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Download Unit B Ecosystems and Population Change
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Ecosystems and their Diversity Biosphere Biomes Ecosystems Community Population Organism Abiotic Temperature Precipitation pH Light intensity Nutrients (in soil/water) Biotic Producers Consumers Decomposers Biomes Large geographical region with plants and animals that are able to live in that location because they have adapted in different ways to that area. Ecosystem How the living things interact with each other and interact with the nonliving things in a particular area. Difference An ecosystem is much smaller than a biome. For example an ecosystem can be as small as an aquarium in a soda bottle or as big as an ocean A biome can be thought of many similar ecosystems throughout the world grouped together. For example, in the forests there is the rotting tree stump ecosystem, the forest floor ecosystem, the canopy ecosystem, etc. They are all a part of one biome - the deciduous forest biome. Aquatic 1. Freshwater 2. Salt water/marine Terrestrial 1. Taiga/Boreal Forest (largest) 2. Tundra (north) 3. Temperate Deciduous Forest (great lakes) 4. Grasslands (prairies) No other province in Canada has as many different biomes Aquatic Freshwater Terrestrial Taiga/Boreal forest Muskeg (bogs in boreal forest) Grassland Deciduous Forest Ecotones: Aspen parkland, Foothills and Rocky Mountain Ecotone Transition area where organisms from both ecosystems interact Lots of species diversity in this region Example in Alberta: Aspen Parkland in central AB pond ecotone field Use the table of some of abiotic and biotic factors found in the four major ecosystems of Alberta Take a piece of chart paper and divide the paper into four quarters and label appropriately Taiga Grassland Muskeg Deciduous Forest Place each factor in the quarter where you think it belongs be sure to justify When finished give a brief description of each ecosystem Ecosystem taiga ● ● ● ● Alberta Ecosystems Abiotic factors northern and central changeable weather soil contains some water and is acidic precipitation 50–250 cm/a Biotic community black and grizzly bears wolverine weasels moose deer grouse owls spruce and pine trees shrubs, ferns, mosses, and lichens muskeg ● ● ● ● cold temperatures short growing season permafrost layer beneath soil low precipitation: 50–150 cm/a black bear caribou ptarmigan rapidly flowering plants, moss, and lichens grassland ● ● ecosystems ● ● central and southern more sunlight and warmer temperatures than muskeg or taiga bison deer rabbits hawks yellow-bellied sapsuckers fescue grasses grasshoppers ● ● ecosystems ● ● central more sunlight and warmer temperatures than muskeg or taiga deciduous forest rich, fertile soil precipitation 25–100 cm/a rich, fertile soil precipitation 75–250 cm/a black bears weasels moose deer woodpeckers deciduous trees shrubs Artificial Ecosystems Living community is planned or maintained by humans School yard, local parks, farms, managed forests Natural Ecosystems Living community is free to interact with physical and chemical environment not untouched just not planned or maintained by humans Lakes, rivers, forests, deserts, meadows A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time (e.g. deer population). Ecologists sample random populations within ecosystems to collect data that helps them better understand the species Sampling Populations Count species of a few samples of entire population then average them Transects Quadrants Populations have a number of attributes that may be of interest to ecologists and we that we can measure during sampling: Migration Distribution and Abundance Composition Dynamics Movement of individuals into (immigration) and out (emigration) of population Affects density, distribution, dynamics and composition of a population Tells us more about the numbers of the pop Density-# of organism per unit area (avg number of individuals per quadrant and dividing by size of quadrant) Total abundance can be determined from this Distribution-Location of individuals within an area (random, clumped or uniform) Carrying Capacity-max # of individuals that can be supported Data that enables up to determine whether the pop is declining or increasing Sex ratios-# of organisms of each sex Population fertility-reproductive capacity of the females Age structure-# of organisms of different ages Capacity for survival-# of offspring that reach reproductive age Length of reproductive life-age of sexual maturity & # of years the individual can reproduce What is it? Information that helps us understand what is happening within the pop Growth Rate-change in the total population per unit time Birth Rate- # of organisms born per unit time Mortality Rate- # of organisms dying per unit time Breeding Frequency-# of times that a organism reproduces each year Birth Potential- # of offspring per birth Ecologists study the following to find out more about specific species within a population: Habitat and Range Ecological Niche Factors that limit growth Abiotic and biotic factors A place or area with a particular set of characteristics, both biotic & abiotic Each species is found in a specific habitat that its physical, physiological and behavioural adaptations equip