Small bugs with a big impact: linking plankton ecology with
... for extrapolating our understanding of plankton ecology to predicting large-scale features and processes? The behavior and physiology of individual planktonic organisms are adapted to the environment in which plankton live and their microscopic size places constraints on their biology. These adaptat ...
... for extrapolating our understanding of plankton ecology to predicting large-scale features and processes? The behavior and physiology of individual planktonic organisms are adapted to the environment in which plankton live and their microscopic size places constraints on their biology. These adaptat ...
Combining field experiments and individual
... mechanisms are driving the dynamics. When faced with this dilemma, theoretical ecologists are often forced to make educated guesses about which mechanisms to include in their analytical models. This paper illustrates how to reduce some of the guesswork in model development by showing how information ...
... mechanisms are driving the dynamics. When faced with this dilemma, theoretical ecologists are often forced to make educated guesses about which mechanisms to include in their analytical models. This paper illustrates how to reduce some of the guesswork in model development by showing how information ...
10 Interactions of Life
... competition demand for resources, such as food, water, and shelter, in short supply in a community ...
... competition demand for resources, such as food, water, and shelter, in short supply in a community ...
Deleting species from model food webs
... The system is allowed to change according to the population dynamics for what may be relatively long intervals until equilibrium is reached, that is, until the populations of the different species present remain unchanged. If, during the population dynamics, the density of a species falls below a va ...
... The system is allowed to change according to the population dynamics for what may be relatively long intervals until equilibrium is reached, that is, until the populations of the different species present remain unchanged. If, during the population dynamics, the density of a species falls below a va ...
Important IB ESS Course Booklet
... A simplified description designed to show the structure or workings of an object, system or concept. A relationship between individuals of two or more species in which all benefit and none suffer. (The term symbiosis will not be used.) A term sometimes used by economists for natural resources that, ...
... A simplified description designed to show the structure or workings of an object, system or concept. A relationship between individuals of two or more species in which all benefit and none suffer. (The term symbiosis will not be used.) A term sometimes used by economists for natural resources that, ...
HOW HEALTHY IS YOUR ECOSYSTEM? (2 Hours)
... • Pass out 5 red chips to one-third of your students, 5 blue chips to one-third of your students, and 5 green chips to the remaining third. Explain that each red chip represents 10 white-tailed deer, each green chip represents 10 white-footed mice, and each green chip represents 10 eastern cotton ta ...
... • Pass out 5 red chips to one-third of your students, 5 blue chips to one-third of your students, and 5 green chips to the remaining third. Explain that each red chip represents 10 white-tailed deer, each green chip represents 10 white-footed mice, and each green chip represents 10 eastern cotton ta ...
Impacts of wood ants (Formica aquilonia Yarr.) on the invertebrate
... Recent syntheses, however, suggest that food webs are often more complex, and omnivory is more common than previously thought, which hinders the occurrence of trophic cascades (Polis 1991, Polis & Strong 1996). Moreover, the traditional view according to which omnivores are not only rare but decreas ...
... Recent syntheses, however, suggest that food webs are often more complex, and omnivory is more common than previously thought, which hinders the occurrence of trophic cascades (Polis 1991, Polis & Strong 1996). Moreover, the traditional view according to which omnivores are not only rare but decreas ...
AMPHIPODS AS FOOD SOURCES FOR HIGHER TROPHIC
... a lower amount of amphipods (from 0.1 to 1.7 Mt.yr-1) as their relative biomass is far weaker than that of fish. The total amphipod mass ingested per year is thus estimated at roughly 60 Mt. These values must however be cautiously regarded as they are tainted with biases and approximations for sever ...
... a lower amount of amphipods (from 0.1 to 1.7 Mt.yr-1) as their relative biomass is far weaker than that of fish. The total amphipod mass ingested per year is thus estimated at roughly 60 Mt. These values must however be cautiously regarded as they are tainted with biases and approximations for sever ...
Above and below ground impacts of terrestrial mammals
... mesh (opening, 25 mm2) to exclude terrestrial, insectivorous mammals and birds. The mesh openings exceeded the width of most invertebrates present and allowed unhindered movement to all but the very large species. The base of the fencing was buried 20 cm below the ground, and walls were 80 cm high. ...
... mesh (opening, 25 mm2) to exclude terrestrial, insectivorous mammals and birds. The mesh openings exceeded the width of most invertebrates present and allowed unhindered movement to all but the very large species. The base of the fencing was buried 20 cm below the ground, and walls were 80 cm high. ...
Food Webs, Models and Species Extinctions in a
... the present thesis is to study this interaction and contribute to a theoretical basis for the identification of extinction prone species. In paper II it is concluded that spectral analysis of population time series may function as a tool to predict extinctions at an early stage. More specifically, I ...
