1. Ecology

2. Sections 1. Ecosystems 2. Biomes 3. Biodiversity
4. Population Dynamics
5. Ecological Footprint
6. Human Impact On The Biosphere

3. Ecosystems

4. Biosphere
Ecology is the study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment
The biosphere is the portion of Earth that supports life

5. Abiotic Factors
An abiotic factor is a non-living factor that influences an organisms environment
Temperature
Moisture
Light
Soil

6. Biotic Factors
Biotic Factors include all living organisms who live in an environment
Living things may depend on other living things for food

7. Populations
A population is a group of organisms of the same species who interbreed and live in the same area
May compete for the same food

8. Communities
A community is a group of interacting populations in a certain time
One population can affect the other population
Hawks eating Mouse increase Mice decrease

9. Ecosystem
An ecosystem is made of interacting populations in a community and the communities abiotic factors
Contains physical surroundings

10. Levels of Organization
Biosphere
Ecosystems
Communities
Populations
Organisms of the same species

12. Flow Of Matter
When matter is consumed by an organism it flows through levels of an ecosystem (cycled)
Food Chain-Shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem

13. Food Webs
Food webs show all possible relationships between trophic levels
More realistic organisms depend on more than one type of food

14. Biomes

15. Biome
A biome is a large group of ecosystems in the same climax community
Terrestrial Biomes – On Land
Aquatic Biomes - Underwater

16. Aquatic Biomes
Marine Biomes-Contain saltwater. The type of organisms present is highly dependent on sunlight. Sunlight is needed for photosynthesis
Photic Zone-Sunlight can penetrate, Photosynthesis can occur
Aphotic Zone-Sunlight cannot penetrate

18. Terrestrial Biomes Latitude influences the climate of an area
Some latitudes receive more direct radiation than others
Temperature and precipitation have a huge affect on the climate of an area

21. Tundra
The tundra is a treeless area in the Arctic circle that is consistently frozen
Little vegetation because soil is often frozen (permafrost)
Organisms: Weasels, oxen, polar bears, foxes, reindeer

22. Taiga Taiga-Lies below the tundra and is usually warmer and wetter
Most of Canada, Northern Europe, Asia
More trees than the tundra
Grizzly Bears, squirrels, deer, moose

23. Desert
Deserts are arid regions with high temperatures and little rainfall
Little vegetation due to scarce rainfall
Life includes cacti, coyotes, snakes, lizards, scorpions

24. Grasslands Grasslands contain rich soil, grasses and plants
Dry summers  Little forests cm of precipitation
Central Africa, Mid-Western United States
Life includes:
Deer
Zebras
Lions

25. Temperate Forests
Temperate Forests – Primarily covered by trees in a mild climate
Animals include:
Squirrels
Rabbits
Deer
Bears

26. Rain Forests
Rain forests have high amounts of precipitation and high temperatures
Near the equator, have a wide diversity of life
Contains many species of life that are deadly and poisonous
The rainforest is a very dangerous place

27. Biodiversity

28. Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety and number of species in a specific area.
Biodiversity increases closer to the equator and in mountainous areas

29. Importance of Biodiversity
Plants and algae produce oxygen and remove CO2
Humans depend on other organisms for food
Drugs in health are often formed from organic compounds

30. Exotic Species
An exotic species is a species that is not native to a particular region
Can threaten native species Native species don’t have defenses against exotic species

31. Value Of Biodiversity
If a species is removed from an ecosystem it can have a drastic effect on the entire ecosystem
Species is removed from food chain  All other species suffer

32. Extinction Extinction is the disappearance of a species
Earth loses 1 species per year per million species due to human activity
40% of all prescription drugs are made from some sort of living thing  Humans will be affected if they go extinct

33. Ethical Reasons
Many people believe that humans should be responsible for preserving biodiversity for ethical reasons
Species and ecosystems have a right to exist and are valuable to nature
If we lose biodiversity then we lose fascination and a reason to study the environment