it to survive and reproduce One large area or a bunch of small areas that are similar Geographical area where the species is found Species will only be found where its habitat is present Functional position of an organism in its environment, comprising of its habitat and resources obtained there, and the periods of time which its active terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems can support a diversity of organisms because they have a variety of habitats and niches Terrestrial Niches/habitats Aquatic Niches/habitats Canopy Understorey Forest floor Canopy Upper area of vegetation, lots of sunlight, diverse number of birds Sub canopy Usually shrubs and smaller trees, many browsers such as deer and moose Forest floor Lowest area, continuous shade, shelter nesting sites, supports many types of insects, shade loving plant Soil Temperature levels determine decomposition & organic matter Benthic zone Littoral zone Shallow, most productive part of the lake, plants and algae take full advantage of sunlight for photosynthesis Limnetic zone Enough light for photosynthesis to occur, plankton is the food for the higher level consumers Profundal zone Not enough light for photosynthesis, not alot of oxygen, carp and other invertebrates that can handle low o levels Benthic zone The :ground”, rooted and bottom dwelling organisms, amount of sunlight and temperature depend on depth of water Abiotic and biotic conditions that limit the number of individuals Species cannot grow in an unlimited fashion for a sustained period of time Control the growth, distribution, survival of a species Anything in short supply (e.g. nutrients or sunlight) Soil Provides nutrients for all plants that grow on land Determined by nature of rock in which it was formed, nature of plants & H2O acidity Water (availability, depth of water table, pressure) Organisms need water to survive Determined by amount & type of ppt, how much collects then stays in soil, depth of water Temperature Affects other abioitc and biotic factors Vary throughout year Sunlight Provides energy to system Depends on closeness to equator, seasons and location in ecosystem Chemical Nutrients Important to survival of organisms Determined by seasons, soil, temperature, , amount dissolved Competition Intraspecific= members of same population compete with each other for limited resource (food, water, sunlight, mates, shelter, breeding sites etc) Interspecific= members of two different populations compete (exotic species) resulting in extinction of one or both of the populations Predators Parasitism=one organism (parasite) derives its nourishment from another organism (host) which is harmed in some way Scientists use classification system to understand similarities and differences between species Science of classifying =Taxonomy (Taxonomists) 7 levels of classification Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Representative organisms Kingdom General characteristics Cell wall Eubacteria ● simple organisms lacking nuclei (prokaryotic) ● either heterotrophs or autotrophs ● all can reproduce asexually ● live nearly everywhere ● prokaryotic ● heterotrophs ● live in salt lakes, hot springs, animal guts ● most are single celled; some are multicellular organisms; eukaryotic ● some are autotrophs, some are heterotrophs, some are both ● reproduce sexually and asexually ● live in aquatic or moist habitats ● most are multicellular ● all are heterotrophs ● reproduce sexually and asexually ● most are terrestrial ● all are multicellular ● all are autotrophs ● reproduce sexually and asexually ● most are terrestrial ● all are multicellular ● all are heterotrophs ● most reproduce sexually ● live in terrestrial and aquatic habitats often present (contains peptidoglycan) bacteria, cyanobacteria present (does not contain peptidoglycan) methanogens, extreme thermophiles, extreme halophiles algae, protozoa Eubacteria Archaebacteria Archaebacteria Protista Protista Fungi Fungi Plantae Plantae Animalia Animalia absent present mushrooms, yeasts, bread moulds present mosses, ferns, conifers, flowering plants absent sponges, worms, lobsters, starfish, humans Developed by Carl Linneaus as a way to scientifically name and classify organisms Based on physical and structural features (anatomy, embryology, and ancestry) More features in common the closer the relation 2 part name (usually Latin) Genus species Pg 139 Classification manuals that are constructed to help conduct their identification work A series of choices about the structure of the organisms must be made and each choice leads to a new branch If each choice is made correctly then the end result will be the organisms name The Key 1. (a) baleen plates Go to 2. (b) teeth 2. (a) dorsal fin Go to 4. Go to 3. 3. (a) long pectoral fin (b) no dorsal fin bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangline) (b) short pectoral fin 4. (a) no dorsal fin blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Go to 5. (b) large dorsal fin 5. (a) small nose killer whale (Orincus orca) Go to 6. (b) large projection from nose 6. (a) mouth on ventral surface (underside) of head narwhal (Mondon monoceros) sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) (b) mouth at the front of head Pg 162 beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)