1. Chapter 52 An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

2. Essential Knowledge
2.d.1 – All biological systems from cells and organisms to populations, communities, and ecosystems are affected by complex biotic and abiotic interaction involving exchange of matter and free energy (52.2).

3. Ecology
The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment

4. Organisms All living beings (animals, plants, fungi, etc)
Studied at many different levels

5. Ecology - levels
1. Organismal Ecology 2. Population Ecology 3. Community Ecology 4. Biome Ecology 5. Biosphere Ecology

6. Environment Abiotic Factors: nonliving factors
Ex: Temperature, water, wind, humidity
Biotic Factors: living factors
Ex: Competition, Predation (plants, animals, fungi, etc)

7. Abiotic Factors
1. Temperature 2. Water 3. Sunlight 4. Wind 5. Rocks and Soil 6. Disturbance

8. Temperature Effects cell contents Ex:
Cold – cells will rupture if temperatures drop below a certain point
Hot – many proteins and DNA will denature
Point – life can only exist over a fairly narrow temperature range

9. Water Review the properties of water from Chapter 3.
Cells must maintain a certain water potential level (keep from exploding or drying out).

10. Sunlight Provides energy for Ps, which drives most food webs.
Plants often compete for light because of shading or absorption of light by deep columns of water.

11. Wind Effects temperature and water conditions for many organisms.
May carry abrasive particles that limit plant growth by killing the SAM areas.
SAM??? Shoot apical meristem areas

12. Rocks and Soil
Physical structure, pH, mineral composition of rocks and soil limit where plants can grow.
Ex. Se soils.
Plants limit what animals can be found in an area.

13. Disturbance Disturbance is often an important part of an environment.
Allows organisms to re-colonize an area.
Ex: Fire Humans Wind
Yellowstone Fire

14. Climate
Shapes environments and what organisms can live in a particular area.
Climatic factors:
Solar radiation and latitude
Axis tilt/seasons
Air/Water circulation patterns

15. Solar Radiation and Latitude
Changes the amount of light and energy delivered per surface area.
Result:
Poles: less light
Equator: more light
Unequal heating causes air and water to circulate

17. Seasons Caused by the Earth's tilt. Day length changes over time.
Many organisms are restricted in range by how well they adapt to changing seasons.

19. Global Air Patterns Air rises when heated, sinks when cools.
Zones of rising/sinking are created.
Earth's rotation causes zones to "twist”.
Result:
Air circulation patterns
Rain fall patterns
Rising air: wet areas
Descending air: dry areas

21. Biomes
Broad geographical regions with characteristic communities of organisms.
Biomes are controlled by:
Temperature
Water amount and proximity
Geography

24. Tropical Forests
Areas covered with dense/lush growth of trees and vines.
Climate:
Warm temperatures.
Constant day length.
High water.
Vertical layers of autotrophic growth

25. Tropical Forests
Have the greatest diversity of species of any area on Earth.
Soil is usually very infertile. Most of the nutrients are in the plant life.
One of the most endangered Biomes.

26. Tropical Forests

27. Savanna Grasslands with a few trees.
Climate with three growing seasons:
Cool and dry
Hot and dry
Warm and wet
Rich in herbivores and predator species
Only major biome not found in North America

29. Desert Characterized by plants adapted to dry growing conditions.
Cacti, succulents
Climate:
Dry (<30cm/yr).
May be cold or hot.
Often found in areas of descending air masses.
Low productivity, but still fairly diverse in species.

31. Chaparral Characterized by spiny evergreen shrubs. Climate:
Mild rainy winters
Hot summers
Ex: Southern California
Maintained by fires
Plants adapted to periodic fires by seeds or re-growing from the roots

33. Temperate Grasslands
Grasses and other herbs are the dominant vegetation.
Indiana could be considered a temp. grassland
Climate:
Intermediate water
Relatively cold winters

34. Grasslands Very productive for agriculture. (wheat, corn)
Need disturbance (fires) to keep trees out.
Come in several types:
Tall grass
Short grass

36. Temperate Forests
Deciduous trees dominate (often called deciduous forest)
Climate:
Relatively high rain
Cold winters
Very little natural area left.
Good diversity of species.
Coniferous forest:
Tall stands of cone-bearing tress

38. Taiga (Boreal forest)
Coniferous trees dominate (also called coniferous forests)
Climate:
Long cold winters
Short wet summers
Long summer daylength
Relatively low species diversity
Being logged at an alarming rate (disappearing rapidly!)

40. Tundra Grasses and sedges dominate. Climate: Permafrost present
Very cold and dry
Low light in winter
Permafrost present
Plants low in height
Poor species diversity

42. Altitude and Latitude Mirror each other.
Their Biomes are similar because the environments are similar.
Ex: Alpine = Tundra

43. Aquatic Biomes

44. Fresh water Biomes Have <1% salt concentration.
Strongly influenced by temperature and light.
Classification – based on water flow patterns.
Flowing: rivers, creeks
Non-flowing: ponds, lakes

45. Marine Biomes Cover 3/4 of the Earth's surface. Average 3% salt.
Controlled by light and the distance to the shore.

47. Light Zones
Photic - Enough light for Ps. Red light lost rapidly as depth increases.
Aphotic - Lacks enough light for Ps and depends on food made in photic zone for energy. Part of the most extensive biome on the planet.

48. Marine Biomes
1. Estuaries 2. Intertidal 3. Coral Reefs 4. Pelagic 5. Benthos

49. Estuaries Where a freshwater river meets the ocean. Salinity variable.
Very productive Biome.
Complex flow patterns

50. Coral Reef Characterized by coral. Found in shallow warm waters.
Very productive.
High species diversity.
Very sensitive to temperature changes

51. Benthos
Bottom area.
Usually fed by nutrients drifting down from upper levels.
Fairly rich in life.

52. Summary Know what is involved with the study of “Ecology”.
Know the major factors of planet Earth that shape climate.
Know the major terrestrial biomes and the factors that control them.
Know the major types of aquatic biomes and the factors that control them.