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Ecology and the Environmental Sciences 12 November 2015 Physics Chemistry Astronomy Geology/Ecology Biology High Elevation Forest Ecosystem in Colorado No Matter Where the Ecosystem is … Agricultural Ecosystem Coral Reef Ecosystem Week 11: Ecology and Environmental Science A bit of history upon which to chew Functional unit of ecology: ecosystem Characteristics of ecological systems Systems ecology and feedback processes Environmental science: a few case studies Brief History of Ecology 1800’s and before: natural history (observations on nature) Through the mid-1900’s: challenge of new technologies and environmental problems (e.g., Rachel Carson, harnessing the atom) Mid-to-late 1900’s: new era in ecology Emergence of sub-disciplines of ecology (e.g., human ecology, marine ecology) Interdisciplinarity of ecology: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and geology (unique feature of ecology) 2000 and continuing today … Interdisciplinary challenges (e.g., changing climate, deforestation, biodiversity, Fukishima) Diffusion of ecology to the general public (e.g., debates on climate change, water quality, mercury and human health, GMO’s, renewable energies, tropical rain forests, aquifer depletion, pesticide) Ecological Hierarchies: Why Ecosystems? Earth Hierarchy Theory and Ecology Biosphere Biome Ecosystem Community Population Ecosystem Analogue: Organism Physics and Chemistry: atom Biology: cell (coming soon to a lecture near you!) Ecosystems as “the” Functional Unit Central role of energy Central role of cycling of elements and materials Hierarchy theory Species have niches Cybernetics at play in ecosystems Ecosystems Ecological systems - ecosystem Components Biotic components Abiotic components All living organisms - plants, animals and microbes The “ecological community” All non-living components - soil, atmosphere, water, climate, nutrients, etc. Ecosystem Scientific understanding and research Unit of study and organization Structure of Ecosystems: Energy Structure underpinned by flow of energy Autotrophs: fix energy (C-C) from sunlight (i.e., plants; 1st Law of Thermodynamics) Heterotrophs: consume energy in C-C bonds (2nd Law of Thermodynamics) Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores (combination of the above) Decomposers (dead organic matter) All organisms classified by their source of energy Humans = __________. Eagles = _________. Corn plants = _______. Microbes in a decomposing log = ___. Trophic Levels of an Ecosystem and Energy Rule of 10 10% 10% 10% The Physics of Energy (Joules) Flow in Ecosystems Where does energy/J go? Keys to Ecosystem’s Energy Energy flows through ecosystems unidirectionally As energy flows, amount of energy available to do work always decreases (90%) First law of thermodynamics (physics again!) Only 10% goes to the next higher trophic level (Rule of 10) Second law of thermodynamics (physics … again) Flow of energy limits the number of organisms in higher trophic levels Predatory fishes (sharks) Predatory birds (owls, hawks and eagles) Predatory mammals (African Serengeti) Energy Flow and Nutrient/Element Cycling 10% Sun Herbivores/ Carnivores Autotrophs 10% Flow of Energy “Cycling” of Nutrients/ Elements Soil, air and water Decomposers 10% Ecosystems as the Functional Unit Hierarchies in ecology Role of energy Cycling of elements and materials Hierarchy theory Species have niches Cybernetics at play in ecosystems Cycling of Materials and Elements in Ecosystems: Track a Carbon Atom Carbon atom in your arm came from where? Simple Ecosystem Model - Cycling of Elements (e.g., C) and Materials Attributes of model Biotic component Abiotic components Fluxes between spheres/reservoirs Cycle (contrast with energy) Example: carbon atom Star to atmosphere to dinosaur to fossil fuel to atmosphere to corn plant to your femur and then back to atmosphere Energy Element & Material Classic Carbon (C) Cycle Model Standard Ecosystem Model of Cycling in Ecosystems Atmosphere Biosphere Keys Reservoirs Fluxes Cycling Linkage among all reservoirs Hydrosphere Geosphere Others: Water & Mercury Attributes of Ecosystems Ecosystems comprised of both biotic and abiotic components Communities: collection of all plants, animals and microbes Energy flows through ecosystems in one direction Materials cycle through ecosystems Every species has a unique ecological niche Ecosystems operate as cybernetic systems, being controlled by feedback processes Change in ecosystems: the norm (succession) Geographical “Footprint” of American Beech Tree and Black Bear Geographical Footprint of the Cultivated Grape Footprint: function of species niche Every species: unique niche Niche in Ecology Physical (e.g., temperature and water) and biological (e.g., pest) factors control the distribution of species Each species: unique in the set of factors that affect its “place” in an habitat (physical and biological factors) Example: lizard in the desert Example: oak tree in forest Wetland Habitat Forest Habitat Niche in Ecology Every species’ niche is unique Niche-Specific Analysis Niche of the Sandpiper Niche factors Abiotic Factors 1. 