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Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere What is Ecology? The scientific study of how living things interact with each other and with their environment • An environment consists of biotic factors which are living things such as plants and animals and abiotic factors which are nonliving things such as soil, water, and air. • Ecology also studies the ways in which all living things depend on each other. This concept is referred to as interdependence. Organization of the Earth How does it all fit together? Populations Biomes Communities Individuals (species) Biosphere Ecosystems Biosphere/Biome/Ecosystems/Communities/Populations/Individuals(species) Biosphere, cont. Ecologists further break the (biosphere-area on Earth where life exists- approx. 16km in diameter) in the 5 following categories: Individual (Species): A group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and reproduce fertile offspring. (elk) Populations: Groups of one species that live in the same area (A herd of elk in a certain location) Communities: Several populations all living in the same area (A herd of elk, and a pack of wolves living in the same area) Ecosystem: A collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, including the non-living (or abiotic) factors present. Biome: A group of ecosystems that have similar temperature and precipitation, and dominant communities (similar types of plants and animals) Biomes • Earth’s diverse environments, characterized by large areas of land with certain soil and climate conditions. Certain plants and animals have adapted to each biome. • The adaptations are inherited characteristics that increase the organism’s ability to survive. • Cactus: wide-spread shallow roots for water absorption • Can you differentiate Climate from Weather? • Examples: TUNDRA, DESERT, BOREAL FOREST Hike up Borah Peak? Aquatic Freshwater Ecosystems Freshwater Ecosystems- determined primarily by depth, flow, temperature, and water chemistry Flowing Water Ecosystem- (Rivers, streams, creeks etc...) -organisms adapted to rate of flow -usually have streamlined bodies, hooks and or suckers Standing Water Ecosystems- (lakes and ponds) must have some type of circulation to move heat, oxygen and nutrients - Plankton common here, both phytoplankton (photosynthetic algae) and zooplankton Other Aquatic Ecosystems INCLUDE: Swamps, Bogs and Marshes Energy Flow in the Ecosystem • Sunlight is the main energy source for life on earth. I. Autotrophs/Producers: organisms that can capture chemical energy or sunlight energy and use that energy to create their own food. EX. Plants, some algae, and certain bacteria. Primary Production- the rate at which matter(carbs) are created -Photosynthesis: Use of light energy to create carbohydrates (food). -Chemosynthesis: Use of chemical energy to produce carbohydrates. Can be done in the absence of light. How does chemosynthesis make food? Where are we at? hot springs, hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, whale carcasses, and sunken ships. Energy Flow in the Ecosystem, cont. Consumers: Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply. Types of Consumers A. Herbivore: Eat only plants. (cows, deer, etc.) B. Carnivore: Eat only meat (snakes, owls, etc.) C. Omnivore: Eat both plant and animals (meat). (Humans, bears, raccoons, etc.) D. Detritivores: Eat dead and decaying plant and animal material. (earthworms, snails, crabs, etc.) E. Scavengers: Eat dead material that has been recently dispatched (vulture) Food Chains and Energy transfer start with the SUN Feeding Relationships Energy flows in an ecosystem in one direction, from producers to consumers. Decomposers: organisms that break down organic matter. (bacteria, fungi, and worms) Food Web: A network of complex feeding interactions linking all the food chains in an ecosystem. Trophic Levels: Each step in the food chain. Each consumer depends on the trophic level below it for energy. Producers First Level (primary) Consumers Second Level (secondary)Consumers Third Level (tertiary) Consumers How many food chains are in this web? Ecological Pyramids: A diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web. Energy: shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level. Only about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level. The rest is lost as heat through metabolic processes. 1% Second level consumers (3rd trophic level) 10% First Level Consumers (2nd trophic level) 100% Producers (1st trophic level) http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/science_up_close/314/deploy/interface.html (food pyramids in more species) Pyramid of Numbers: shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level Variations Pyramid of Biomass: represents the amount of living tissue matter at each trophic level. 1 kg/m2 Why do doctors recommend that people, especially pregnant women, limit their consumption of tuna, shark, and swordfish? biological magnification- as pesticides are introduced into the food chain the magnify as you move up trophic levels Nutrient Cycles (Biogeochemical Cycles) • In most organisms, 95% of the body is made up of the following five elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus • These five elements cycle through the biosphere through biogeochemical cycles. • Matter can cycle through the biosphere because biological systems do not use up matter they transfer it. *Matter is recycled and energy is lost *A proper balance of these nutrients is critical in maintaining life in an ecosystem. Too much or too little of any of these nutrients can be disastrous to living organisms in an ecosystem. Ex: Eutrophication The Carbon Cycle • Carbon is the key ingredient in all living organisms. • Carbon is stored in four major locations of the biosphere: 1. In the atmosphere it is found as carbon dioxide gas. 2. In the ocean it is found as dissolved carbon dioxide. 