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Ecosystems Key terms Autotrophs/Producers • Heterotrophs/Consumers • Decomposers • Ecological Community • Community-level interactions • Keystone species • Trophic level • Limiting Factors • Know the difference and be able to compare: • • • • Biotic factors vs. Abiotic factors Food chains vs. Food webs Niche vs. habitat Structure Learning Objectives/questions: • What defines an ecosystem? • How to classify and explain the interactions w/in an ecosystem. Structure electron neutron proton • Levels of Ecological Organization: • • • • • • • • Atom Molecule Cell Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biosphere Life on Earth Life on earth depends on 3 interconnecting factors: 1. The one-way flow of energy (high-quality) • o o o 2. Cycling of matter or nutrients (round – trip) o o 3. Sun to earth and living things Photosynthesis (low – energy) Can not be recycled Only certain amount of matter and nutrients on earth. Required for life sustainability Depending on the cycle, takes seconds to centuries. Gravity o Allows us to hold onto the atmosphere surround the earth, which allows life to be sustained. Abiotic Factors Non-living components: • Water, air, nutrients • Rocks • heat, solar energy • Salinity • Temperature • pH • Wind Biotic Factors All components that consists of living and once lived. • Plants • Animals • Microbes • Dead organisms and parts of organisms • Waste products from organisms Ecology Ecology – study of relationships in the natural world. • Ecologist – the person or scientist that study these interactions • Applied ecology – Uses information from ecologists to better understand issues like developing effective vaccination strategies, managing fisheries or large ranches without over harvesting, depleting genetic diversity, designing land/marine conservation reserves for threatened and endangered species (spp) and modeling how ecosystems may respond to global climate change, natural and human disasters. • Biomes A collection of ecosystems that share similar climatic conditions, vegetation and animals. In relation to ecosystems • Most changes in ecosystems are caused by climate change, species movement in and out of the ecosystem and ecological succession. • Species basic physical conditions for survival also play a role in an ecosystem. • Geography has an important impact on ecosystem changes because of climate circulation patterns (atmospheric and oceanic) and climate zones. • • Factors include: • Temperature ranges, moisture availability, light and nutrient availability, and altitude (height above or below sea level). Biomes Climate Zones: • Divided into 4 distinct areas • • • • • Tropics – warmest, wettest regions Equator - where the sun’s heat and energy are the strongest. Subtropics – high-pressure creates dry zones @ 30° latitude North and South. Poles – Driest and coldest zones @ 60° latitude. Reason for climate zones – • • • The angle of impact of the sun’s rays on the earth • Equator = 90° Angle Latitude and altitude change the ambient heat energy the further you move away from the equator or away from the surface. The Earth is tilted at a 23.5° angle creating seasons as it orbits around the sun. Biomes broad geographical areas that stretch the globe which contain many ecosystems with a wide range of diverse groups of organisms that are adapted for those specific temperatures and precipitations. Division of biomes (with subdivisions) Aquatic Freshwater – swamp forests, lakes, ponds, streams, rivers and bogs Marine – rocky shore, mud flats, coral reefs, mangrove swamps, continental shelf, deep ocean Terrestrial Deserts – hot and cold Forests – Tropical, temperate, and boreal(taiga) Grasslands – Tropical or savanna and temperate Tundra – arctic and alpine Biomes Aquatic Biomes (Freshwater and Marine) • Covers ¾ of the earth’s surface. • Include – open ocean, coral reefs, estuaries, lakes, rivers • Large bodies (oceans & lakes) are layered • Surface – warmest with most amount of light filtration. • Depends on the movement and mixture from deep to surface for nutrients. Biomes - Aquatic Wetlands – Freshwater and saltwater swamps, marshes, bogs • All have standing water, water table is at the surface, ground is saturated • Little oxygen creates special soils and decay takes place slowly. • Creates the coal we use today over a geological time period. • Bogs – no surface water but have a layer of vegetation that lays on top of the water. • Bacteria found here carry out chemical processes that produce methane and hydrogen sulfide. Biome - Aquatic Freshwater – lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, groundwater. • Very small portion of the Earth’s water supply. • Used to supply water to homes, industry, recreation, and agriculture. • Rivers and streams are used to transport materials from land to ocean. • Abundant in biotic factors. • Estuaries – mouths of rivers where ocean water and freshwater mix. – rich in nutrients, impt. in breeding sites for fish (salmon). Biome - Aquatic Intertidal zones: • Areas exposed to the alternation of air during low tide and ocean waters during high tide. • Constant movement of water transports nutrients in and out of the zone. • Major economic resources found here, i.e. seafood • Susceptible to pollution from land and freshwater sources. • Extreme variations in environmental conditions occur here. Biome - Aquatic Open Ocean: • Called pelagic region • Tend to be low in nitrogen and phosphorus • Benthos – bottom portion • Primary food source is dead organic material that falls from above. • Upwellings – Deep ocean waters Cold and dark, life is scarce • Rich in nutrients – dead organic material (organisms) fall from surface • Upward flows of waters brings those nutrients to the surface allowing abundant growth of algae and animals at the surface. • Commercial fishing occurs in these areas because of the abundant and