34. Population Dynamics

35. Population Growth All organisms are members of populations
Populations die and grow at steady rate based on the amount of resources available

36. Exponential Growth Populations experience exponential growth
Initial increase in organisms is slow (small number of reproducing organisms)
Population then sharply increases due to high amount of reproduction

37. Exponential Growth
In exponential growth a populations rate of production grows
Limitations:
Availability of food
Disease
Predators
Lack of space
A populations carrying capacity is the number of organisms than an environment can support
Births exceed deaths until resources run out

40. Density
Density Dependent Factor-Factors that have a stronger effect with increasing population
Disease
Predators
Parasites
Competition for food
Density Independent Factor-Affects the population regardless of density:
Volcanic Eruptions
Storms
Temperatures
Drought

41. Human Population
Demography-Study of human population size, density and distribution
United States Census is taken every 10 years

42. Human Population
Human growth is different from other organisms because humans have the ability to change their environment
Found cures for diseases
Found methods to produce food
Been able to provide clean water

43. Age Structure
Age Structure-Proportions of the population that are in different age groups
Age structure graph shows how many males and females there are in each age group

44. Ecological Footprint

45. Ecological Footprints
Ecological Footprint is a measure of how much a person impacts their environment
It measures the extent to which resources are used faster than they can regenerate

46. Ecological Footprint
People in the west are more well developed and have a higher ecological footprint than people in the East

48. Ecological Footprint
William Rees calculated that if developed nations worked together they could easily reduce their ecological footprint
Don’t use cars when necessary
Insulate homes
Grow food
Recycle

49. Reducing ecologic footprint
Don’t drive whenever possible
Ride bikes
Burning gas gives off CO2
Ecologic footprint can be reduced by 20%

50. Reducing ecologic footprint
Grow vegetables and don’t waste food
Can reduce ecologic footprint by 11%
Growing fruits and vegetables reduces wastes associated with refrigeration and packaging

51. Reducing ecologic footprint
Make home energy efficient
Insulation, double glazing
Insulating homes will keep heat in and reduce the need for more energy.
Will save money

52. Reducing ecologic footprint
Turn thermostat down
A decrease in 4 degrees can save 5% of a homes ecologic footprint
If homes are well insulated then there will be no need to turn thermostat up

53. Reducing ecologic footprint
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Recycle items whenever possible
Avoid over packaged products when shopping
Donate unwanted items to charities

54. Human Impact On The Biosphere

55. Human Impact The human population is increasing at a rapid rate
This can cause other species to go extinct
Other species are disappearing 1000X faster than they ever have
Humans deplete resources

56. Habitat Degradation
Habitat degradation is damage to a habitat by pollution
Acid Precipitation
Ozone Depletion
Water Pollution
Land Pollution
Human activity causes these environmental problems and it hurts other species

57. Habitat Loss
1970’s-1980’s Amazonian rain forests were cleared to create farmland.
Land became worthless because rain forest soil has little use
Clearing land erased habitats

58. Habitat Fragmentation
Separation of wilderness areas from other wilderness areas
Effects:
Increased extinction
Disruption of ecological processes
Biodiversity is decreased

60. Hunting Unregulated hunting can lead to extinction
American Buffalo were nearly hunted to extinction in the 1800’s
Due to newly passed laws they have not been hunted and have now grown to almost 200,000
Poaching-Illegal hunting

61. Endangered Species in NC
1 out of every 5 species in North Carolina is either threatened or endangered
Habitat Loss- People begin to build on undeveloped areas which kills habitats

62. Endangered Species in NC
Reptiles-Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Mammals-North Carolina Flying Squirrel
Insects-Spruce-Fir Moss Spider
Birds-Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

63. Human Needs
It is important to preserve biodiversity but human needs can’t be ignored
In developed countries protecting biodiversity often comes into conflict with people’s jobs
Delicate balance between economy and the environment

64. Human Mitigation 1973-U.S. Endangered Species Act
The US has established natural preserves and parks
Yellow Stone National Park
Big Cypress National Preserve
Crater Lake National Park