Introduction to Introduction to EcologyEcology

CP Environmental ScienceCP Environmental ScienceIntroduction, Biomes, and Introduction, Biomes, and

Climatographs, and HabitatsClimatographs, and Habitats2009-102009-10

EcologyEcology

Ecology is a branch of biologyEcology is a branch of biology The “study of organisms in their The “study of organisms in their

habitat, and the interrelationships habitat, and the interrelationships between organisms and their between organisms and their environment”environment”

EnvironmentEnvironment• Living: bioticLiving: biotic• Non-living: abioticNon-living: abiotic

Ecosystem - a functional unitEcosystem - a functional unit

Definition (3)Definition (3)• ““a group of organisms that live together and interact a group of organisms that live together and interact

with each other and their non-living environment”with each other and their non-living environment” If no human interference, or natural disasters, If no human interference, or natural disasters,

a SUSTAINABLE systema SUSTAINABLE system• But, not a constant – ecosystems slowly change over But, not a constant – ecosystems slowly change over

near time and over long-termnear time and over long-term Natural vs. Human createdNatural vs. Human created Parts of an ecosystemParts of an ecosystem

• Biotic Biotic • AbioticAbiotic

Relationships Within an EcosystemRelationships Within an Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a group of organisms that live together and interact with each other and their environment.

The Biosphere (2-3)The Biosphere (2-3) That part of the earth that supports lifeThat part of the earth that supports life Parts ofParts of

• Atmosphere: max, 7 miles upAtmosphere: max, 7 miles up• Hydrosphere: to 12 miles below sea level, Hydrosphere: to 12 miles below sea level,

deepest trenches in oceandeepest trenches in ocean• Lithosphere: only upper few hundred feet; Lithosphere: only upper few hundred feet;

soil and must below; could include caves!soil and must below; could include caves!

What are the Key Characteristics of Terrestrial Biomes?

BiomesBiomes Factors determining biomesFactors determining biomes

• Average annual rainfallAverage annual rainfall• Average annual temperatureAverage annual temperature• SO, what factors for a large region, determine rSO, what factors for a large region, determine r

ainfall and temperatureainfall and temperature• Climatographs – analyze to determine average Climatographs – analyze to determine average

rainfall and temperature, and changes rainfall and temperature, and changes throughout yearthroughout year

Determine biome using a climatographDetermine biome using a climatograph KNOW: Names and locations of KNOW: Names and locations of

• Forest Biomes (3)Forest Biomes (3)• Major biomes in U.S. (5): tundra(arctic and Major biomes in U.S. (5): tundra(arctic and

alpine); desert;grasslands; deciduous forest; alpine); desert;grasslands; deciduous forest; coniferous forestconiferous forest

Information on each biomeInformation on each biome Map of worlds biomesMap of worlds biomes

Analysis of ClimatographsAnalysis of Climatographs

Look at the climatographs on the Look at the climatographs on the following pages. following pages.

Determine which biome or climate Determine which biome or climate region it represents region it represents

Climatographs of each biomeClimatographs of each biome Explain why you think that the Explain why you think that the

climatograph represents to that climatograph represents to that region.region.

#1 – Climate Region – Why?#1 – Climate Region – Why?

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#3 – Climate Region – Why?#3 – Climate Region – Why?

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#5 – Climate Region – Why?#5 – Climate Region – Why?

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#6 – Look at the #6 – Look at the 2 climatographs 2 climatographs on the left. Both on the left. Both

climatographs climatographs represent cities represent cities

found at the found at the same latitude same latitude

(39ºN), why are (39ºN), why are their their

climatographs climatographs different?different?

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HabitatsHabitats

Why care about habitat?Why care about habitat? Components of a habitat analysisComponents of a habitat analysis

• FoodFood• WaterWater• CoverCover

What determines where an animal/plant What determines where an animal/plant liveslives• Temperature, soil (and, to some extent, type Temperature, soil (and, to some extent, type

of rocks), and moisture (precipitation)of rocks), and moisture (precipitation) MacroclimateMacroclimate Microclimate Microclimate

Habitats and Wildlife RequirementsHabitats and Wildlife RequirementsGreatest threat to most species is habitat destruction Greatest threat to most species is habitat destruction

resulting in threatened, endangered, and often resulting in threatened, endangered, and often extinct speciesextinct species

Define habitat (6)Define habitat (6)

Habitat triangle:Habitat triangle:

Habitat fragmentation (8-9)- many species require large, Habitat fragmentation (8-9)- many species require large, unbroken tracts of habitatunbroken tracts of habitat

Edges (9)- definition and examplesEdges (9)- definition and examples The Good: The Good: Why often high Why often high species diversity?species diversity?

The Bad: Temp changes, winds, predators, highwaysThe Bad: Temp changes, winds, predators, highways

WATERFOOD

COVER

Community of LifeCommunity of Life

Community – all populations of Community – all populations of plants, animals, and other life in a plants, animals, and other life in a given habitatgiven habitat

Population- the total number of a Population- the total number of a given species in a given habitatgiven species in a given habitat

Species – group of organisms that Species – group of organisms that interbreed to produce fertile interbreed to produce fertile offspringoffspring

SpeciesSpecies

Defining a species Defining a species • Sialia sialis - Sialia sialis - binomial nomenclature binomial nomenclature • What is a hybrid?What is a hybrid?

Subspecies/variety/breedSubspecies/variety/breed Practical significancePractical significance

• Endangered species actEndangered species act• Breeding species, especially Breeding species, especially

endangered speciesendangered species Why is difficult to define a species?Why is difficult to define a species?

