Ecology Unit

Definition of Ecology Ecology- the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environments.

Fundamental of Ecology Biotic factors- all living organisms in an environment. Abiotic factors- nonliving parts of the environment (i.e. temperature, soil, light, water, soil composition)

Organism- An individual exhibiting all of the characteristics of life. Species- organisms that interbreed and compete with each other for resources (ex. food, mates, shelter) Organization

Population-a group of organisms living in the same place at the same time Organization

Community- several interacting populations that inhabit a common environment. Organization

Ecosystem- a community and the abiotic factors with which they interact (ex. marine, terrestrial) Organization

Niche - the role a species plays in a community (job) Habitat- the place in which an organism lives out its life (address) Organization

Biosphere- life supporting portions of Earth. They can be big (ocean) or small (fish tank). Biome- Geographic areas of Earth with like characteristics. Ex.Tundra Rain Forest Organization

Autotrophic- Producers that trap energy. Photosynthesis- Traps energy form sunlight Chemosynthesis- Traps energy from chemical reactions. smokers… Hydrogen Sulfide –Black smokers… Hydrogen Sulfide Nutrition & Energy Flow

Heterotrophic- Consumers that consume other organisms for energy Respiration- the release of energy from a energy source. Herbivores… Eats plants Carnivores… Eats meat Omnivores… Eats plants and meat Decomposers… Breakdown dead and decaying organisms so the can be absorbed Scavenger… Eats dead organisms Nutrition & Energy Flow

Photosynthesis / Respiration Equation: 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O + Energy C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2

Food chain- simple model that shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem Nutrition & Energy Flow

Food web- shows all possible feeding relationships in a community at each trophic level Nutrition & Energy Flow

Ecological Food Pyramid- shows the transfer of energy and biomass between trophic levels. Only 10% transferred!!! 100% 10% 1%.1% Nutrition & Energy Flow

Trophic level- link in a food chain or web. –represent a feeding step in the transfer of energy and matter in an ecosystem. Biomass- the amount of organic matter comprising a group of organisms in a habitat. Nutrition & Energy Flow

Matter- Anything that takes up space… Everything. Energy- the ability to do work. Nutrition & Energy Flow

Cycling maintains homeostasis (balance) in the environment. 4 cycles to investigate: 1. Water cycle 2. Carbon cycle 3. Nitrogen cycle 4. Phosphorus cycle Nutrition & Energy Flow

Biogeochemical Cycles

Water cycle- Key processes Evaporation, condensation, precipitation Other processes Transpiration Biogeochemical Cycles

Carbon cycle- Key processes Photosynthesis and respiration Other processes Combustion of fuels Biogeochemical Cycles

Nitrogen cycle- Key processes Nitrogen fixation, plants growing, animals growing, decomposing, and denitrification. Other processes Plant and animal waste and the rock cycle. Nitrogen fixation- convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonium (NH4+) which can be used to make organic compounds like amino acids. N 2 NH 4 + Biogeochemical Cycles

Phosphorus cycle- Biogeochemical Cycles

Phosphorus cycle— Key processes –Plant growth, animals eating, decomposing Other processes –Plant and animal waste and the rock cycle. Biogeochemical Cycles

Greenhouse Gas Name Where they come from? Abundance in atmosphere Cycle in which they move Heat trapping capacity Water Vapor (H 2 O)Naturally occurring form evaporation 3 pph Varies w/ temperature Water Cycle 90% of Earth's natural greenhouse Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) Respiration / Burning Fuels 370 ppmCarbon Cycle60% enhancement of greenhouse effect Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) Decomposing Bacteria / Automobile exhaust 314 ppbNitrogen Cycle4 -6% enhancement of greenhouse effect Ozone (O 3) Natural occurring in upper atmosphere 34 ppbOxygen Cycle Methane (CH 4 )Decomposing Bacteria / Livestock 1750 ppbCarbon Cycle20% enhancement of greenhouse effect Fluorocarbons (CFC) Refrigerants533 pptCarbon Cycle12% enhancement of greenhouse effect

Biogeochemical Cycles

Population ECOSYSTEM LEVEL Eucalyptus forest COMMUNITY LEVEL All organisms in eucalyptus forest POPULATION LEVEL Group of flying foxes ORGANISM LEVEL Flying fox ORGAN SYSTEM LEVEL Nervous system ORGAN LEVEL Brain Brain Spinal cord Nerve TISSUE LEVEL Nervous tissue CELLULAR LEVEL Nerve cell MOLECULAR LEVEL Molecule of DNA Figure 1.1 Population Growth

King’s chess game Types of growth J-Curve- an graph line shape that shows exponential growth. Exponential growth- growth that occurs when some quantity regularly increases by a fixed percentage Population Growth

