1. Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions Biomes: Global Patterns of Life Population Biology Environmental Science 2

2. Field Trip #1 Date/time: Saturday, starts @ 9:00 am Date/time: Saturday, starts @ 9:00 am Location: Santa Monica National Recreation Area, Leo Carrillo State Park. Location: Santa Monica National Recreation Area, Leo Carrillo State Park. Hand-out in class… Info/Map Hand-out in class… Info/Map Logistics: transportation and navigation Logistics: transportation and navigation Please be on time and prepared to do some walking… bring multiple types of clothes and shoes for unknown conditions.Please be on time and prepared to do some walking… bring multiple types of clothes and shoes for unknown conditions. Picnic (optional)Picnic (optional)

3. Activity #1 Find 5 facts about the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and surroundings Find 5 facts about the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and surroundings Fill-out Activity #1 hand-out and turn-in when complete Fill-out Activity #1 hand-out and turn-in when complete Use computers (i-net) on campus Use computers (i-net) on campus Website suggestion: www.nps.gov/samo/, also Google Earth. Website suggestion: www.nps.gov/samo/, also Google Earth.www.nps.gov/samo/ Plus navigation to fieldtrip location and maps! Plus navigation to fieldtrip location and maps!

4. Important Definitions Evolution: gradual changes in species over time... Evolution: gradual changes in species over time... Natural Selection – better-fit individuals thrive and pass on traits to next generationNatural Selection – better-fit individuals thrive and pass on traits to next generation Adaptation – acquisition of traits allowing for species survivalAdaptation – acquisition of traits allowing for species survival Speciation: the development of a new speciesSpeciation: the development of a new species Why? – environmental pressures allow for individual/species changeWhy? – environmental pressures allow for individual/species change

5. Some People of Interest 1. Charles Darwin 2. Alfred Wallace Both scientists published biological research at the same time (mid- 1800s), leading to the main theory of evolution embraced by modern science. Both scientists published biological research at the same time (mid- 1800s), leading to the main theory of evolution embraced by modern science.

6. Biology Basics Habitat: the place or set of environmental conditions in which an organism lives Habitat: the place or set of environmental conditions in which an organism lives Niche: the role of a species in a biological community Niche: the role of a species in a biological community

7. Interactions between environment and other organisms Interactions between environment and other organisms Competition – resources, mates, and moreCompetition – resources, mates, and more Predation – eat or be eatenPredation – eat or be eaten Mutualism – together in harmonyMutualism – together in harmony Disturbance – poor environmental factorsDisturbance – poor environmental factors Biology Basics

8. Diversity – the number of different species, niches, and/or genetic variation in a biological community Diversity – the number of different species, niches, and/or genetic variation in a biological community Species – A 300, B 25, C 150 per community Abundance – the total number of organisms or species in a biological community Abundance – the total number of organisms or species in a biological community Species A – 1,000 individuals/community Biology Basics

9. Human Interruptions Habitat loss from human use Habitat loss from human use Introduced species Introduced species Extraction or eradication Extraction or eradication Fire, flooding, drought, storms, and other extreme phenomena caused by human negligence Fire, flooding, drought, storms, and other extreme phenomena caused by human negligence normal changes vs. human-induced changesnormal changes vs. human-induced changes

10. Biome Introduction Biome characteristics Biome characteristics Large terrestrial ecosystem Large terrestrial ecosystem Recognizable assemblage of plants and animals Recognizable assemblage of plants and animals Ecotone – transitional boundary between adjacent biomes Ecotone – transitional boundary between adjacent biomes Vegetation – Basis for biome names Vegetation – Basis for biome names

11. Biogeography View Biomes from Environmental Geography course… View Biomes from Environmental Geography course… Located on website under Physical Geography lectures (ch11)Located on website under Physical Geography lectures (ch11) Biome-related slides only (#32-#42)Biome-related slides only (#32-#42) See website @See website @

12. Population Biology Population growth, limits, and crash Population growth, limits, and crash carrying capacitycarrying capacity birth/death ratesbirth/death rates migratory vs. sedentarymigratory vs. sedentary genetic diversitygenetic diversity physical conditionsphysical conditions humanshumans

13. Conservation Biology Biogeography + Environmental Science = Saving Ecosystems, Communities, and Species Island Biogeography Island Biogeography colonization/extinctioncolonization/extinction barriers & changebarriers & change speciation/endemismspeciation/endemism human influenceshuman influences

14. Conservation in SMNRA Islands and Mainland - connections Islands and Mainland - connections Example – giant coreopsis (plant) Example – giant coreopsis (plant) Q&A Q&A *Dont forget to prepare for the Saturday field trip (mandatory)!

15. Homework (continued) Finish reading Ch.1 and three chapters of your choice from the following list: Finish reading Ch.1 and three chapters of your choice from the following list: Chapter 2Chapter 2 Chapter 3Chapter 3 Chapter 4Chapter 4 Chapter 5Chapter 5 Chapter 6Chapter 6 Write a brief summary on each chapter you read, including: Write a brief summary on each chapter you read, including: chapter number/title, single favorite Case Study/Exploring Science subsection among the chapters, overall questions and/or commentschapter number/title, single favorite Case Study/Exploring Science subsection among the chapters, overall questions and/or comments