How have humans impacted How have humans impacted habitats and species? habitats and species?

A look at PA forestsA look at PA forests

Cavity Nests - (7)Cavity Nests - (7)

Properly placed nesting boxes like this one provide much needed habitat for

Eastern bluebirds.

Although the cavity is now too large, this old wooden fence post has provided a home for many bluebirds.

Now it may provide protection for other cavity

nesters.

Why did the bluebird decline?

Was its habitat destroyed?

The BluebirdThe Bluebird

Introduced Species Introduced Species • StarlingsStarlings• House SparrowsHouse Sparrows• CowbirdsCowbirds

InsecticidesInsecticides Bluebird numbers are recovering!Bluebird numbers are recovering!

• Nesting boxesNesting boxes• Reduction in pesticide useReduction in pesticide use

Species Interactions - Species Interactions - WoodpeckersWoodpeckers

Downy vs. hairy (6)Downy vs. hairy (6) How can two such very close species How can two such very close species

coexist?coexist?• Resource partitioningResource partitioning• Niches are differentNiches are different

Changes in the Neighborhood Changes in the Neighborhood Winners and LosersWinners and Losers

Before colonists – PA extensive mature forests – Before colonists – PA extensive mature forests – large trees, little understorylarge trees, little understory

PA forests extensively cut in late 1700’s and PA forests extensively cut in late 1700’s and 1800’s1800’s

As forests recovered – great habitat for deer, As forests recovered – great habitat for deer, grouse, turkeygrouse, turkey

What animals did not benefit and declined or What animals did not benefit and declined or were extirpated? were extirpated? • BobcatBobcat• FisherFisher• Black bearBlack bear• Ruffed GrouseRuffed Grouse

Habitat – PA Game Commission (read habitat)Habitat – PA Game Commission (read habitat)• White tailed deer (read habitat and managementWhite tailed deer (read habitat and management

Habitat FragmentationHabitat Fragmentation

Creates Creates edges– border between two edges– border between two habitatshabitats

Some species thrive – eg., rabbitsSome species thrive – eg., rabbits Others need continuous forest Others need continuous forest

• What are some PA animals that need non-What are some PA animals that need non-fragmented habitats?fragmented habitats?

Woodland songbirdsWoodland songbirds So, what is the “moral” of the story?So, what is the “moral” of the story? Rapid decline in many NA songbirds – Rapid decline in many NA songbirds –

WHY?WHY?

Food Chains and Food Webs Food Chains and Food Webs (10.2)(10.2)

Know all terms!Know all terms! Given a list of animals, sketch a food Given a list of animals, sketch a food

chainchain Given a list of animals (focus on PA Given a list of animals (focus on PA

animals) sketch a food webanimals) sketch a food web

Food and Energy Relationships – Food and Energy Relationships – terms (1.6)terms (1.6)

Sun’s energy (25)Sun’s energy (25)• What type of energy reaches the earth?What type of energy reaches the earth?• What happens to that energyWhat happens to that energy

AbsorbedAbsorbed• By plantsBy plants• By other materialsBy other materials

ReflectedReflected How is that energy converted to How is that energy converted to

chemical energy by plants (25)chemical energy by plants (25)• Know photosynthesis formulaKnow photosynthesis formula

Laws of Thermodynamics (energy)Laws of Thermodynamics (energy)

First Law of ThermodynamicsFirst Law of Thermodynamics• ““You can’t get something for nothing”You can’t get something for nothing”

Second Law of ThermodynamicsSecond Law of Thermodynamics• ““..and you don’t even break even!”..and you don’t even break even!”

Flow of energy (1.6)Flow of energy (1.6)

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis• Producers always at base of pyramid- Why? Producers always at base of pyramid- Why?

Biomass/energy pyramid (25-26)Biomass/energy pyramid (25-26)• Why a pyramid shape?Why a pyramid shape?• Where does energy go?Where does energy go?

Contrast to numbers “pyramid” (26)Contrast to numbers “pyramid” (26)• Is it possible to not be in a pyramid shape Is it possible to not be in a pyramid shape

(fewer producers than 1(fewer producers than 1stst level consumers)? level consumers)?

Energy Enters the EcosystemEnergy Enters the Ecosystem

First Law of Energy: Energy is never First Law of Energy: Energy is never created nor destroyed, but is created nor destroyed, but is constantly being converted to constantly being converted to different formsdifferent forms

Photosynthesis: Light energy is Photosynthesis: Light energy is converted to what kind of energy?converted to what kind of energy?

COCO22 + H + H22O + light Carbohydrates + OO + light Carbohydrates + O22

What happens to this chemical energy?What happens to this chemical energy?

Food WebFood Web

Name the: scavengers;omnivore;carnivore; herbivores; consumers; producers; detritus feeders;decomposers

Consumer levels - primary, secondary, tertiary

What kinds of parasites (and hosts) might be in this ecosystem?

Energy PyramidsEnergy Pyramids

•Why does the biomass of organisms get smaller as move through food chain?

•Think of second law of energy: “When energy is changed from one form to another, amount of usable energy is always decreased.”

•Where does energy go?•Does the energy get recycled in the ecosystem?

The 10% RuleThe 10% Rule

Productivity (27)Productivity (27)

DefineDefine What determines the productivity of What determines the productivity of

an ecosystem?an ecosystem? Contrast ecosystems- what are the Contrast ecosystems- what are the

most productive natural ecosystems?most productive natural ecosystems? How do we increase productivity of How do we increase productivity of

an agricultural ecosystem?an agricultural ecosystem?