2. Biotic factors 1. 2. Attributes of Ecosystems Ecosystems comprised of both biotic and abiotic components Communities: collection of all plants, animals and microbes Energy flows through ecosystems in one direction Materials cycle through ecosystems Every species has an ecological niche Ecosystems operate as cybernetic systems, controlled by feedback processes Change in ecosystems: the norm not the exception (succession) (this requires a re-thinking of ecology) Change in Ecosystems: the Norm Disturbances are common (natural and anthropogenic) Fire Hurricanes Floods Ice ages Grazing animals Invasive species Deforestation Weather and climate Ecological Succession and Feedback Processes Ecology and the Environmental Science A bit of history upon which to chew Functional unit of ecology: ecosystem Characteristics of ecological systems Systems ecology and feedback process Environmental science: few case studies Cybernetic Systems: Ecosystems Positive Feedback Set Point Control Center/ Sensor Effector Negative Feedback Cybernetics of Human Body Feedbacks (+ and -), homeostasis and cybernetics Examples Thermostat Body temperature Cybernetics of Ecological Systems Feedbacks (+ and -), and cybernetics Examples Succession Climate change and temperature on Earth’s surface Cybernetics in Ecology: an Example Using Ecological Succession Fire Disturbance and Ecosystem Recovery: Succession Ecology and the Environmental Science A bit of history upon which to chew Functional unit of ecology: ecosystem Characteristics of ecological systems Systems ecology and feedback process Environmental science: few case studies Case Studies Ozone and UV-B in the atmosphere (text) Acid rain (text) Climate change and greenhouse gases (text and lecture) Landfills and recycling (text) Over-harvesting of marine fisheries Biodiversity or loss of species Mercury in the environment (lecture) Endocrine disruptors (lecture) Invasive species (text) Climate Change First principles: radiatively-active greenhouse gases (you know this) Retrospective analysis: what is it and what do the data suggest? Prospective analysis: what is it (forward looking) and why use models? Radiative Properties In absence of radiatively-active trace gases in atmosphere, temperature would be 25 F degrees colder!!! Trace Gases in the Atmosphere Carbon dioxide or CO2 Methane or CH4 Source: fossil fuel combustion (C-C to CO2) Sources: rice patty agriculture and cattle Radiatively active (meaning?) Based on first principles of physics and chemistry (you know this too!), YOU would predict that as CO2 in the atmosphere increases ~30% over five decades, temperature in the atmosphere would do which of the following: decrease, increase or remain unchanged? Retrospective Analysis of CO2 Retrospective Correlation: CO2 and Temperature First principles (couple slides ago) and now some experimental data Retrospective Sea Level Change 1850 1900 1950 2000 Sea Level Rise Projection for Changing Climate Climate Change First principles of radiatively-active greenhouse gases Retrospective analysis: what is it and what do the data suggest? Prospective analysis: what is it (forward looking) and why use models? Prospective (Forward Looking) Analysis: Modeling Case Studies Ozone and UV-B in the atmosphere (text) Acid rain (text) Climate change and greenhouse gases (text and lecture) Landfills and recycling (text) Over-harvesting of marine fisheries Biodiversity or loss of species Mercury in the environment (lecture) Endocrine disruptors (lecture) Invasive species (text) Mercury (Hg) in the Environment Mercury as an element (elemental Hg naturally occurring) Mercury in the environment (methyl-Hg) First principles: Hg cycles in ecosystems Methyl-Hg: uneven distribution in the environment - preference for higher trophic levels predatory birds (e.g., eagles) carnivorous fish (e.g., tuna) predatory cats (e.g., panther) humans Periodic Table and Mercury Mercury Cycling Some Attributes of Mercury (Hg) Mercury cycles in the environment Emergent/unexpected properties in ecosystem (hierarchy theory) Fate of Hg related to (i) organic form of Hg and (ii) trophic structure in ecosystems Purported human health concerns At-risk groups: pregnant women and fish consumption Health risk: neurological and cognitive functions Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment What is the endocrine system? What is a endocrine disruptor? Examples of endocrine disruptors Phthalates (Bisphenol A, BPA) Sources: natural and anthropogenic Disruptors in the environment (cycles) Observations in the environment Correlation vs cause and effect Purported vs definitive health issues Ecology and the Environmental Science A bit of history upon which to chew Functional unit of ecology: ecosystem Characteristics of ecological systems Systems ecology and feedback process Environmental science A few case studies: lecture and text Ecology and the Environmental Science A bit of history upon which to chew Functional unit of ecology: ecosystem Characteristics of ecological systems Systems ecology and feedback process Environmental science A few case studies: lecture and text