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Ecology and Evolution

Ecology and Evolution. Introduction (cont.). Ecological Revolution. N. i.r. time. Haeckel 1870s Broaden’s “Ecology”. ↑Need for understanding human impact on planet including studying organisms and their surroundings. Human Population Explosion ↑Materialism ↑Resource exploitation

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Ecology and Evolution

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  1. Ecology and Evolution Introduction (cont.)

  2. Ecological Revolution N i.r. time Haeckel 1870s Broaden’s “Ecology” ↑Need for understanding human impact on planet including studying organisms and their surroundings Human Population Explosion ↑Materialism ↑Resource exploitation ↓Habitat (Environmental) Quality Darwin 1859 Origin of Species Industrial Revolution

  3. Biological Hierarchies Habitat – place or physical setting in which and organism lives Ecological Revolution at all scales of ecological hierarchy.

  4. … and at all levels of species diversity when ecologists take into account the evolutionary relationships among organisms. Evolutionary hierarchy

  5. How does the physical (abiotic) environment affect life on earth? • Concept behind the idea of the habitat: • The abiotic environment tends to place constraints on life. • example: • blood and tissues of vertebrates tend to freeze above temperatures found in antarctic waters. Notothenoid fish -1.9° C glycopeptide and peptide antifreeze compounds Outer-tissues have ice on them and the spleen Biology = solutions

  6. Other constraints • Gravity • solutions: • Flight: wings, metabolic level • Gliding: mammals, frogs, snakes • Bones • Arid Environments (no water for photosynthesis) • solutions: • Cactus: waxy outer covering, • stomata, ↑storage capacity, • suberized roots etc.

  7. Main points • Live exists in constant tension with its abiotic, physical surroundings (habitat) • Tolerance for extremes for chance to reproduce. Reproduction Growth and repair Survive and maintain Energy available Life and Ecosystems are in a state of non-equilibrium

  8. Consideration of some abiotic elements important for life • Water • Abundant on Earth • Excellent solvent • Facilitates the movement of many organisms • Main ingredient in photosynthesis • Remains in liquid state over a large range of temperatures • Resists change in state • to freeze: remove 80cal/g • to evaporate: add 500cal/g • Thermal inertia • Density and Temperature

  9. Substance X cools becomes more dense Water cools becomes more dense to about 4° then expands! (ice floats) density 4° temp Density and temperature of water Why important? Bottoms of bodies of water do not freeze floating layer of ice + layer of snow = insulation dormant plants and reproductive bodies

  10. Excellent solvent • Natural waters contain dissolved substances that are building blocks of life B. Solutes Na, Cl, Mg, SO4 N – nucleic acids, protein P – na, phospholipids, bone S – proteins K – solute in animal cells Ca – bone, plant structures Fe – Proteins (hemeglobin)

  11. C. Carbon and Oxygen • solutes that receive special mention • Immediately tied to life via: • acidity • respiration and photosynthetic reactions D. Light and Heat • Sources of heat: • Sun • Geothermal • Metabolic

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