1. Introduction to Ecology or howeverythingisconnectedtoeverythingelse

2. Key Ideas in Ecology The Levels of Organization Studied by Ecologists Organism  Population  Community  Ecosystem  Biome  Biosphere Definition of Ecology: study of interactions between organisms and their environment literally means “study of the house” Studying disturbances in the ecosystem Increase in Lyme Disease Flowers budding earlier Climate versus Weather “the clothes you buy versus the clothes you wear”

3. Reminders…. Population versus Community One species or many Able to interbreed? Ecosystem All living and non-living factors Biotic Factors: The biological influences on organisms within an ecosystem Examples: birds, trees, mushrooms, and bacteria Abiotic Factors: Physical, non-constant, nonliving, factors that shape ecosystems Examples: temperature, precipitation, humidity, pH, salinity, availability of necessary compounds Biosphere 20km thick 1/600 th of the Earth’s diameter All organisms are found within the biosphere Living things are not distributed evenly

4. Energy in an ecosystem A large part of the interactions between organisms has to do with every organisms need for energy: All living things require energy and materials to survive In MOST ecosystems, energy is constantly being supplied by sunlight. Exceptions: Organisms living without sunlight Bacteria in these areas “make” their own food through chemosynthesis Energy is NOT cycled in an ecosystem. Energy is “lost” at each level of the food chain when organisms use it to survive Lost energy is “lost” as heat Trophic Levels In an ecosystem there is a FLOW of energy, NOT a cycle 10% Rule of Energy Flow

5. Food Webs track Energy Flow:

6. Climates of the Past Climate is studied through direct and indirect methods Direct: Actual measurements of temperature, precipitation, ect. Indirect: measurements of things that have been effected by climate Biological Data: trees, pollen, coral, fossils Cryological: ice cores Geological: silt, rocks Historical Temperatures have gone up ~ 7°C and down ~4°C causing warmer and cooler periods. Some scientists think that this change in temperature appears to be due to changes in CO 2 levels.

7. Factors effecting Climate The Sun and Variations in Earth’s orbit The suns temperature does vary Sun spots Different orbits allow for different intensities of light to hit the Earth Change in location of continents Land forms absorb carbon dioxide Volcanoes Large eruptions can release carbon dioxide and other chemicals into the environment

8. Feedback Loops Negative feedback Minimizes the effect of a disturbance and returns systems to normal state Examples: Thermostats Shivering Positive feedback Increases the effect of the disturbance and can destabilize a system and return to a normal state may be impossible Examples: Child Labor

9. Greenhouse Effect vs. Global WarmingGlobal Warming Greenhouse Effect: Natural phenomena that allows our planet to stay warm despite the cold temperatures of space, greenhouse gasses Global Warming: Occurring because of a thickening of greenhouse gasses, raising global temperatures Is estimated to be 1.5-4.5 degrees higher by 2035 Caused by fossil fuels, particulates in the air Thickening on the greenhouse gasses

10. Why is everyone talking about CO2? What is current sunlight? What is ancient sunlight? Why are we using so much ancient sunlight right now? Solutions?

11. 4 Ways to Think about Climate Change Hundreds of Years Billions of Years Millions of Years Thousands of Years