... the present thesis is to study this interaction and contribute to a theoretical basis for the identification of extinction prone species. In paper II it is concluded that spectral analysis of population time series may function as a tool to predict extinctions at an early stage. More specifically, I ...
Teacher`s version - EnvLit - Michigan State University
... living things. The energy flow in ecosystems can be represented by using a colored marker to trace arrows from the ‘light’ label to the producers box and on to the two levels of consumers. Add key identifying colors representing ‘Energy Flow in an Ecosystem.’ – See following page for suggestions for ...
... living things. The energy flow in ecosystems can be represented by using a colored marker to trace arrows from the ‘light’ label to the producers box and on to the two levels of consumers. Add key identifying colors representing ‘Energy Flow in an Ecosystem.’ – See following page for suggestions for ...
Production, Predation and Food Niche Segregation in a Marine
... 1977; Peterson and Andre, 1980).Experiments demonstrate that soft-bottom communities from which epibenthic predators have been excluded usually support both a increased total density and an increased species richness. Reise (1977a, b, 1978) and Virnstein (1977) suggested that competition was lax wit ...
... 1977; Peterson and Andre, 1980).Experiments demonstrate that soft-bottom communities from which epibenthic predators have been excluded usually support both a increased total density and an increased species richness. Reise (1977a, b, 1978) and Virnstein (1977) suggested that competition was lax wit ...
Lesson Overview
... 1. Compare the original situation in the bay with the current situation, taking note of the changes in both the food web and the nitrogen cycle. 2. Narragansett Bay harbors sea jellies that prefer warm water and have previously been present only in the summer and early fall. These sea jellies eat fi ...
... 1. Compare the original situation in the bay with the current situation, taking note of the changes in both the food web and the nitrogen cycle. 2. Narragansett Bay harbors sea jellies that prefer warm water and have previously been present only in the summer and early fall. These sea jellies eat fi ...
Chapter 3 THE BIOSPHERE Introduction
... • People are altering the structure of many community and ecosystem functioning through various human activities such as land use change, etc. ...
... • People are altering the structure of many community and ecosystem functioning through various human activities such as land use change, etc. ...
ecosystem - Cloudfront.net
... – Humans, bears, crows, and other omnivores eat both plants and animals – Detritivores such as mites, earthworms, snails, and crabs, feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter, collectively called detritus – Another important group of heterotrophs, called decomposers, breaks down organic ...
... – Humans, bears, crows, and other omnivores eat both plants and animals – Detritivores such as mites, earthworms, snails, and crabs, feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter, collectively called detritus – Another important group of heterotrophs, called decomposers, breaks down organic ...
Ecosystem consequences of diversity depend on food chain length
... mesocosms with and without a generalist predator and monitored community development. Changing food chain length altered biodiversity effects: higher grazer diversity enhanced secondary production, epiphyte grazing, and seagrass biomass only with predators present. Conversely, changing diversity alt ...
... mesocosms with and without a generalist predator and monitored community development. Changing food chain length altered biodiversity effects: higher grazer diversity enhanced secondary production, epiphyte grazing, and seagrass biomass only with predators present. Conversely, changing diversity alt ...
The role of mixotrophic protists in the biological
... describes consumption of inorganic nutrients by photoautotrophic phytoplankton, which in turn supports zooplankton and ultimately higher trophic levels. Pathways centred on bacteria provide mechanisms for nutrient recycling. This structure lies at the foundation of most models used to explore biogeo ...
... describes consumption of inorganic nutrients by photoautotrophic phytoplankton, which in turn supports zooplankton and ultimately higher trophic levels. Pathways centred on bacteria provide mechanisms for nutrient recycling. This structure lies at the foundation of most models used to explore biogeo ...
Terrestrial predators and abiotic conditions affect hatching survival
... Virginia Commonwealth University, [email protected] ...
... Virginia Commonwealth University, [email protected] ...
Farm Ecosystems - Jones Valley Teaching Farm
... • What’s an animal who called who hunts other animals? (predator). • So secondary consumers are predators, and sometimes carnivores, eating only meat. • These animals are important because they keep the population of primary consumers in check. (If the group is from a rural area, you can ask i ...
... • What’s an animal who called who hunts other animals? (predator). • So secondary consumers are predators, and sometimes carnivores, eating only meat. • These animals are important because they keep the population of primary consumers in check. (If the group is from a rural area, you can ask i ...
How Ecosystems Work Section 1
... • Decomposers break down decaying plants and animals, as well as plant and animal wastes. • After decomposers return nitrogen to the soil, bacteria transform a small amount of the nitrogen into nitrogen gas, which then returns to the atmosphere to complete the nitrogen cycle. ...
