Excellent and Exciting Ecology

Chapter 52 ~ An Introduction

to Ecology and the BiosphereI am the Lorax.

I speak for the trees.I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.

Vocabulary Ecology: the study of interactions between

organisms and their environments

How organisms structure, physiology, and behavior meet the challenges of the environment

What affects population size and why it changes

Interactions between species

Energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and the environment

Connected ecosystems

Regional changes in energy and materials influences other places

Species Distribution

How species interact with their environment determines where they live (distribution)

Interactions Between Organisms and Environment

Biotic – living components of the environment (other species)

Predation Parasitism Competition Disease

Interactions Between Organisms and Environment

Abiotic: non-living components Temperature Light Water Nutrients Salinity Rocks/Soil Climate (macro/micro)

Global Climate

Climate is the prevailing weather in an area

Temperature and Water are major factors determining climate

Ocean currents influence climate along coasts

Intensity and angle of sunlight affect climate

Air Circulation and Wind Patterns affect climate

Mountains affect sunlight, temperature and rainfall

Biomes

Major terrestrial or aquatic life zones Characterized by vegetation type and

physical environment

Aquatic Biomes

Aquatic biomes

Vertical stratification: Photic zone~ photosynthetic light Aphotic zone~ little light Benthic zone ~ substrate at bottom of aquatic biomes

Benthos~ community of organisms in benthic zone Detritus~ dead organic matter; food for benthic

organisms Thermocline~ narrow stratum of rapid

temperature change

Standing bodies of water (lakes)

Lake classification:

•oligotrophic~ deep, nutrient poor

•eutrophic~ shallow, high nutrient content, murky water

Wetlands

Habitat inundated by water at least some of the time

Plants adapted to water saturated soil

Moving bodies of water (streams and rivers)

Nutrient content depends on overhanging vegetation, usually HIGH OXYGEN content because of turbulence

Estuary

Transition area between a river and sea Seawater enters during rising tide and

returns to sea when tide falls

Intertidal Zone

Periodically submerged and exposed by tides

Happens twice daily on marine shores Variation in temp, salinity and air exposure

Ocean Pelagic

Open blue water, mixed by wind driven ocean currents

70% of Earth’s surface

Coral Reefs

Formed from Calcium carbonate skeletons of corals

Found mainly in Tropical areas Need high oxygen levels

Marine Benthic Zone

Seafloor below the surface waters of the coastal zone and the pelagic zone

Most receive no sunlight Water temperature declines with depth Chemoautotrophic prokaryotes are

producers in deep sea hydrothermal vents

Terrestrial Biomes

Tropical Forest

Found near equator Rainfall constant (200-400 cm annually) Air Temperature high year-round (25-29˚

C) Vertical layering with canopy

Desert

30 ˚ North and south latitude Precipitation low and variable (less than 30

cm per year Temp varies by season and daily (not

always hot in the desert) Adaptations include water

conservation/storage

Savanna

Found near equator Rainfall averages 30-50 cm per year Dry season can be 8-9 months Temp warm year round Scattered trees, many grasses (Think Lion King )

Chaparral

Mid-latitude coastal regions Seasonal Precipitation Rainy winters, long dry summers Shrubs, small trees Adaptations to drought and fire

Temperate Grassland

Seasonal precipitation Dry winters, wet summers Periodic drought is common Cold winters, hot summers Grasses Large grazing mammals (bison)

Coniferous Forest (Taiga)

Northern North America and Eurasia Cold, long winters, hot summers Cone bearing trees Migratory birds, moose, brown bears

Temperate Broadleaf Forest

Mid-latitudes in Northern hemisphere 70-200 cm of rain annually Cold winters, hot humid summers Closed canopy Deciduous trees (lose leaves in winter)

Tundra

Arctic regions High winds, low temperatures 20-60 cm of precipitation Long, cold winters, short summers with low

temperatures Permafrost – permanently frozen layer of

soil