• made up of many different food chains

Energy Pyramids

Energy Flow

3

• Available energy - reduced as you move from one level to the next in a food chain

• Energy used for: respiration, digestion, life processes (most given off as heat)

Energy Flow

3

• Energy pyramid - shows the amount ofenergy available at each feeding level in an ecosystem.

Available Energy

Energy Flow

3

• About 10% of the energy available at each feeding level is transferred to next level

3Section Check

Question 1All living things are made of _______.

The answer is matter. Matter can be recycled over and over again.

Answer

3Section Check

Question 2

The production of energy-rich nutrient molecules from chemicals is called _______.

The answer is chemosynthesis. Consumers living in hydrothermal vent communities rely on chemosynthetic bacteria for nutrients and energy.

Answer

3Section Check

Question 3

A. bottom levelB. herbivoresC. producersD. top level

Which best describes the level of the energy pyramid with the leastenergy?

3Section Check

AnswerThe answer is D. As you move up the pyramid, the transfer of energy is less efficient and each level becomes smaller. Carnivores are at the top level of the pyramid.

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