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”