EcologyEcology

History and overviewHistory and overview

The Roots of EcologyThe Roots of Ecology

Attitudes of the PastAttitudes of the Past

Native Americans-Native Americans- Most native Most native Americans saw people as a part of Americans saw people as a part of nature. nature. They taught a reverence for They taught a reverence for nature.nature.

European attitudes-European attitudes- Most early Most early settlers viewed nature as a thing to be settlers viewed nature as a thing to be used. used. They looked upon the natural They looked upon the natural resources of North America as resources of North America as something to supply their needs.something to supply their needs.

Natural resources-Natural resources- In the early years of In the early years of settlement North America was teeming settlement North America was teeming with with forests and animals as far as forests and animals as far as the eye could see.the eye could see.

Passenger pigeon-Passenger pigeon- In 1810, the scientist In 1810, the scientist Alexander Wilson noted a flock of Alexander Wilson noted a flock of passenger pigeons approximately 1 passenger pigeons approximately 1 mile wide and 240 miles long mile wide and 240 miles long ( More ( More than 240 billion birds ). In only 100 than 240 billion birds ). In only 100 years, 1910 the passenger pigeon years, 1910 the passenger pigeon had been hunted to extinction.had been hunted to extinction.

Conservation movementConservation movement

ConservationistsConservationists- By the 1830’s - By the 1830’s people like people like Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau were writing about the need to were writing about the need to preserve the environment. preserve the environment. Groups were founded such as the Groups were founded such as the Appalachian Mountain Club Appalachian Mountain Club (1876) and the Sierra Club (1892 (1876) and the Sierra Club (1892 ).).

Yellowstone National Park was Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 as the first established in 1872 as the first great park of the conservation great park of the conservation

movement.movement.

Conservation to Conservation to environmentalismenvironmentalism

EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism- In the early - In the early 1900s’ people began to speak out 1900s’ people began to speak out about about human activities that were human activities that were causing serious damage to the causing serious damage to the environment. environment.

M.C. Marsh-M.C. Marsh- Showed in a scientific Showed in a scientific study how study how fish were being hurt by fish were being hurt by the release of industrial wastes the release of industrial wastes into water sources.into water sources.

Rachel Carson-Rachel Carson- Published silent Published silent springs, a book that discussed the springs, a book that discussed the dangers to the environment from dangers to the environment from using a pesticide known as DDTusing a pesticide known as DDT..

Earth Day-Earth Day- Cason and others helped Cason and others helped to make the public aware of to make the public aware of environmental concerns. environmental concerns. This This public awareness led to the first public awareness led to the first earth day on April 22, 1970.earth day on April 22, 1970.

Principles of EcologyPrinciples of Ecology

EcologyEcology- The understanding of how - The understanding of how all living things are connected. all living things are connected.

OrganismsOrganisms- A living thing. - A living thing. Organisms are found in the Organisms are found in the deepest oceans to the highest deepest oceans to the highest mountainsmountains

BiosphereBiosphere- All the part of the earth - All the part of the earth where living things are found.where living things are found.

Non-living things in the Non-living things in the EnvironmentEnvironment

H2OH2O- Life on earth would be - Life on earth would be impossible without water. impossible without water. Most Most organisms are 50 to 90 percent organisms are 50 to 90 percent water.water.

SoilSoil- Formed by the - Formed by the physical and physical and chemical breakdown of rocks.chemical breakdown of rocks.

SunSun- all living things - all living things depend upon depend upon the sun for energy, either the sun for energy, either directly or indirectly.directly or indirectly.

TemperatureTemperature- In general, the - In general, the temperature of an environment temperature of an environment depends on the amount of depends on the amount of sunlight it gets.sunlight it gets.

Relationships within Relationships within EcosystemsEcosystems

ProducersProducers- - Organisms, usually plants, Organisms, usually plants, that trap energy from the sunthat trap energy from the sun in a in a process called photosynthesis.process called photosynthesis.

ConsumersConsumers- Organisms that - Organisms that eat other eat other producers or consumers for energy.producers or consumers for energy.

DecomposersDecomposers- - Organisms that break Organisms that break down dead organismsdown dead organisms and absorb and absorb energy and nutrients from them.energy and nutrients from them.

Interactions Among Living Interactions Among Living ThingsThings

Population- Population- All of the same species All of the same species living in a given area.living in a given area.

Community- Community- Many populations Many populations interacting within a given area.interacting within a given area.

Ecosystem- Ecosystem- All of the living and All of the living and non-living interacting within a non-living interacting within a given area.given area.

Types of pollutionTypes of pollution Air- (CFCs), The greenhouse Air- (CFCs), The greenhouse

effect, Fossil fuelseffect, Fossil fuels Water- Thermal, Toxic metals, Water- Thermal, Toxic metals,

Fertilizers, Solvents, OilFertilizers, Solvents, Oil Land- Land erosion, Land Land- Land erosion, Land

pollutionpollution

Love CanalLove Canal

For 11 years, the Hooker Chemicals For 11 years, the Hooker Chemicals and Plastics company of Niagara falls, and Plastics company of Niagara falls, New York, produced hazardous New York, produced hazardous wastes, sealed them in steel drums, wastes, sealed them in steel drums, and dumped the drums into an old and dumped the drums into an old canal called love canal. In 1953, canal called love canal. In 1953, Hooker Chemicals filled the canal Hooker Chemicals filled the canal with clay and top soil, then sold the with clay and top soil, then sold the land to the Niagara Falls school land to the Niagara Falls school board. Over the next 25 years, homes board. Over the next 25 years, homes and an elementary school were built and an elementary school were built on the site. on the site.

By 1977, chemicals began leaking By 1977, chemicals began leaking from the corroded steel drums into from the corroded steel drums into storm sewers, basements of homes, storm sewers, basements of homes, and the school playground. State and the school playground. State officials closed the school and officials closed the school and evacuated 239 homes built above evacuated 239 homes built above the canal. In 1980, Love canal was the canal. In 1980, Love canal was declared a federal disaster area. By declared a federal disaster area. By 1991, the total cost to clean up the 1991, the total cost to clean up the Love canal and relocate its residents Love canal and relocate its residents was about $275 million.was about $275 million.