Ecology chapters 1-8

1. Ecologychapters 1-8 Klaire Fisher Caroline Watkins Chris Shiman Daniel Szambelan

2. Chapter 1: Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability • The age of exponential growth • How can we sustain our population? • Rule of 70: Doubling time = 70/Growth % • Renewable vs. Nonrenewable resources • Know examples of each • Solution: Four R’s of Resource Managementt • Refuse (don’t use) • Reduce **Have examples of how to make • Reuse society more efficient and clean • Recycle

3. Chapter 2: Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy • Scientific Process • Observations • Qualitative vs. Quantitative • Feedback loops: • Positive loops are runaway cycles where a change in a certain direction causes further change in the same direction • Negative loops occur when a change in a certain direction leads to a lessening of that change • 10% rule: • Understand how energy is diluted and moved through different systems • Atomic Process of FUSION! • Basic understanding for nuclear reactors

5. Chapter 3: Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work? Levels of organization in mater: organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, biosphere (pg. 51, figure 3-2) General structure of the earth: core, mantle, lithosphere, crust, hydrosphere, atmosphere (pg. 54, figure 3-6) Flow of energy from the sun to the earth (pg. 54-55, figure 3-8) HIPPO (pg. 62) Range of tolerance/intolerance (pg. 57-58, figure 3-11) Soil (pg. 67-70, figure 3-23, figure 3-24, figure 3-25) Cycles: water (pg. 70-71, figure 3-26), carbon (pg. 73-74, figure 3-27), nitrogen (pg. 74-76, figure 3-29), phosphorus (pg. 76-77, figure 3-31), sulfur (pg. 77-78, figure 3-32). Trophic levels, the flow of energy, and bio diversity (pg. 56-66) abiotic, biotic, producer, consumer, decomposer, limiting factor, photosynthesis, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, detritivore, aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, 10% rule

6. Chapter 4: Evolution and Biodiversity Development of life- figure 4-2 pg. 84 Natural selection- figure 4-9 pg. 91 Geological processes- figure 4-5, 4-6 pg. 88-89 Niches-fig 4-8, pg. 90-91 Extinction & new species - figure 4-10, 4-12 pg. 92-93 GMOs- figure 4-16 pg. 95

7. Chapter 5: Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity The two main factors that determine climate are elevation and latitude. Seasons are a result of the earth’s tilt (pg. 102, figure 5-3). The greenhouse effect (p. 104, figure 5-7) Ocean currents (pg. 101, figure 5-2) and global air circulation distribute heat around the earth. Prevailing winds (pg. 102-103, figure 5-4 & 5-6) are major surface winds that blow in a pattern of cells. The uneven distribution of heat and moisture results in biomes. polar coniferous forest (taiga) – pg. 120, pg. 121 figure 5-23, temperate deciduous forest- pg. 119, pg.120 figure 5-22, tropical rain forest- pg. 117, figure 5-20, temperate desert (shrubland/chaparral) – pg. 115, pg.110 figure 5- 13, tropical desert- pg. 108, temperate grassland- pg.111, pg.113 figure 5-15, tropical grassland (savanna) – pg. 111, polar grassland (tundra) – pg. 114, figure 5.17 Human impacts on terrestrial biomes (pg. 123)

8. Chapter 6: Aquatic Biodiversity Aquatic organisms: plankton (producers-gets energy from the sun), nekton (swimming consumers), benthos (bottom dwelling consumers), decomposers (breaks down the dead organic compounds-mostly bacteria) Saltwater ecosystems- estuaries, coastlines, coral reefs Saltwater life zones (pg. 128, pg. 130 figure 6-5): coastal zone, euphotic zone,Bathyal zone, Abyssal zone Intertidal zone- area of shoreline between low and high tide Sand dunes (pg. 133, figure 6-10) Threats to coral reefs: rising ocean temperatures, soil erosion, fertilizer runoff, rising sea levels, damage from fishing & diving, damage from anchors. Coral bleaching occurs when coral has lost its color because its algae food source dies due to falling into the zone of intolerance. Mangroves (pg. 131, figure 6-8) are essential because their roots in coastal forests act as a shock absorber to reduce damage from storms. They also act as a filter for nutrients and pollutants. Effects of human activities on marine systems (pg. 135)

9. Chapter 6 (continued) Freshwater ecosystem- lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, inland wetlands Lentic body of water- not flowing (lakes, ponds, inland wetlands) Lotic body of water- flowing (rivers and streams) Lake life zones (pg. 137, figure 6-15): littoral zone, limnetic zone, profundalzone, benthic zone Eutrophic- contains excess amounts of nutrients Oligotrophic- very small amounts of nutrients Mesotrophic- in between eutrophic and oligotrophic, contains normal amounts of nutrients Cultural eutrophication-when human inputs of nutrients from the atmosphere and nearby urban and agricultural areas accelerate the eutrophication of lakes Three zones in the downhill flow of water (pg. 139, figure 6-17): source zone, transition zone, floodplain zone Human impacts on freshwater systems (pg. 141)

10. Chapter 7: Community Ecology Vocab: niche, native species, nonnative species, keystone species, Indicator species,foundation species Interspecific competition is an example of natural selection, based on who can adopt to efficiently to get more resources (pg. 151-152, figure 7-7). One way to avoid some competition is by resource partitioning where species occupying the same niche can adapt to get to different parts of the same resource more efficiently so there is less conflict. Relationships: predation (pg. 151), parasitism(pg.153), mutualism (pg. 154, figure 7-9), commensalism(pg. 155, figure 7-10) Ecological succession (pg. 155-157): primary succession, secondary succession Predators can increase their chances of getting a meal by pursuit and ambush, which is helped by camouflage which helps them hide in plain sight. Prey can increase their chances of survival by having shells for defense, camouflage so they can hide in plain sight as well, use chemical warfare to ward off would be eaters who will know they smell bad, taste bad or will irritate (maybe even kill) them if they’re eaten. Others will be brightly colored, which is called warning coloration, some are crafty and use mimicry, where they are colored like a similar animal but not actually harmful (pg152).

11. Chapter 8: Population Ecology Population change= (Births+Immigration)-(Deaths+Emigration) Vocab: age structure, biotic potential, j-curve, s-curve, population density, survivorship curve Intrinsic rate of increase (r): The rate at which a population would grow if it had unlimited resources. Carrying Capacity (k): The maximum population of a given species that a particular habitat can sustain indefinitely without degrading the habitat. Types of reproduction: Asexual Reproduction- offspring are generally exact genetic copies (clones) of a single parent. Sexual Reproduction- mixes the genetic material of two individuals and produces offspring with combinations of genetic traits from each parent. R-selected species: Species with a capacity for a high rate of population increase. These species have many, usually small, offspring and give them little to no parental care or protection. They are opportunists because they reproduce and disperse rapidly when conditions are favorable or when a disturbance opens up a new habitat or niche for invasion, as in the early stages of ecological succession. K-selected species: Tend to reproduce later in life and have a small number of offspring with fairly long life spans. Competitors because they compete for resources. Tend to do well in competitive conditions when their population size is near the carrying capacity of their environment.