Real examples of exponential growth Invasive species, which often become pest species, also show this pattern. When a new species is introduced accidentally or deliberately into a new environment it has no natural predators or diseases to keep it under control. Zebra Mussels Population Growth

Real examples of exponential growth European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), a bird, was introduced into the United States. Between 1890 and 1891, 160 of these birds were released in Central Park New York. By 1942 they had spread as far as California. An estimate population of between 140 and 200 million starlings now exist in North America, making it one of the commonest species of bird on Earth. European Starling Population Growth

King’s chess game Types of growth S-Curve- an graph line shape that shows growth until a limit is reached. Population Growth Carrying Capacity Exponential growth phase Lag time

The history of human population growth Figure 35.8A Population Growth

Figure 35.9B RAPID GROWTH Kenya MaleFemale Percent of population SLOW GROWTH United States MaleFemale ZERO GROWTH/DECREASE Italy MaleFemale Ages 45+ Ages 15–44 Under 15 Ages 45+ Ages 15–44 Also reveals social conditions, status of women The age structure of a population is the proportion of individuals in different age-groups Population Growth

What next? Figure 35.8C Population Growth

U.S. China India Russia Japan U.S. China India Russia Japan Per capita CO 2 emissions (metric tons of carbon) Total CO 2 emissions (billion metric tons of carbon) Population Growth

King’s chess game Measuring population Census- count all the individuals in a population Sampling Catch & Release- practice intended as a technique of conservation then counting organisms. Organisms in an area- counting the number of organisms in a small area and multiplying that count for to find a larger area. Population Growth

Patterns in population- dispersion patterns of individuals in their habitat. –Clumped – Organisms found in groups –Uniform- Organisms found evenly distributed –Random- Organisms without a pattern Population Growth

Effects population growth Limiting factor- any material an organism needs to survive but is in short supply – Density dependent- affect populations more as the population size and density increases Population Growth

Competition- Competitive exclusion principle - No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time Invasive species- Interspecific competition occurs between two species for similar resources Reproductive strategies- Intraspecific competition occurs within a species for similar resources Population Growth

–Carrying capacity- The largest # of individuals an environment can support indefinitely Food, water, & shelter- availability of resources carrying capacity depends on. Population Growth

 Natural balance- Births approximately equal deaths Disease- Disease spred eaisier in dense populations (eg. Flu, HIV, ect.) Dependence- population changes the occur because of other populations change. (Eg. Food web) Population Growth

Effects population growth Density Independent- Factors which affect all populations, regardless of size –Ranges of tolerance- a population’s optimal range of abitoic factors populations Storms Drought Pollution Population Growth

Relationships Predator & Prey- prime movers of energy through food chains. Producer & Consumer- prime movers of energy through food chains.

Symbiosis- two species living in a close relationship together Mutualism- beneficial to both species. The species have a interdependence Ex. cleaning birds and cleaner shrimp Relationships

Mutualism- beneficial to both species Ex. Lichen (fungi & algae) Relationships

Commensalism- one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped Ex. orchids on a tree Epiphytes: A plant, such as a tropical orchid or a bromeliad, that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. Also called aerophyte, air plant. Relationships

Parasitism- one species benefits (parasite) and the other is harmed (host) Ex. lampreys, leeches, fleas, ticks,tapeworm Relationships

Type of relationship Species harmed Species benefits Species neutral Commensalism Parasitism Mutualism = 1 species

Figure 2.10x

Succession- Gradual, sequential changes in populations Primary succession- changes in populations in an area that has not previously supported life. Ex. Bare rock, sand dune, volcanic islands. Succession

The varying types of communities that exist throughout the succession process. Pioneer communities- 1 st population to grow in an area- lichen or moss Seral communities- intermediate populations. Grasses, shrubs, flowering plants. Climax communities- (stable/permanent) population that remains unless wiped out by a natural disaster. Succession

Secondary succession- replacement of populations in disrupted habitats. EX: Forest fire, volcanic activity, farming, logging, mining Succession

Eutrophication- adding nutrients/ stuff to the water. Succession

Possible causes?... Industry, Shipping, Fertilizers, Power plant- thermal pollution (heat)actions Succession

Oligotrophic (few nutrients) 1.Deep, clear, cold 2.High oxygen content 3.Low biomass, low productivity and low nutrients 4.pH Trout, whitefish 6.Lake Superior, Upper Peninsula, northern 3 rd of Lower Peninsula Succession

Mesotrophic (transition between Oligotrophic and Eutrophic) 1.Moderately clear 2.DO- less than oligotrophic, more than eutrophic. 3.Medium amount of biomass, productivity and nutrients 4.pH Lake Michigan Succession

