Introduction - Princeton University Press
... iron, and participate in redox reactions (Hartzfeld et al. 2002). Such chemical interactions are important across a broad spectrum of biological processes from nutrient absorption in the gut of mammalian herbivores to the decomposition of terrestrial plant litter. The chemistry of primary producers ...
... iron, and participate in redox reactions (Hartzfeld et al. 2002). Such chemical interactions are important across a broad spectrum of biological processes from nutrient absorption in the gut of mammalian herbivores to the decomposition of terrestrial plant litter. The chemistry of primary producers ...
Atkinsonetal.Ecosystems.2014
... Author's personal copy C. L. Atkinson and others contribution of consumer nutrient remineralization to the food web. Ecologists have long recognized how certain species can have large effects on ecosystems (ecological engineers, sensu Moore 2006). However, research in this area has focused primaril ...
... Author's personal copy C. L. Atkinson and others contribution of consumer nutrient remineralization to the food web. Ecologists have long recognized how certain species can have large effects on ecosystems (ecological engineers, sensu Moore 2006). However, research in this area has focused primaril ...
Ecological Balances, Activity Based Foundation Course on
... for giving students a flavour of the issues. These may be covered over a span of 100 contact hours, about 10 hours per book. The large number of activities given in each book allow ample scope for a flexible and innovative approach to teaching. The activities outlined in the books can, however, be u ...
... for giving students a flavour of the issues. These may be covered over a span of 100 contact hours, about 10 hours per book. The large number of activities given in each book allow ample scope for a flexible and innovative approach to teaching. The activities outlined in the books can, however, be u ...
The State of South Africa`s Biodiversity 2012
... much more natural habitat than others. If Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and North West Province keep losing natural landscapes at the current rate, for example to cultivation, mining and urban expansion, these provinces will have almost no natural habitat left outside protected areas by 2050. Where natural ...
... much more natural habitat than others. If Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and North West Province keep losing natural landscapes at the current rate, for example to cultivation, mining and urban expansion, these provinces will have almost no natural habitat left outside protected areas by 2050. Where natural ...
Climate Change Effects and Adaptation Approaches in Freshwater
... Effects of nutrient enrichment in streams are highly variable, due to questions about which primary nutrient (nitrogen or phosphorus) is limiting, shading (light availability), water clarity, flow regime, and available substrate for periphyton (a broad organismal assemblage composed of attached alga ...
... Effects of nutrient enrichment in streams are highly variable, due to questions about which primary nutrient (nitrogen or phosphorus) is limiting, shading (light availability), water clarity, flow regime, and available substrate for periphyton (a broad organismal assemblage composed of attached alga ...
Diversity meets decomposition
... can remove plant species from the litter pool (e.g. Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight disease, alder root rot, gypsy moth outbreaks) and eliminate key detritivores (e.g. crayfish plague in Europe) Exotic trees can change the composition and reduce the diversity of litter inputs (e.g. Fallopia japon ...
... can remove plant species from the litter pool (e.g. Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight disease, alder root rot, gypsy moth outbreaks) and eliminate key detritivores (e.g. crayfish plague in Europe) Exotic trees can change the composition and reduce the diversity of litter inputs (e.g. Fallopia japon ...
Shrubs as ecosystem engineers in a coastal dune: influences on
... shrubs within a block for size and separated them from each other and any adjacent shrubs by 2 m. We randomly selected each associated shrub-free area of dune, which consisted of a 1-m circular plot within 2 m of both shrubs. All three microhabitat types in a block were matched for slope and aspect. ...
... shrubs within a block for size and separated them from each other and any adjacent shrubs by 2 m. We randomly selected each associated shrub-free area of dune, which consisted of a 1-m circular plot within 2 m of both shrubs. All three microhabitat types in a block were matched for slope and aspect. ...
4. Mechanisms involved in salt-marsh rejuvenation J.P. Bakker
... In many cases the positive feedback between Spartina and sedimentation forms the basis for saltmarsh formation. Under ideal conditions, Spartina can rapidly invade a bare intertidal flat and form a homogeneous vegetation cover. Capturing of fine-grained sediment by Spartina stands, raises soil eleva ...
... In many cases the positive feedback between Spartina and sedimentation forms the basis for saltmarsh formation. Under ideal conditions, Spartina can rapidly invade a bare intertidal flat and form a homogeneous vegetation cover. Capturing of fine-grained sediment by Spartina stands, raises soil eleva ...
3-1 What Is Ecology? - Blue Valley Schools
... • Herbivores eat plants. • Carnivores eat animals. • Omnivores eat both plants and animals. • Detritivores feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter. ...
... • Herbivores eat plants. • Carnivores eat animals. • Omnivores eat both plants and animals. • Detritivores feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter. ...
Module 6 Ecological Principles - Members
... Population dynamics and control. The numbers of plants and animals vary greatly over time. Climate can have positive or negative effects on numbers, but it acts independent of the population size. Other factors, such as predation, are density dependent. Productivity, nutrient cycling, and food webs. ...
