Bright blue marble floating in space Ecology Chapter 50 AP Biology 2005-2006 What is ecology? Ecology Is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and.
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Bright blue marble floating in space Ecology Chapter 50 AP Biology 2005-2006 What is ecology? Ecology Is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment These interactions Determine both the distribution of organisms and their abundance Where organisms are found and how many of them there are. AP Biology 2005-2006 What is ecology? Ecology Both observational/descriptive and experimental Observing what’s there and seeing how it changes. Rigorous - mathematical modeling of populations and ecosystems. Ecological time Minute-to-minute interactions. Compare to evolutionary time. AP Biology 2005-2006 Environmental factors Abiotic factors non-living chemical & physical factors Temperature Light Water, including salinity Nutrients, including soil and rocks Dissolved oxygen! Biotic factors AP Biology living components 2005-2006 Environmental Factors Affect the distribution and abundance of organisms Kangaroos/km2 > 20 10–20 5–10 1–5 0.1–1 < 0.1 Limits of distribution Southern Australia has cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. AP Biology Climate in northern Australia is hot and wet, with seasonal drought. Red kangaroos occur in most semiarid and arid regions of the interior, where precipitation is relatively low and variable from year to year. Southeastern Australia has a wet, cool climate. Tasmania 2005-2006 The figure below (Figure 52.5 in the textbook) shows the distribution of red kangaroos in Australia. From this figure, you can predict that kangaroos: Climate in northern Australia a. eat plants. Kangaroos/km is hot and wet, with seasonal > 20 drought. 10–20 5–10 b. prefer a hot dry 1–5 Red kangaroos 0.1–1 climate. occur in most < 0.1 Limits of semiarid and arid distribution regions of the c. don’t like interior, where precipitation is relatively low and saltwater. variable from year to year. d. prefer to live in areas where Southeastern Australia has a wet, cool climate. Southern Australia has people don’t live. cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. Tasmania e. are more abundant in some years than in other years. 2 AP Biology 2005-2006 Dispersal Dispersal - the movement of individuals away from their area of origin or from centers of high population density. Natural range expansion Early humans “out of Africa” Different from migration. Species transplants Potential vs. actual ranges Where organisms could be versus where they are. Invasive/introduced species. AP Biology 2005-2006 Earth’s biomes AP Biology 2005-2006 Environmental factors Climate - Long-term prevailing weather in a particular area. Macroclimate - Patterns on a global, regional and local level. Microclimate - Patterns on a smaller scale. Eg. A community living under a log. Lichen AP Biology Rotting Logs Tide Pools 2005-2006 Why do we have weather? Latitudinal variation in sunlight intensity. AP Biology 2005-2006 Why do we have weather? Seasonal variation in sunlight intensity. AP Biology 2005-2006 Why do we have weather? Global air circulation and precipitation patterns. AP Biology 2005-2006 Why do we have weather? Global wind patterns. Currents and other bodies of water. AP Biology 2005-2006 Why do we have weather? Mountains and elevation. AP Biology 2005-2006 Marine/Aquatic Biomes coral reef benthos intertidal AP Biology 2005-2006 Marine/Aquatic Biomes 30N Tropic of Cancer Equator Tropic of Capricorn Continental shelf coral reef 30S benthos Key Lakes Rivers Estuaries Coral reefs Oceanic pelagic zone Intertidal zone Abyssal zone (below oceanic pelagic zone) intertidal AP Biology 2005-2006 Aquatic/Marine Biomes Account for the largest part of the biosphere in terms of area Can contain fresh (aquatic), brackish, or salt (marine) water Oceans Cover about 75% of Earth’s surface Have an enormous impact on the biosphere AP Biology 2005-2006 Zonation Are stratified into zones or layers defined by light penetration, temperature, and depth Thermoclines - Narrow vertical zone of abrupt temperature change. Intertidal zone Neritic zone Littoral zone Limnetic zone 0 Oceanic zone Photic zone 200 m Continental shelf Pelagic zone Benthic zone Photic zone Aphotic zone Pelagic zone Benthic zone Aphotic zone 2,500–6,000 m Abyssal zone (deepest regions of ocean floor) (a) (b) Marine zonation. Like lakes, the marine environment is generally Zonation in a lake. Based on light penetration, distance from short and water depth, and open water or bottom. AP Biology classified on the basis of light penetration (photic and aphotic zones), distance from shore and water depth (intertidal, neritic, and oceanic zones), and whether it is open water (pelagic zone) or bottom (benthic and abyssal zones). 