Download Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

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