Ecology is The study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, AND

1. Ecology is The study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, AND the flows of energy and materials between abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems.

2. Scales of Ecological Organization

3. Element Cycling Carbon (C) Magnesium (Mg) Manganese (Mn) Molybdenum (Mo) Cobalt (Co) Zinc (Zn) Aluminum (Al) Copper (Cu) Iron (Fe) others Oxygen (O) Hydrogen (H) Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Sulfur (S) Calcium (Ca) Sodium (Na)

4. Element Cycling through Ecosystems 1. Nutrients, unlike energy, are retained within the ecosystem. 2. There is continual recycling between the organisms and the physical environment.

5. Element Cycling through Ecosystems

6. Element Cycling through Ecosystems oxidized = low energy reduced = high energy

7. Ecosystem Compartments Air (Atmosphere) Water (Hydrosphere) Land (Lithosphere) Organisms (Biosphere)

8. Ecosystem Compartments Plants Animals Detritus (dead organic) Microbes Air Water Soil Sediments Organic Compounds, Inorganic Compounds

9. Element Cycling through Ecosystems 1. assimilitory processes are transformations that incorporate elements into organisms 2. dissimilitory processes are transformations that release elements into the inorganic forms

10. Element Cycling: Overview 1. If we were to follow any given nutrient through time, there would be a continual alternation between living and nonliving compartments of the ecosystem. 2. Time for cycling is directly proportional to the time spent in the largest compartment. ie, an imbalance can exist between compartment sizes. 3. Gains and losses from outside of the ecosystem are small when compared to the rate at which nutrients are cycled within the system.

12. Water Cycle The processes of evaporation, transpiration, and precipitation cycle water through ecosystems 97% of the water in the globe resides in the oceans 22% of precipitation occurs over land, and is greater than losses by evaporation and transpiration 78% of precipitation occurs over ocean, which is less than losses by evaporation

13. Water Cycle The atmosphere contains 13 TT of water vapor, and each year there is approximately 496 TT of precipitation globally. The residence time of water in the atmosphere is 1.5 weeks The oceans and land surface contain approximately 1,300,000 TT of water The residence time of water in liquid form on the oceans+land surface is 2,800 years

14. Global Warming

15. Greenhouse gases Carbon dioxide is the largest single contributer to climate forcing Carbon dioxide contributes about half of total climate forcing from greenhouse gases

16. Carbon Cycle 1. Assimilatory and dissimilatory reactions, primarily photosynthesis and respiration. 2. Exchange of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and the oceans 3. Sedimentation of carbonates

17. Carbon Cycle Vegetation = 500 Pg Soil = 1500 Pg Atmosphere = 730 Pg Photosynthesis assimilates approximately 223 Pg of C each year (GPP, land +oceans). Pools of carbon in living organisms, soil organic matter and sediments = 2,650 Pg Residence time = 31 years

18. Carbon Cycle: Oceans 1. Dissolved carbon dioxide is the main reservoir = 30,000 Pg 2. Dissolution rate depends on wind speed, ocean mixing 3. Pool of vegetation (algae) is small (5 Pg) & not thought to change that much with human disturbance

19. Carbon Cycle: Lithosphere Calcium carbonate precipitates from carbon dioxide dissolved in water, with calcium CO2 + H2O => H2CO3 H2CO3 => HCO3- + H+ => 2CO3- + 2H+ Ca2+ +CO32- => CaCO3 Precipitation is slow, <1 Pg per year

20. Carbon Cycle: Atmosphere

21. Carbon Cycle: Atmosphere Until the last 100 years, carbon dioxide concentrations had been stable for the last 1000 years Carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is higher now than it has been in the last 20 million years At times in the Earth’s history, CO2 concentration was much higher than today, but the climate was vastly different

22. Flask Network

23. Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE)