ecology. what is ecology? ecology= ‘study of house’ –study of interaction among plants,...
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Ecology
What is ecology?
• Ecology= ‘study of house’– Study of interaction among plants, animals,
and the environment
Levels of Organization
• Biosphere– Part of Earth where life exists
• Biome– Area of earth that has similar
geography & climate
• Ecosystem– Living and non-living parts of
an area
• Community– Living part of ecosystem
• Population– Members of the same species
• Species– Population that reproduces in
the same area
Big
Small
Biomes
Biome • Climate (Temp, Precip, Soil)
Flora (plants) & Fauna (Animals)
Tundra Temp:
Precip:
Soil:
Flora:
Fauna:
Taiga/Boreal Forest Temp:
Precip:
Soil:
Flora:
Fauna:
Northwestern Coniferous Forest
• Mild temperature• Cool dry summer, moist
rest of year• Rocky acidic soil
• Flora- Tall trees• Fauna- Varied diet
animals
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Temp:
Precip:
Soil:
Flora:
Fauna:
Biome Abiotic Factors (Temp, precip, soil)
Flora (plants) & Fauna (animals)
Temperate Woodland & Shrubland
• Hot dry summer, cool moist winter
• Thin nutrient poor soil
• Flora- woody chaparral plants- resistant to drought & fire
• Fauna- varied diets
Temperate Grassland
• Warm to hot summers, cold winters
• Moderate seasonal precip
• Fertile soil, occasional fires
• Flora- grasses• Fauna- herbivores-
animals with camouflage to avoid predators
DesertTemp:
Precip:
Soil:
Flora:
Fauna:
Tropical Grassland/Savannah/
Shrubland
Temp:
Precip:
Soil:
Flora:
Fauna:
Biome Abiotic Factors (Temp, Precip, Soil)
Flora (plants) & Fauna (Animals)
Tropical Dry Forest • Warm year-round• Wet & dry seasons• Rich soil subject to
erosion
• Flora- deciduous (drop leaves)
• Fauna- Those that go through estivation- hibernation during dry season
Tropical Rain Forest Temp:
Precip:
Soil:
Flora:
Fauna:
Ecosystems• Ecosystems- non-living & living part of an
area– Abiotic = non-living– Biotic = living
Abiotic Factors: Nutrient CyclesCarbon Oxygen Cycle
Carbon-Released by animals & factory-Consumed by plants
Oxygen-Released by plants-Consumed by animals
Abiotic Factors: Nutrient CycleWater Cycle
• Evaporation: Water atmosphere
• Evapotranspiration: Groundwater plants atmosphere
• Condensation: Formation of cloud water droplets fall to ground groundwater (water in soil & bedrock)
• Runoff: Groundwater lakes & streams
Abiotic Factors: Nutrient CyclingNitrogen Cycle
A & B) Nitrification•Ammonium (NH4
+) Nitrites (NO2
-) Nitrates (NO3-)
PlantsC) Decomposers•Nitrogenous waste Ammonium (NH4
+)D & E) Nitrogen-fixing bacteria• Free Nitrogen Ammonium (NH4
+)•Example: LegumeF) Denitrifying bacteria
• Nitrates (NO3-) Free
nitrogen (N2)A
B
C
D
E
F
Succession
• Disaster followed by increasing numbers of species
• Disasters: Clear land, fire, tree fall, volcano erupts
1. Pioneer organisms- hardiest organisms– Examples: Algae, moss, lichens, bacteria
2. Grasses Shrubs Trees3. Climax community- maximum number of
species sustained by ecosystem
Climax
Communities
• Communities- all the living organisms within a community– Includes different species of organisms
Communities within an Ecosystem: Interactions
• Commensalism– 1 benefits, other unaffected (+/0)– Examples: Hippos & birds; Sucker fish & sharks
• Mutualism– Both benefit (+/+)– Examples: 1. Lichens fungi (moisture) + algae
(food & water) 2. Protazoa (digest) + termites (shelter,
food) 3. Bacteria (converts N) + roots of legume (makes
food)
• Parastism– 1 benefits, other harmed (+/-)– Examples: Athlete’s foot, tapeworm
Interactions within Communities: Cont’d
• Competition- two species in same area require same food, water, and space– Interference competition-
prevent the other species from obtaining the resource
• Example: Physical attack
– Exploitation- indirect competition in which one species uses up resources before the other can
Communities within an Ecosystem: Nutritional Relationships
• Autotroph- produces its own food– Example: Bacteria, plants,
chemophotosynthesis– Also referred to as producers
• Heterotroph- consumers– Eat other animals for food
• Example: humans
Types of Heterotrophs
• Carnivore- eats meat– Includes predators & scavengers
• Predator- cheetah• Scavengers- vultures
• Herbivores- eats plants– Example: Caterpillar
• Omnivore- eat plants and animals– Example: Some humans, bears
• Decomposer- eats dead material– Example: Bacteria, Fungi
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
• Sun is the main source of energy in all ecosystems
• Food chains- linear sequence indicating who eats whom
• Example: Grasses rabbit fox
Food Webs
• More realistic than food chains– Shows more interactions among species
1. Producers (autotrophs/plants)2. Consumers (heterotrophs)
– Primary consumer- herbivore– Secondary and tertiary consumers-
carnivores & omnivores
3. Decomposers (saprophytes) – Example: fungus, bacteria
Energy Pyramids
• Most energy & biomass at the bottom of the pyramid– Each step up the pyramid
is about 1/10th the energy & biomass of the step below it
• Bottom: Producers• Middle: Herbivores• Top: Carnivores• Omnivores: between
herbivores & carnivores
Populations
• Populations- All members of a given species
• Exponential Growth– Represented by J-curve– No limiting resources
• Carrying capacity– The maximum number in a
population that can be sustained by resources in the environment
• Limiting Factors– Amount of nutrients and
food available for population
The Human Population
• Thomas Malthus– Economist who stated
food supply is the human limiting factor
• Other limiting factors• War, diseases, global
warming, water availability
• Solutions– Hydroponics, crop
rotation
Species
• Species: Organisms in the same area that are able to reproduce
• Species occupy niches• Niche- role within the
ecosystem• Fundamental niche-
where a species exists based on abiotic factors
• Realized niche- where a species exists based on biotic factors
Biodiversity
• Biodiversity- number of species in a given area– Greater biodiversity, greater stability in
ecosystem– Question: Does biodiversity relate to
communities or populations?
________________________________
Positive Human Impact on the Environment
• Population control– Limit number of children
• Conservation of resources– Plant trees, reduce soil erosion, water
• Pollution control– Scrubbers
• Species preservation– Refuges, national parks, state parks
Positive Human Impact on Environment
• Use of biological controls– Integrated pest management (IPM)– Introduce natural predator
• State environment protection laws– Freshwater & wetland act
• Federal environmental protection laws
Negative Human Impact on Environment
• Overconsumption– Water, food, oil
• Adverse effects of technology– Need for natural resources– Water pollution
• Factories dump PCBs & heat
– Air pollution• Acid rain
– Burn coal & oil– Get sulfur dioxide
– Pesticides– Waste
Rank Country Electricity - consumption (billion kWh)
1 United States 3,892
2 China 3,271
3 Japan 1,080
4 Russia 1,003
5 Germany 549.1
6 Canada 530
7 India 517.2
8 France 480
9 Brazil 402.2
10 Korea, South 385.1
11 United Kingdom 348.5
12 Italy 316.3
13 Spain 276.1
14 South Africa 241.4
15 Taiwan 233
Rank Country Oil - consumption (bbl/day)
1 United States 20,800,000
2 China 6,930,000
3 Japan 5,353,000
4 Russia 2,916,000
5 Germany 2,618,000
6 India 2,438,000
7 Canada 2,290,000
8 Korea, South 2,130,000
9 Brazil 2,100,000
10 Mexico 2,078,000
11 Saudi Arabia 2,000,000
12 France 1,999,000
13 United Kingdom 1,820,000
14 Italy 1,732,000
15 Iran 1,630,000
Negative Human Impact on Environment
• Poor land management– Need more cities, less
sprawl
• Importation of organisms– Bring in pests– Example: Gypsy moth,
zebra mussels, kudzoo
• Exploitation of Wildlife– Excessive hunting of furs &
tusks
Result of Negative Human Impact
• Global instability & reduced biodiversity
• Biodiversity= number of species in a given area
• Greater biodiversity, greater environmental stability
Negative impact is irreversible!
Global Warming• Increased ________ ___________ gas in atmosphere– Caused by burning _______
__________ emitted from cars, factories, electricity, & ______ & ______ forests worldwide
• These activities add CO2 _________ than the carbon cycle _______ it
• Carbon acts as an insulating blanket
WARMER!
Pg. 178
Global Warming: Abiotic Results• Shifting climate patterns
– Changes in patterns of ___________ & _________
– More intense storms in one area, drier climate in another
– Warmer closer to the _____ ______
• Alaska temp increased _____° C over last ___ years
– Ocean currents shifting– Rising ________ _______
• Caused by ________ _________, ____ _____, polar ice sheets
Pg. 177
Global Warming: Cont’d
• Effects on organisms– Migration north to ______ climates, or to
_________ altitudes– Animals behave as if spring were _________– Endangered & extinct species
Pg. 178
Ozone• Ozone layer- consists of O3
• Normally a pollutant at ground level, but in the atmosphere, it absorbs _____ ________
• UV radiation causes ______, damage to _____, lower resistance to ______
• Can also damage _____ & _____
Pg. 175
Hole in the Ozone Layer
• Cause:
• Gases called _____ damage ozone layer
• Used in ____ ________, coolant in _____, _________, ___ __________, and production of plastic ______
Pg. 175
Ozone: Changing Behavior
• Set new policy
• Montreal Protocol: _______ use of CFC’s
• Levels of ___ have _______ since the protocol
• The hole should disappear around __________
Pg. 175
Questions to Ask
• When will our advancing technology stop working?
• How can we take action?
• How is my generation having an impact on the environment?