... • Decomposers break down decaying plants and animals, as well as plant and animal wastes. • After decomposers return nitrogen to the soil, bacteria transform a small amount of the nitrogen into nitrogen gas, which then returns to the atmosphere to complete the nitrogen cycle. ...
Decline in top predator body size and changing climate alter trophic
... availability of food of both prey fish and predatory fish. Further, SST and stratification influence the productivity of lower trophic levels (phytoplankton, zooplankton) as well as the extent of benthic pelagic coupling (the extent of mixing from the surface layers to bottom layers), which in turn ...
... availability of food of both prey fish and predatory fish. Further, SST and stratification influence the productivity of lower trophic levels (phytoplankton, zooplankton) as well as the extent of benthic pelagic coupling (the extent of mixing from the surface layers to bottom layers), which in turn ...
Ecological Assessment of Selenium in the Aquatic Environment
... •• A key aspect of Se toxicity is the narrow range between dietary essentiality and toxicity. •• Differences in species sensitivities to Se may be related to differences in reproductive physiology, dynamics of Se transfer from diet or body tissues to eggs, and/or differences in capacity to metaboliz ...
... •• A key aspect of Se toxicity is the narrow range between dietary essentiality and toxicity. •• Differences in species sensitivities to Se may be related to differences in reproductive physiology, dynamics of Se transfer from diet or body tissues to eggs, and/or differences in capacity to metaboliz ...
PREDATOR IDENTITY AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS
... degree of similarity depends on the specific response variable. In our study we found no predominance of weak or strong interactors, as predators appear to be evenly distributed along a gradient of interaction strengths. Knowledge of the identity of the species occupying a particular trophic positio ...
... degree of similarity depends on the specific response variable. In our study we found no predominance of weak or strong interactors, as predators appear to be evenly distributed along a gradient of interaction strengths. Knowledge of the identity of the species occupying a particular trophic positio ...
Food web
A food web (or food cycle) is the natural interconnection of food chains and generally a graphical representation (usually an image) of what-eats-what in an ecological community. Another name for food web is a consumer-resource system. Ecologists can broadly lump all life forms into one of two categories called trophic levels: 1) the autotrophs, and 2) the heterotrophs. To maintain their bodies, grow, develop, and to reproduce, autotrophs produce organic matter from inorganic substances, including both minerals and gases such as carbon dioxide. These chemical reactions require energy, which mainly comes from the sun and largely by photosynthesis, although a very small amount comes from hydrothermal vents and hot springs. A gradient exists between trophic levels running from complete autotrophs that obtain their sole source of carbon from the atmosphere, to mixotrophs (such as carnivorous plants) that are autotrophic organisms that partially obtain organic matter from sources other than the atmosphere, and complete heterotrophs that must feed to obtain organic matter. The linkages in a food web illustrate the feeding pathways, such as where heterotrophs obtain organic matter by feeding on autotrophs and other heterotrophs. The food web is a simplified illustration of the various methods of feeding that links an ecosystem into a unified system of exchange. There are different kinds of feeding relations that can be roughly divided into herbivory, carnivory, scavenging and parasitism. Some of the organic matter eaten by heterotrophs, such as sugars, provides energy. Autotrophs and heterotrophs come in all sizes, from microscopic to many tonnes - from cyanobacteria to giant redwoods, and from viruses and bdellovibrio to blue whales.Charles Elton pioneered the concept of food cycles, food chains, and food size in his classical 1927 book ""Animal Ecology""; Elton's 'food cycle' was replaced by 'food web' in a subsequent ecological text. Elton organized species into functional groups, which was the basis for Raymond Lindeman's classic and landmark paper in 1942 on trophic dynamics. Lindeman emphasized the important role of decomposer organisms in a trophic system of classification. The notion of a food web has a historical foothold in the writings of Charles Darwin and his terminology, including an ""entangled bank"", ""web of life"", ""web of complex relations"", and in reference to the decomposition actions of earthworms he talked about ""the continued movement of the particles of earth"". Even earlier, in 1768 John Bruckner described nature as ""one continued web of life"".Food webs are limited representations of real ecosystems as they necessarily aggregate many species into trophic species, which are functional groups of species that have the same predators and prey in a food web. Ecologists use these simplifications in quantitative (or mathematical) models of trophic or consumer-resource systems dynamics. Using these models they can measure and test for generalized patterns in the structure of real food web networks. Ecologists have identified non-random properties in the topographic structure of food webs. Published examples that are used in meta analysis are of variable quality with omissions. However, the number of empirical studies on community webs is on the rise and the mathematical treatment of food webs using network theory had identified patterns that are common to all. Scaling laws, for example, predict a relationship between the topology of food web predator-prey linkages and levels of species richness.