... Population dynamics and control. The numbers of plants and animals vary greatly over time. Climate can have positive or negative effects on numbers, but it acts independent of the population size. Other factors, such as predation, are density dependent. Productivity, nutrient cycling, and food webs. ...
Fisheries catches and the carrying capacity of marine ecosystems in
... anchovy from 0 to 1 per year, while maintaining F constant for other exploited groups. We used ECOSIM (Walters et al., 1997) to calculate the predicted changes in equilibrium biomasses of species/group and the total catch from the system over the range of F values for anchovy. The model provides bio ...
... anchovy from 0 to 1 per year, while maintaining F constant for other exploited groups. We used ECOSIM (Walters et al., 1997) to calculate the predicted changes in equilibrium biomasses of species/group and the total catch from the system over the range of F values for anchovy. The model provides bio ...
Ecology#5- Ecological Succession Study Guide
... 17. Which image would be the start of primary succession? ________ 18. Which image shows pioneer species? ________ 19. Which image indicates the habitat has been restored? ________ 20. Which images show the stages of secondary succession in order? ...
... 17. Which image would be the start of primary succession? ________ 18. Which image shows pioneer species? ________ 19. Which image indicates the habitat has been restored? ________ 20. Which images show the stages of secondary succession in order? ...
Functional redundancy in ecology and conservation
... which organisms have evolved to do similar things – is closely related to several fundamental issues in ecology and evolution: organization of species into ecological guilds and trophic levels, the Huchinsonian (or ecological) niche, competition, and limiting similarity. Ecologists have long recogni ...
... which organisms have evolved to do similar things – is closely related to several fundamental issues in ecology and evolution: organization of species into ecological guilds and trophic levels, the Huchinsonian (or ecological) niche, competition, and limiting similarity. Ecologists have long recogni ...
Andrew D. Barnes , Rowan M. Emberson , Hazel M. Chapman
... disturbance. It may also account for much of the variation in ecosystem functioning as larger beetles remove more dung. We will also calculate wing loading (body mass/wing area) which will serve as a surrogate for dispersal ability, as this trait may also be important in determining species’ suscept ...
... disturbance. It may also account for much of the variation in ecosystem functioning as larger beetles remove more dung. We will also calculate wing loading (body mass/wing area) which will serve as a surrogate for dispersal ability, as this trait may also be important in determining species’ suscept ...
Prescription for Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection and Restoration
... Historically, these and other symptoms were attributed to six major anthropogenic or humaninduced sources of stress to the ecosystems in each lake.5 The symptoms may appear stepwise like a chain reaction or self-organize in a complex, ecologically degraded manner. Listed in no particular order are ...
... Historically, these and other symptoms were attributed to six major anthropogenic or humaninduced sources of stress to the ecosystems in each lake.5 The symptoms may appear stepwise like a chain reaction or self-organize in a complex, ecologically degraded manner. Listed in no particular order are ...
Crowder et al. 2008 - Duke People
... targeted species, entire food webs have been significantly altered by overfishing ( Jackson et al. 2001, Christensen et al. 2003). Fishing has a variety of direct and indirect effects on food webs in marine ecosystems, with complex and potentially cascading effects. A large portion of fisheries focu ...
... targeted species, entire food webs have been significantly altered by overfishing ( Jackson et al. 2001, Christensen et al. 2003). Fishing has a variety of direct and indirect effects on food webs in marine ecosystems, with complex and potentially cascading effects. A large portion of fisheries focu ...
The Lesson of the Kaibab
... ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. What do you think would have happened to the deer on the island had wolves NOT been introduced? _________________________________________________ ...
... ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. What do you think would have happened to the deer on the island had wolves NOT been introduced? _________________________________________________ ...
A novel soil manganese mechanism drives plant species loss with
... linear negative correlation between N addition rate and forb species richness indicates that for every ~5 g·m−2·yr−1 increase in the rate of added N to simulate N deposition in Inner Mongolia steppe, an additional forb species per square meter is lost. Effects of N addition on photosynthetic rates T ...
... linear negative correlation between N addition rate and forb species richness indicates that for every ~5 g·m−2·yr−1 increase in the rate of added N to simulate N deposition in Inner Mongolia steppe, an additional forb species per square meter is lost. Effects of N addition on photosynthetic rates T ...
Resilience Assessment of Lowland Plantations Using an
... been hit by a disturbance. Such an ability is a measure of ecosystem resilience [11,12]. Forest ecosystems of high resilience should therefore be an important management goal, especially for the regions prone to frequent natural disturbances, like typhoons. Among other ecological indicators of the e ...
... been hit by a disturbance. Such an ability is a measure of ecosystem resilience [11,12]. Forest ecosystems of high resilience should therefore be an important management goal, especially for the regions prone to frequent natural disturbances, like typhoons. Among other ecological indicators of the e ...
