Introduction to Ecology

Introduction to Ecology Marc Daniels Biology

What Is Ecology? • Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with the environment • The environment consists of abiotic and biotic factors • Biotic factors are living factors (other organisms) • Abiotic factors are physical, non-living factors • Historical Factors help us determine movement of individuals • There are 4 different types of ecology

Why Do We Study Ecology? • Ecology helps us understand the abundance and distribution of organisms. • It provides a scientific foundation for the conservation of species and natural areas.

Types of Ecology • Organismal Ecology • Explores the morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations that allow for individuals to live successfully in an area. • Focuses on how organisms interact with one another and their physical environment

Types of Ecology • Population Ecology • A population is a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area at the same time • Focuses on how the number of individuals change over time, which includes analyzing and predicting population trends.

Types of Ecology • Community Ecology • A Community is a group of species that interact with one another in a particular area (includes more that one specie) • Focuses on interactions between species such as predation, parasitism, competition, as well as how organisms respond to disturbances (fires, floods, man made creations, etc.)

Types of Ecology • Ecosystem Ecology • An Ecosystem consists of all the organisms in a particular region along with non-living components. (biotic and abiotic factors) • Focuses on how nutrients and energy move between organisms, as well as how abiotic factors such as climate, pollution, etc. affect organisms.

Factors That Shape Climate • Factors that shape temperature, moisture, sunlight, and wind • Varies due to varying amounts of sunlight that hit our earth • More sunlight near the equator, with sunlight lessening at altitudes north and south of the equator • Seasons are caused by the tilt of the earth (23.5 degrees)

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Factors That Shape Climate • Air circulation due to heated • and cooling air creates • Hadley Cells • Warmer air holds more water, • but areas in between falling • hot air tend to be dry areas • (30 degrees north and south) http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/images/hadleycell.gif http://whyfiles.org/174earth_observe/images/hadley.jpg

Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems • Biome- a type of terrestrial ecosystem that is unique to a given region. • Often characterized by the types of plants that are within the area. • Categorized by precipitation, temperature, as well as the variation of the two.

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Different Types of Biomes • Tropical Wet Forests/Rain Forests • Near equatorial regions • Precipitation and temperatures are high • Variation in temperature is low, rain supports all year long growth • Plants are typically broad leaved evergreens • Very diverse plants and animals- wide array of habitats for animals.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/Images/mission.jpg&imgrefurl=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/&h=353&w=521&sz=60&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=eyOcNv3NWX1CpM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=131&prev=http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/Images/mission.jpg&imgrefurl=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/&h=353&w=521&sz=60&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=eyOcNv3NWX1CpM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=131&prev=

Different Types of Biomes • Subtropical Deserts • Near 30 degrees south and north • Temperatures vary more than in rain forests • Temperatures do not fall below zero • Drier regions that get little rain fall (Why is this?) • Plants have low growth rate, or break dormancy and grow rapidly when there is rainfall

Different Types of Biomes • Temperate Grasslands • Relatively dry areas (low rainfall) • Grasses are dominant life form • Temperatures can range from hot to below freezing • Long warm summers, and short cold winters

Different Types of Biomes • Temperate Forests • Similar to Temperate Grasslands, but there is relatively high precipitation that is constant throughout the year • Increased precipitation allows for the development of forests • Plants typically have a period of dormancy (dropping leaves in autumn and growing in the spring)

Different Types of Biomes • Boreal Forests/ Taiga • Regions just below the Arctic Circle, often called sub-arctic. • Very cold winters, with cool short summers (have a high variation in temperatures) • Little evaporation, so moisture is abundant although precipitation is low. • Low diversity of organisms and low productivity • Dominated by cold-tolerant conifers (pines, spruce, larch trees)

Different Types of Biomes • Arctic Tundra • Areas above the sub-arctic • Very short growing season (two months) • Temperatures are below freezing • Low precipitation, but low evaporation rates • Lack of trees, but there are short plants such as shrubs (growing season too short to support growth) • Low species diversity and productivity

Different Types of Biomes • Lakes, Ponds, and Wetlands • Bodies of freshwater • Ponds are small, lakes are large enough to be affected by wind and have waves • Wetlands are shallower, with soil saturated into the water, and contain plants that grow above the surface of the water • Wetlands consist of Swamps, Marshes, and Bogs

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http://www.aquapools.net/images/Ponds/ponds_1013.jpg

http://bulimbacreek.org.au/__data/page/13738/tingalpa_-_wetlands2.jpghttp://bulimbacreek.org.au/__data/page/13738/tingalpa_-_wetlands2.jpg

Marshes, Swamps, and Bogs • Marshes- • lack trees, have a slow and steady rate of water flow • Typically connected to a lake or stream system • Swamps • Similar to marshes • Tree and shrub dominated Both are productive habitats because of the supply of sunlight and water

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Marshes, Swamps, and Bogs • Bogs- • Are not productive environments • In areas where water flow is low or non-existent • Stagnant water flow-> oxygen poor ->decomposistion-> lack of nitrogen

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c6/Brown_Lake_Bog_OH.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c6/Brown_Lake_Bog_OH.jpg

Different Types of Biomes • Streams • Bodies of water that move constantly in one direction • Creeks- small streams • Rivers- large streams • Colder streams are faster, narrower • Warmer streams are slower, and wider (more favorable for the growth of plants) • Estuary- the environment that forms where the river meets the ocean (fresh water meets saltwater)

http://bulimbacreek.org.au/__data/page/13738/tingalpa_-_wetlands2.jpghttp://bulimbacreek.org.au/__data/page/13738/tingalpa_-_wetlands2.jpg

Different Types of Biomes • Marine Environments • Distinguished by it’s water depth • Sunlight penetrates water differently at different depths • Contains multiple areas/zones such as the photic zone, aphotic zone, and benthic zone

http://funnel.sfsu.edu/courses/geol102/graphics/kareng/life.env2.jpghttp://funnel.sfsu.edu/courses/geol102/graphics/kareng/life.env2.jpg

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http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/images/biomes/aquatic2.jpg

Introduction to Ecology