2005-2006 Nutrient turnover Lakes and other marine/aquatic biomes experience turnover 2 In winter, the coldest water in the lake (0°C) lies just below the surface ice; water is progressively warmer at deeper levels of the lake, typically 4–5°C at the bottom. Lake depth (m) O2 (mg/L) 0 4 In spring, as the sun melts the ice, the surface water warms to 4°C and sinks below the cooler layers immediately below, eliminating the thermal stratification. Spring winds mix the water to great depth, bringing oxygen (O2) to the bottom waters (see graphs) and nutrients to the surface. Spring Winter 8 Lake depth (m) 1 12 8 16 2 4 4 4 24 O2 concentration O2 (mg/L) 0 8 4 12 8 16 0 4 4 24 4 4 4 4C 4C High Medium O2 (mg/L) O2 (mg/L) 0 4 8 12 4 8 4 4 4 4C 16 24 4 Autumn 4 In autumn, as surface water cools rapidly, it sinks below the AP Biology underlying layers, remixing the water until the surface begins to freeze and the winter temperature profile is reestablished. Thermocline 3 4C 20 18 8 6 5 22 Lake depth (m) Lake depth (m) Low 0 4 8 12 8 16 24 Summer 2005-2006 In summer, the lake regains a distinctive thermal profile, with warm surface water separated from cold bottom water by a narrow vertical zone of rapid temperature change, called a thermocline. Lakes Oligotrophic - LAKES nutrient poor, oxygen rich Eutrophic - nutrient rich, oxygen poor Periodic oxygen depletion; large amount of decomposition Biota - fish, invertebrates depending on O2 levels, phyto- and zooplankton. An oligotrophic lake in Grand Teton, Wyoming AP Biology A eutrophic lake in Okavango delta, Botswana 2005-2006 Wetlands Inundated with WETLANDS water at least periodically Plants adapted to water-saturated soil Highly productive Important filters and breeding grounds Birds, carnivores, crustaceans, plants, reptiles. Okefenokee National Wetland Reserve in Georgia AP Biology 2005-2006 Streams and Rivers STREAMS AND RIVERS Current with lots of aeration Aquatic plants and phytoplankton, fish, invertebrates, etc. Ex. Potomac and Anacostia rivers, Rock and Sligo creeks, Chesapeake Bay watershed. Figure 50.17 AP Biology A headwater stream in the Great Smoky Mountains The Mississippi River far form its headwaters 2005-2006 Estuaries Transition between rivers ESTUARIES and sea - brackish water with flow between the two. Variable salinity depending on temperature, depth, and tides. Worms, oysters, crabs, fish, etc. Highly productive and important in filtering water. AP Biology Figure 50.17 An estuary in a low coastal plain of Georgia 2005-2006 Intertidal Zones Periodically INTERTIDAL ZONES submerged and exposed. Physical environment varies vertically, so species range varies vertically. Oxygen and nutrients renewed tidally. Sea grass, algae, worms, crustaceans, crabs, etc. Figure 50.17Rocky intertidal zone on the Oregon coast AP Biology 2005-2006 Oceanic Pelagic Biome OCEANIC PELAGIC BIOME Figure 50.17Open ocean off the island of Hawaii Open ocean, particularly deep water. Driven by currents - lots of light and oxygen. Large photic zone. Experience nutrient turn over - depends on temperature. 70 percent of world’s surface - we will be going to Ocean Hall! Phytoplankton and photosynthetic bacteria - makes our oxygen! Zooplankton, fish, cephalopods, marine mammals, etc. AP Biology 2005-2006 Coral Reefs Formed from coral “skeletons” Photic zone - zooxanthellae CORAL REEFS need light for photosynthesis; sensitive to change in temperature Fringing reef --> barrier reef --> atoll island Unicellular algae, coral animals, fish and invertebrate diversity. A coral reef in the Red Sea Figure 50.17 AP Biology 2005-2006 Marine Benthic Zone Below neritic (near, MARINE BENTHIC ZONE coastal) and pelagic (noncoastal, open water) zones. Deep benthic = abyssal zone; deep sea vents with chemoautotrophs. Shallow benthic - oxygen from algae and seaweed. Chemo- or photoautotrophs; worms, A deep-sea hydrothermal vent community arthopods, echinoderms, etc. AP Biology 2005-2006 Tropical rainforest distribution: equatorial precipitation: very wet temperature: always warm characteristics: many plants & animals, thin soil AP Biology 2005-2006 Savanna distribution: equatorial precipitation: seasonal, dry season/wet season temperature: always warm characteristics: fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants; herbivores; fertile soil AP Biology 2005-2006 Desert distribution: 30°N & S latitude band precipitation: almost temperature: variable daily & seasonally, hot & cold characteristics: sparse vegetation & animals, cacti, succulents, drought tolerant, reptiles, insects, rodents, birds AP Biology 2005-2006 Temperate Grassland distribution: mid-latitudes, mid-continents precipitation: seasonal, dry season/wet season temperature: cold winters/hot summers characteristics: prairie grasses, fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants; many herbivores; deep, fertile soil AP Biology 2005-2006 Temperate Deciduous Forest distribution: mid-latitude, northern hemisphere precipitation: adequate, summer rains, winter snow temperature: moderate warm summer/cool winter characteristics: many mammals, insects, birds, etc.; deciduous trees; fertile soils AP Biology 2005-2006 Coniferous Forest (Taiga) distribution: high-latitude, northern hemisphere precipitation: adequate to dry (temperate rain forest on coast) temperature: cool year round characteristics: AP Biology conifers; diverse mammals, birds, insects, etc. 2005-2006 Arctic Tundra distribution: arctic, high-latitude, northern hemisphere precipitation: dry temperature: cold year round characteristics: permafrost, lichens & mosses, migrating animals & resident herbivores AP Biology 2005-2006 Alpine Tundra distribution: high elevation at all latitudes precipitation: dry temperature: cold year round characteristics: permafrost, lichens, mosses, grasses; migrating animals & resident herbivores AP Biology 2005-2006