Eutrophic (rich nutrient content) 1.Often more shallow 2.Low DO at lower depths 3.High biomass, productivity and nutrients 4.pH salmon, perch, bass 6.Lake Mac, Green Bay, used to be Lake Erie Succession

Dystrophic (poor in nutrients) 1.Much more shallow, much color to the water (yellowish, brown) 2.pH less than 4 (input of organic acids) 3.Little/no oxygen 4.Low biomass, productivity, nutrients 5.Few gill breathers, frogs, snakes, and turtles 6.Small lakes, bogs, swamps Succession

Detrimental (inadvertently)- Not intentional Bad actions. Biocides- chemical compounds that are toxic to living organisms. Side effects to humans include: Carcinogenic (cancer causing) & Nerve and Liver damage. Pesticides- a substance intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest. Human Impact

Insecticides- pesticide used against insects Dioxins Sources- formed by burning chlorine-based chemical compounds, paper mills in bleaching process, PVC plastics Effect- Carcinogen…causes cancer Human Impact

DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichlorethane) Source- Insecticide used very effectively against mosquitoes, which cause malaria Effect- Builds up in plants and fatty tissue in fish, birds and other animals…Blamed for the near extinction of eagles, falcons and pelicans…egg shell thinning Banned in the US in 1972…Still used in other countries Biomagnifications –A chemical becomes concentrated as it passes through a food chain Human Impact

Herbicides- pesticide used to kill unwanted plants Agent Orange Source- Widely used in Vietnam as a defoliant Effect- Caused cancer, birth defects, sterility 24D Source- common herbicide Effect- Causes lymphoma (cancer) in dogs Human Impact

Fossil Fuels- natural fuels formed by the decomposition of buried dead organisms Examples include Coal, Oil, & Gas. SOURCES NO 2 + H 2 O à HNO 3 (process occurs when burning gas) SO 2 + H 2 O à H 2 SO 4 (process occurs when burning coal) EFFECTS Respiratory problems, Sterile lakes, Kills forests, Damage to monuments, cars, buildings, Global warming, Acid rain Human Impact

Hg (mercury)- heavy, liquid, silvery-white metal SOURCES Paper mills to treat logs, Agriculture to treat seeds, Occurs naturally in mines, Acid rain releases it naturally from sedimentary rock, & Latex paint EFFECTS Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system of people of all ages. Our inland fish are unsafe to eat due to high levels of Hg Human Impact

Pb (Lead)- heavy, soft, malleable poor metal SOURCES Water pipes, Gasoline, Paints, Batteries, Ceramic pottery, Soldering EFFECTS Hyperactivity, Paralysis, Brain damage, Birth defects, High BP Human Impact

PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) SOURCES Insulators for electrical transformers, Sealants for wood and cement, Hydraulic fluids, Paper mills for carbon paper, pigments & dyes, paints, plastics and rubber products EFFECTS Carcinogen, effects on the immune system, reproductive system, endocrine system and nervous system Human Impact

CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) SOURCES Aerosol-spray propellants, refrigerants, Solvents, Styrofoam (pre, CFC-free styrofoam), foam-blowing agents EFFECTS Destruction of the ozone layer which protects us from UV rays from the sun Human Impact

PBB (Polybrominated Biphenyls) SOURCES Added to the plastics to make them difficult to burn. Exposure to PBBs is most likely to occur by ingesting contaminated foods and drinks. People living in the lower peninsula of Michigan, where animal feed was accidentally contaminated with PBBs in 1973, may still be exposed by eating contaminated fish, dairy products, and meat. EFFECTS Carcinogen, More will be observed in the movie Bitter Harvest Human Impact

The movie Bitter Harvest … PBB contamination resulted in the most devastating disaster in agricultural history In 1973 in St. Louis, MI The government did not eliminate PBB from the food chain until 1977 Farmers sold cows to an area baby food company Firemater (flamestar) vs. Nutrimaster (MgO) All livestock had to be killed 30,000 cattle1,470 sheep 5,900 pigs1.5 million chickens Human Impact

NO 3 and PO 4 (nitrates & phosphates) SOURCES Soil … background concentrations Fertilizers … agricultural & residential Sewage … wastewater treatment plants remove 90-95% of P & N in solids, and the sludge is then land applied as fertilizer EFFECTS Eutrophication, Algae blooms, Decreasing light and O 2 levels in lakes. Human Impact

Beneficial (deliberately)- Intentionally good actions. Conservation actions- activities meant to preserve the natural world. Link to organizations: wildlifeconserv.htm Human Impact

Habitat corridors- a passage connecting conservation areas. Human Impact

Biodiversity- the sum total of the genetically based variety of all organisms in an area. Human Impact