3. On land, in organisms, rocks, and soil. 4. Underground as coal, petroleum, and calcium carbonate rock. • Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by volcanic activity, respiration, burning fossil fuels, and decomposition of organic matter. The Carbon Cycle • Carbon dioxide is consumed by plants and used to make carbohydrates through the process of photosynthesis. • Organisms that eat the plants use the carbohydrates for energy and eventually released through the process of respiration and decomposition. • Carbon is also found in the ocean as dissolved carbon dioxide and used to form calcium carbonate which accumulates in marine sediments and in bones and shells of marine organisms. Eventually these compounds break down and the carbon returns to the atmosphere. the carbon cycle Words to know Combustion Respiration Photosynthesis Decomposition Deposition the phosphorus cycle 2 Main Types: Organic Inorganic Why is this important? DNA,RNA,Bone,ATP Growth in plants the nitrogen cycle Words to Know Nitrogen fixation-N2 gas to NH3 Nitrogen fixing bacteriaRhizobium genus Ammonification-creates NH3 Nitrification-NO2, NO3 Denitrification- back to N2 Assimilation-conversion into nutrients Legumes- plants that can convert N2 into usable forms of nitrogen Community Interactions -interactions happen constantly and shape the ecosystem in which they occur. Can be +,-,= Competition- compete for resources and mates -what is a resource? Natural Selection- variations in organisms will determine which is more fit and therefore reproduce. -Oftentimes called Survival of the Fittest Predation- predator and prey have coevolved over long periods Symbiotic Relationships- any relationship where two species live together. Mutualism- both benefit (flowers/insects) ants/aphids Honeyguide Bird/Badger Oxpecker Parasitism- one benefits the other is harmed leech/human lamprey/lake trout Mistletoe/Conifers Rafflesia/Grape plants Commensalism- one benefits the other is not harmed Barnacles/Whale Leopard Shark/Remora Brown headed cowbird/Bison Ecological Succession Ecological Succession: A predictable change in plant/animal inhabitation in an area that has been disturbed. Ecological Succession Primary succession: When the soil has to be developed or re-established Pioneer species: The first species to populate the area. Ex: Lichens= a fungus/alga that can live on bare rock. They secrete acids that breaks down rocks, which forms soil allowing for larger plants to start growing. Glacier Recession http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/content/chp55/55020.html Secondary Succession- some type of disturbance that occurs that doesn't remove the soil Can you think of any examples? Forest Fires, Logging, abandoned crop lands, Abandoned parking lots, floods, overharvest, Disease Succession will occur until a Climax Community has been reached. -Climax Community- a stable community of plants and animals that has developed over time - These communities can be different from one ecosystem to the next Yellowstone Park Fire Succession Population- all the members of the same species living in a given area Density- refers to # of individuals per given area Population Characteristics 1 Geographic Distribution- Range 2 Density 3 Growth Rate 4 Age Structure Populations fluctuate Factors that affect population size 1 # of births 2 # of deaths 3 Immigration and Emigration Wolf numbers explode with their reintroduction to Idaho Wolf numbers, in Idaho, will continue to rise until something limits their population size. Types of Growth http://www.wwnorton.com/college/biology/discoverbio3/core/content/index/animations.asp Exponential Growth- population reproduces at a constant rate and conditions are ideal Must have abundant food, space, mates, protection from predators and disease human pop. growth animation and unrestrained pop. growth Logistical Growth- typical growth pattern of most populations - has a period of exponential growth carrying capacity- where avg. growth rate reaches 0 Which growth curve is the human population following? Isle Royal Wolf/Moose Population Limits to Growth Limiting Factors are factors that cause growth to decrease - example: Nitrogen and Phosphorus Density Dependent Limiting Factors- limiting factor that depends on the population size 1 Competition-food, water, space, light, mates 2 Predation- helps control populations (predator-prey) 3 Parasitism- tapeworms, bacteria, ticks 4 Disease- parasites can weaken immune systems Density Independent Limiting Factors- affect all populations the same ways, regardless of size 1 Natural Disasters-fires, volcanic eruptions 2 Unusual Weather- hurricanes, flash floods 3 Seasonal Cycles- drought, frost, monsoons 4 Human Activities- dams, clear-cutting, prescribed burns Natural Resources timber, fossils, rich mineral deposits such as gold, silver, lead, zinc, cobalt, copper, and gems such as star garnets, jasper, opal, jade, topaz, zircon, and tourmaline. In addition, Idaho has fertile soil, thick forests, and abundant water supplies. What are Idaho’s natural resources? Types of Environmental Resources Types of Resource Definition Examples Renewable Resources Resources that can Trees, fresh water regenerate themselves Nonrenewable Resources Resources that cannot Fossil fuels be replaced by natural processes Global Climate Change The Greenhouse Effect Earth’s temperature range is maintained by heat energy and atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor getting trapped within the atmosphere. SOME Trapped heat is good! • Without these gases trapped in the atmosphere Earth’s temperature would be 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) cooler than it is today. Ozone • O3 • Pollutant at ground level • Helps protect us from UV radiation • CFC’s thought to be responsible for hole over the Arctic Ocean • Today most CFC’s are banned Global Warming • Evidence • Warming trend? • Human caused? • Maybe both • Carbon cycle is disrupted- more CO2 going out than being removed • Burning fossil fuels the issue • Intensifies the greenhouse effect