Download Watershed Structure and Function Related to Ecological

http://www.msu.edu/~rjstev/EIPP_Intro_2001.htm
http://www.msu.edu/~rjstev/Eco_Health_pt1_2001.htm
http://www.msu.edu/~rjstev/Eco_Health_pt2_2001.htm
What are Ecosystems and Why Do We
Need to Protect Them?
Points of Emphasis
• Ecological Systems are Complex, but Logical
• Ecosystems are Dynamic, yet Homeostatic
• Ecological Responses to Humans Varies with
Duration of Stress
• Values of Ecosystems
What is an Ecosystem?
Group of interacting organisms and the physical
and chemical elements in a defined area.
Sun
Consumers (Animals)
Producers (Plants)
Moisture
Temp
Decomposers (Bact.)
Abiotic Chemicals
(CO2, H2O, O2, NH3)
What is an Ecosystem?
Group of interacting organisms and the physical
and chemical elements in a defined area.
Watershed Hydrology & Sourcesheds
Routes of Resources
and Contamination
Nutrients
Light
Allochthonous Input
Algae
Grazers
Predators
CPOM/
FPOM
Plants
Bact. &
Fungi
Shredders
Collectors
Aquatic
Ecosystems
Allochthonous Input
Material Cycling
Algae
Grazers
Nutrients
Predators
CPOM/
FPOM
Plants
Bact. &
Fungi
Shredders
Collectors
Allochthonous Input
Light
Energy Cycling
Algae
Grazers
Predators
CPOM/
FPOM
Plants
Heat Energy
Bact. &
Fungi
Shredders
Collectors
Allochthonous Input
Energy Cycling
Balance
Light
GPP = R
Algae
Grazers
Predators
GPP
CPOM/
FPOM
Plants
Heat Energy
Respiration (R)
Bact. &
Fungi
Shredders
Collectors
Nutrients
Light
Allochthonous Input
Algae
Grazers
Predators
CPOM/
FPOM
Plants
Bact. &
Fungi
Shredders
Collectors
Nutrients
Light
Allochthonous Input
Algae
Grazers
Predators
CPOM/
FPOM
Plants
Bact. &
Fungi
Shredders
Collectors
Nutrients
Light
Allochthonous Input
Algae
Grazers
Predators
CPOM/
FPOM
Plants
Bact. &
Fungi
Shredders
Collectors
Allochthonous Input
Nutrients
Light
O2
Algae
Grazers
Predators
CPOM/
FPOM
Shredders
Collectors
Plants
Bact. &
Fungi
Bioconcentration of Contaminants
(Residues of DDT (ppm) in various trophic levels of
an estuary food web)
Fish-eating Birds
(3.15-75.5)
Fish
(0.17-2.07)
Shrimp
(0.16)
Mud Snail
(0.26)
Organic Debris
(0.3-13.0)
Cladophora
(0.03)
Clam
(0.42)
Plankton (0.04)
Insects (0.230.3)
Marsh Plants
(0.33-2.8)
Interactions
among Organisms
and Their
Environment
• Biotic Interactions
– Trophic Interactions (i.e.
predator/prey)
– Competition
• Intraspecific
• Interspecific
– Disease/Parasitism
– Mutualistic Interactions
• Abiotic Factors
(Limiting factors)
– Climate
•
•
•
•
Temperature
Rainfall
Day – Length
Seasons
– Geology
• Soils & Water
Chemistry
• Hydrology
• Soil Moisture
– Resources
• Light
• Nutrients
– Physical Disturbance
Abiotic Regulation (non-resource)
of Populations (Species)
Metabolism
(e.g. growth, reproduction)
Range of Tolerance
Zone of
stress
Zone of
stress
Comp.
Level
Environmental Gradient (e.g. Temp)
Resource Regulation of Populations
Metabolism
(e.g. growth, reproduction)
Range of Tolerance
Zone of
stress
Comp.
Level
Resource Gradient (Light, N, P, Prey)
Population Abundance
Carrying Capacity (CC) of Populations
CC
Time (d, wks, mon, yrs)
Population Abundance
Carrying Capacity (CC) of Populations
CC
Time (d, wks, mon, yrs)
Interactions Among Land,
Streams, Lakes, and Wetlands
Land
Lakes
Streams
Wetlands
Habitat Functions
• Storage and Transformation
– (Water, Nutrients, Sediments)
– Settling or Biological Uptake and Retention
• Transport (Water, Nutrients, Sediments,
Biota)
• Habitat for Spawning/Breeding
• Habitat for Development of Young
• Habitat for Adults
• Productivity
• Support of Diversity
• Homeostasis from Interactions
Natural Regulatory Factors
& Ecoregions
Natural Sources of Variability
• Primary Factors
– Climate (Temp/Rain)
– Geology
• Secondary Factors
–
–
–
–
–
Hydrologic Variability
Soils
Temperature
Water Chemistry
Light
• Species Membership
• Competition
• Predation
• Mutualism
• Production
• Primary Production
• Secondary Production
• Nutrient and Energy Cycling
• Soil fertility
• Fisheries productivity