diverse fertile organisms found here. • • Hydrothermal vents – occur in deep ocean where plate tectonic processes create vents of hot water with a high concentration of sulfur compounds. Chemosynthetic organisms live here • Water pressure is high, and temps range from boiling to frigid. • Differences Oceans Freshwater Large continuous areas Varies in size, mostly isolated from other water sources. Organisms have a more free range of movement through areas, Less need to adapt to changes in conditions More adept to a wider range of changing conditions and able to change habitats. Biomes - Terrestrial Tundra – treeless plains that occur in the harsh climates of low rainfall and low average temps. • Dominant vegetation – grasses, mosses, lichens, flowering dwarf shrubs • Two types • Arctic – High latitudes, Antarctica and N. Canada/Greenland • Alpine – High elevation, Himalayas, Rocky Mountain Ranges, Swiss Alps • They differ by the types of animals found • Permafrost fragile – permanently frozen ground, extremely Biomes - Terrestrial Boreal (Taiga) Forests: • Forests of cold climates • High latitude and High • Dominated by conifers (trees), form dense small trees. • Spruce, • Biological firs, pines, aspens and birch to name a few. diversity is low • Commercially valuable resources • Include large mammals, small rodents, many insects, birds, raptors • Contain some of the Earth’s largest remaining wilderness • Conservation is important (Yellowstone) Biomes - Terrestrial Temperate Deciduous Forests: • Climates are somewhat warmer than Boreal. • N. America, Eurasia, Japan • Dominant vegetation Maples, beech, oaks, hickory, chestnuts • Taller trees than Boreal • • Dominant animals Smaller mammals that tend to live in trees (squirrels), birds, rodents, insects • Larger mammals tend to live in the younger forests where tree population is smaller • • Long dominated by humans Important nature preserves (Yellowstone, Yosemite) • Very few remaining uncut, old growth forests left • • Fire is natural and recurring, but not as dominant as in Boreal Biome - Terrestrial Temperate Rain Forests: • Temps are moderate and precipitation exceeds 250cm/year • Rare but spectacular • Dominant vegetation – Coniferous and evergreen trees • Redwood, Sequoia, Douglas Fir, Western Cedars • • Northern Hemisphere – California, Oregon (Redwood, Sequoia) • Canada • • Southern • Hemisphere – New Zealand • Major source of Timber crops, esp. in N. America • Low diversity of plant and animal species because of the low sunlight available on the forest floor. Biome - Terrestrial Temperate Woodlands: • Temp patterns are like deciduous forests, but climate is slightly drier. • N. Hemisphere – • New England, Georgia, Caribbean islands. • Dominant veg – • Samll trees – pinion pine, evergreen oaks, ponderosa pine • Stands are open and wide allowing plenty of sunlight to reach forest floors • Fast growing and used for timber crops • Animal species – • Deer, small/med mammals, birds, rodents Biome - Terrestrial Temperate Shrublands: • Mediterranean climates, low rain fall and cool seasons, Drier climates called Chaparral • Coastal California (mid to lower), Chile, S. Africa, Med region of Europe (Ancient Greece and Rome). • Miniature woodlands with dominant shrubs • Highly modified by humans because of the climate and is conducive for ranching and farming. • Young tree/shrub lands – conducive to fires • Used to decorate many streets and gardens Biome - Terrestrial Temperate Grasslands: • Too dry for forests, too moist for deserts. • Dominant plants – • Grasses • Soils and flowers have a deep organic layer, perfect for farming • i.e. – Midwest, Kansas, Wyoming • Covers areas from Canada down to Northern Oklahoma. • Abundant animal species • Large mammals – horses, American Bison, Kangaroos (Australia), antelope and other large herbivores (Africa) • Small mammals – rodents (prairie dogs), foxes Biome - Terrestrial Tropical Rain Forests: • Avg temp is high and relatively constant the whole year, rainfall avg is high and frequent. • Northern South America, Central America, Western Africa, N. Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Borneo, Hawaii and parts of Malaysia. • Diverse plant and animal species – • Approx 2/3 of all flowering plants live here. • Mammals tend to live in trees – Monkeys, sloths, etc. • High diversity of bird species and insect species Biome – Terrestrial Tropical Seasonal Forests and Savannas: • Low latitudes, avg temp is high and constant • Rainfall is abundant but seasonal • Location – • India, • Savannas SE Asia, Africa and N & S Americas. – grasslands with scattered trees • Large mammals – Lions, Tigers, Herds like Zebras, Giraffes, Pandas, Elephants, etc. • Abundance of plant species. Biome – Terrestrial Deserts: • Driest regions where vegetation can survive. • Rainfall is typically less than 50cm a year. • Sahara (Africa), Mojave (Ca/Az), Whitesands (N.M), Mexico and Australia occur at low latitudes. • Cold deserts – Utah, Nevada and W Asia • Specialized vegetation Joshua tree in Ca/Az. • Cacti • yuccas, • turpentine bush • prickly pears, • false mesquite, • agaves and brittlebush. • • Specialized animal species Vertebrate – lizards, snakes, jackrabbits, foxes, rodents, burrowing animals, birds, kangaroo mice • Invertebrates – insects, beetles, arachnids • Food Webs and Food Chains • Food webs: • shows the complexity of relationships and energy flow between organisms within an ecosystem. • Food Chains: • Shows a simple one-way relationship and energy flow between a set group of organisms. Arrows represent the way the energy flows through a system. (eaten to eater) Examples: Food chain – Grass grasshopper sparrow Fox Cougar • Food Web Cougar Fox Deer tree grasshopper sparrow worm flower butterfly vole grass • Tertiary consumer • Secondary consumer 2 • Secondary consumer 1 • Primary consumer • Producer Pyramids of Ecosystems • Trophic level pyramid: