Introduction to Introduction to Ecology Ch. 13Ecology Ch. 13
EcologyEcology
….the study of the interactions between organisms and the living and nonliving components of their environment.
A Key Theme In EcologyA Key Theme In Ecology
Interconnectedness or Interconnectedness or Interdependence: All Interdependence: All 55 levels of Ecological levels of Ecological Organization , influence Organization , influence by biotic and abiotic by biotic and abiotic factors. factors.
Levels of Ecological OrganizationLevels of Ecological Organization
Organisms-> Populations-> Organisms-> Populations-> Community->Ecosystem-> BiomeCommunity->Ecosystem-> Biome
Levels of Ecological Levels of Ecological OrganizationOrganization
How do we Research? Lab: pg.401How do we Research? Lab: pg.401
ObservationObservation ExperimentationExperimentation Modeling: taking past data to predict Modeling: taking past data to predict
how it will effect the ecological how it will effect the ecological organisms in question.organisms in question.
Biotic and Abiotic Biotic and Abiotic FactorsFactors
Biotic: all living thingsBiotic: all living thingsAbiotic: temperature, Abiotic: temperature,
humidity, pH, salinity, humidity, pH, salinity, oxygen concentration, oxygen concentration, sunlight, nitrogen, and sunlight, nitrogen, and precipitation. precipitation.
Changes in the Changes in the EnvironmentEnvironment
Changing one factor in an Changing one factor in an ecosystem can effect Biodiversity.ecosystem can effect Biodiversity.
Biodiversity:Biodiversity: The variety of life in The variety of life in an ecosystem. an ecosystem. – Keystone SpeciesKeystone Species: A single species : A single species
that effects the entire ecosystemthat effects the entire ecosystemThe carnivorous starfish Pisaster ochracceus is a keystone species in the intertidal zones of the Pacific northwest
Energy TransferEnergy Transfer
Producers: Autotrophs Producers: Autotrophs (photo and chemo)(photo and chemo)
Gross primary Gross primary productivity, biomass, and productivity, biomass, and net primary productivitynet primary productivity
ConsumersConsumers
Heterotrophs: Heterotrophs: Herbivores, carnivores, Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, detritivores, omnivores, detritivores, saprophytes, and saprophytes, and decomposers. decomposers.
Energy and the rule of 10Energy and the rule of 10
Food Web
What type of consumer are you?What type of consumer are you?
Generalist: have a varied dietGeneralist: have a varied diet Specialists: only eat one specific Specialists: only eat one specific
organism or a few types organisms.organism or a few types organisms. Include:Include:
– Herbivores:PlantsHerbivores:Plants– Carnivores: AnimalsCarnivores: Animals– Ominivores: Plants and AnimalsOminivores: Plants and Animals– Detritovores: Eat detritus, dead organicsDetritovores: Eat detritus, dead organics– Decomposers: Like fungi break down Decomposers: Like fungi break down
organic matter into simple compounds.organic matter into simple compounds.
How does matter Cycle?How does matter Cycle?
Water cycleWater cycle Oxygen CycleOxygen Cycle Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle Phosphorous CyclePhosphorous Cycle
Ecosystem Recycling Ecosystem Recycling
Today’s EnvironmentToday’s Environment
Exploding Human Exploding Human PopulationPopulation
…….increasing demand for energy, .increasing demand for energy, food, and space.food, and space.
Population: Population: A group of individuals of one A group of individuals of one species living in one area who interbreed species living in one area who interbreed and interact.and interact.
Human Population
Graphs
Sixth Mass ExtinctionSixth Mass Extinction
…….Loss of habitat, .Loss of habitat, pollution, over hunting pollution, over hunting and fishing.and fishing.
Oil Rig Disasters…oops!Oil Rig Disasters…oops!
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The size of Texas
Thinning Ozone LayerThinning Ozone Layer
Clamatic ChangesClamatic Changes
Global Warming and the Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect.Greenhouse Effect.
Enduring ChangesEnduring Changes
Performance Vs. Performance Vs. Environmental ChangesEnvironmental Changes
Responding to ChangesResponding to Changes
AcclimationAcclimation
Control of Internal Control of Internal ConditionsConditions
…….Conformers and .Conformers and RegulatorsRegulators
EscapeEscape
…….Dormancy and Migration.Dormancy and Migration
The NicheThe Niche
Species’ Role: Species’ Role: environmental conditionsenvironmental conditions
needed resources needed resources number of offspringnumber of offspring time of reproductiontime of reproduction all environmental all environmental interactionsinteractions
Fundamental NicheFundamental Niche…….range of .range of conditions/resources a conditions/resources a species can potentially species can potentially tolerate and use.tolerate and use.
Realized NicheRealized Niche…….range of .range of conditions/resources a conditions/resources a species actually use.species actually use.
Generalists
Vs.
Specialists
Measuring PopulationsMeasuring Populations
Growth Rate: birth, Growth Rate: birth, death, emigration, death, emigration, immigration immigration
Demographers assume Demographers assume immigration and immigration and emigration are zero when emigration are zero when calculating growth rate. calculating growth rate.
The Exponential modelThe Exponential model
The Logistic ModelThe Logistic Model
Population RegulationPopulation Regulation
Density Independent Density Independent FactorsFactors
…….weather, floods, and .weather, floods, and fires have the same effect fires have the same effect regardless of population regardless of population size.size.
Density Dependent Density Dependent FactorsFactors
…….include resource .include resource limitations and are limitations and are triggered by increasing triggered by increasing population density. population density.
Perils of Small Populations: Perils of Small Populations: Loss of Genetic VariationLoss of Genetic Variation
Species InteractionsSpecies Interactions
Ant FarmersOf The Amazon
Types of SymbiosisTypes of Symbiosis
PredationPredation
ParasitismParasitism
CompetitionCompetition
…….Competitive Exclusion .Competitive Exclusion
Character Displacement Character Displacement and Resource Partitioningand Resource Partitioning
…….Finding ways for species .Finding ways for species with similar niches to live with similar niches to live together.together.
Mutualism Mutualism
…….Both species benefit..Both species benefit.CommensalismCommensalism
…….One species benefits and .One species benefits and the other is not affected. the other is not affected.
SuccessionSuccession
Primary SuccessionPrimary Succession
Secondary SuccessionSecondary Succession
Terrestrial EcosystemsTerrestrial Ecosystems
Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic EcosystemsOceansOceans
Aquatic: Fresh WaterAquatic: Fresh Water
Eutrophic Lakes and Eutrophic Lakes and Oligotrophic LakesOligotrophic Lakes
Ponds, rivers, and Ponds, rivers, and streams.streams.
How Technology can help.How Technology can help.
Dr. Thomas’ Article
On “Green Clean”