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Ecology

Explore Maryland's diverse ecosystems and sustainability practices, from native pollinators to the effects of climate change. Learn about ecological processes, biodiversity, and human influences on the environment.

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Ecology

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  1. Ecology Maryland Master Gardeners University of Maryland Extension

  2. Ecology – the study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

  3. Scale Global Landscape Ecosystem Community Population

  4. Global Processes

  5. Climate change and sea level rise 2006 flood at Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely, MD Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

  6. Terrestrial Biomes Image from www.somers.k12.ny.us

  7. Maryland’s Physiographic Regions

  8. Watershed Image from www.dnr.state.md.us

  9. Land Use in Maryland Map from www.geog.umd.edu

  10. Connections in the Landscape

  11. Community and Habitat • Community – The assemblage of all the species in a given area • Habitat – The physical space providing the environment and resources needed by a population to survive and reproduce. Great blue heron on a wood duck house Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

  12. Niche • Niche – all of the specific environmental conditions and resources required for it to maintain a viable population. Beans, swiss chard and alyssum Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

  13. Creating microclimates • Microclimate – climactic variation on a scale of a few miles to a few inches • Slope • Aspect • Elevation • Vegetation • Fallen logs • Boulders • Burrows • Water • Ground color Photos by Sylvan Kaufman

  14. Water

  15. Energy and Nutrients Photosynthesis Carbon dioxide + water → sugar + oxygen Monarch caterpillar on butterfly milkweed Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

  16. Physiology • How organisms carry out physical or chemical functions in the environment

  17. Functional Groups rabbits

  18. Grouping by Interaction Dispersers Pollinators Parasite Mycorrhizae Photos by Sylvan Kaufman and from www.wikipedia.org

  19. Native Pollinators Photo by Sylvan Kaufman; other photos www.wikipedia.org

  20. Succession Photos by Sylvan Kaufman

  21. Disturbances Photo from NASA Photo from bugwood.org

  22. What is a species? Tamiasciurushudsonicus, red squirrel Sciuruscaroliniensis, Eastern grey squirrel Sciurusnigercinereus, Delmarva fox squirrel Photos from wikipedia.org

  23. Evolution Image from biologyonline.org

  24. Natural Selection • Variation in traits among individuals in a population • Characteristics are heritable - have genetic basis • Ancestors leave different numbersof descendants based on interactions between the traits of the individual and its environment.

  25. Genes Image from exploringnature.org

  26. Gene flow Seeds Pollen Rhizomes Photos by Sylvan Kaufman

  27. Populations and Life History Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

  28. Plant Breeding Photos from wikipedia.org

  29. Straight species, cultivars, hybrids Echinacea purpurea E. purpurea‘Magnus’ Echinacea ‘Art’s Pride’ E. purpureax E. paradoxa Echinacea paradoxa Photos from Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder

  30. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) Ad for Roundup Ready corn for Phillipines from Pioneer.com

  31. Rare Plants Pink coreopsis, Coreopsis rosea Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

  32. Ecosystems • Energy • Water • Biogeochemical – Cand N

  33. Energy flow through ecosystems

  34. Food Webs Image from exploringnature.org

  35. Carbon Cycle Image from physicalgeography.net

  36. Human influences on C Cycle Image from www.cmdl.noaa.gov

  37. Consequences for Gardeners • Initially more rapid plant growth until other resources (water, nutrients) limit growth • Greater production of ragweed pollen • Greater toxicity in some plants like poison ivy • Shifts in plant ranges

  38. The Hydrological Cycle Image from physicalgeography.net

  39. Effects of Development on Water Cycle • Increased surface area runoff (10 – 20% rural, 60- 70% urban) • Decreased groundwater recharge • Increased use of groundwater • More rainfall reaches the ground • provision of man-made drainage systems (e.g., storm sewers, channels, detention ponds).

  40. The Nitrogen Cycle Image from physicalgeography.net

  41. Terms used in the N Cycle • Nitrogen fixation – conversion of gaseous N (N2) to solid forms of N (NH3) through biological processes (bacteria), lightning, and chemical processes • Ammonification – conversion by bacteria of N from decaying organisms into ammonia (NH3) • Nitrification – conversion by bacteria of ammonia (NH3) to nitrites (NO2) and nitrates (NO3) • Denitrification – conversion of nitrate (NO3) to gaseous N (N2) by anaerobic bacteria

  42. Human influences on N Cycle • Increase in fixed N through production and application of chemical fertilizers and growing leguminous crops (e.g. soybeans) • Nitrogen enrichment of soils from atmospheric N deposition, application of fertilizer, manure • Increases in nitrate flow in streams and nitrous oxide losses to atmosphere through land clearing, deforestation • Eutrophication (over-fertilization) of lakes • Animal husbandry releases ammonium to atmosphere • Release of nitrous oxides from oil and coal combustion contributes to acid rain

  43. Footprintnetwork.org

  44. Biodiversity The Highline in NYC converts an old elevated railway to a native plant garden and walkway Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

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