Regime Shifts in the Anthropocene: drivers, risk
... barrens. These shift leads to loss of habitat and ecological complexity. Shifts to turf algae are related to nutrient input, while shifts to urchin barrens are related to trophic-level changes. The consequent loss of habitat complexity may affect commercially important fisheries. Managerial options ...
... barrens. These shift leads to loss of habitat and ecological complexity. Shifts to turf algae are related to nutrient input, while shifts to urchin barrens are related to trophic-level changes. The consequent loss of habitat complexity may affect commercially important fisheries. Managerial options ...
Ground Work: Basic Concepts of Ecological Restoration
... If we ensure that an ecosystem and its processes are intact, then the species which depend on that ecosystem have a far better chance of survival than if our efforts are concentrated on maintaining population levels of a particular species, while ignoring its habitat. In the case of wide-ranging or ...
... If we ensure that an ecosystem and its processes are intact, then the species which depend on that ecosystem have a far better chance of survival than if our efforts are concentrated on maintaining population levels of a particular species, while ignoring its habitat. In the case of wide-ranging or ...
Differential response of ants to nutrient addition in a tropical Brown
... between plant decomposition rates and N and P concentrations in litter. Furthermore, according to the Structural Elements Hypothesis (Sterner and Elser, 2002), the nitrogen content of litter limits the growth and abundance of silk-spinning invertebrates (spiders, mesostigmatid mites and pseudoscorpi ...
... between plant decomposition rates and N and P concentrations in litter. Furthermore, according to the Structural Elements Hypothesis (Sterner and Elser, 2002), the nitrogen content of litter limits the growth and abundance of silk-spinning invertebrates (spiders, mesostigmatid mites and pseudoscorpi ...
Low biodiversity state persists two decades after cessation of
... All statistical tests were conducted in R 2.13.2 (www.r-project.org). To summarise temporal trends in plant species richness, plant species diversity and E. repens relative biomass, we fit loess regressions using the geom_smooth function in the ggplot2 package (Wickham 2010). To test for a hystereti ...
... All statistical tests were conducted in R 2.13.2 (www.r-project.org). To summarise temporal trends in plant species richness, plant species diversity and E. repens relative biomass, we fit loess regressions using the geom_smooth function in the ggplot2 package (Wickham 2010). To test for a hystereti ...
What`s your trophic level and ecological efficiency
... Step B: Divide the sum of all portions for each diet TL by the total of all portions to yield the fraction of your diet coming from each trophic level (B = A ÷ total portions). Step C: Multiply the fraction by the diet trophic level value to yield the weighted contribution from each diet trophic lev ...
... Step B: Divide the sum of all portions for each diet TL by the total of all portions to yield the fraction of your diet coming from each trophic level (B = A ÷ total portions). Step C: Multiply the fraction by the diet trophic level value to yield the weighted contribution from each diet trophic lev ...
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic components are regarded as linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. As ecosystems are defined by the network of interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment, they can be of any size but usually encompass specific, limited spaces (although some scientists say that the entire planet is an ecosystem).Energy, water, nitrogen and soil minerals are other essential abiotic components of an ecosystem. The energy that flows through ecosystems is obtained primarily from the sun. It generally enters the system through photosynthesis, a process that also captures carbon from the atmosphere. By feeding on plants and on one another, animals play an important role in the movement of matter and energy through the system. They also influence the quantity of plant and microbial biomass present. By breaking down dead organic matter, decomposers release carbon back to the atmosphere and facilitate nutrient cycling by converting nutrients stored in dead biomass back to a form that can be readily used by plants and other microbes.Ecosystems are controlled both by external and internal factors. External factors such as climate, the parent material which forms the soil and topography, control the overall structure of an ecosystem and the way things work within it, but are not themselves influenced by the ecosystem. Other external factors include time and potential biota. Ecosystems are dynamic entities—invariably, they are subject to periodic disturbances and are in the process of recovering from some past disturbance. Ecosystems in similar environments that are located in different parts of the world can have very different characteristics simply because they contain different species. The introduction of non-native species can cause substantial shifts in ecosystem function. Internal factors not only control ecosystem processes but are also controlled by them and are often subject to feedback loops. While the resource inputs are generally controlled by external processes like climate and parent material, the availability of these resources within the ecosystem is controlled by internal factors like decomposition, root competition or shading. Other internal factors include disturbance, succession and the types of species present. Although humans exist and operate within ecosystems, their cumulative effects are large enough to influence external factors like climate.Biodiversity affects ecosystem function, as do the processes of disturbance and succession. Ecosystems provide a variety of goods and services upon which people depend; the principles of ecosystem management suggest that rather than managing individual species, natural resources should be managed at the level of the ecosystem itself. Classifying ecosystems into ecologically homogeneous units is an important step towards effective ecosystem management, but there is no single, agreed-upon way to do this.