BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?

?

A. Definition:

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?

The study of the interactions of organisms with one another and with their environment. - Ricklefs Glossary  

A. Definition:

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?

The study of the interactions of organisms with one another and with their environment. - Ricklefs Glossary  “The scientific study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and their interactions with the environment.”

A. Definition:

These interactions affect the distribution and abundance of organisms in time and space.

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?

BASIC APPLIED

Human Physiology Medicine

A. Definition:B. What it is not:

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?

BASIC APPLIED

Human Physiology Medicine

Ecology Conservation BiologyWildlife ManagementAgricultural Science

A. Definition:B. What it is not:

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?

BASIC APPLIED

Human Physiology Medicine

Ecology Conservation BiologyApplied EcologyWildlife ManagementAgricultural Science

Environ. Science Sustainability Science

A. Definition:B. What it is not:

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?

Science, not a social or political agenda

A. Definition:B. What it is not:

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?

Science, not a philosophy

A. Definition:B. What it is not:

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:

- complexity and diversity

Explain this Cost Rican Rainforest….

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:

- complexity and diversity

Explain this Cost Rican Rainforest….Now this one in New Guinea…

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:

- complexity and diversity - landscape context

Explain this Cost Rican Rainforest….Now this one in New Guinea…

And now these fragments of different size/isolation

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:

- complexity and diversity - interaction change

- as organisms develop

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:

- complexity and diversity - interaction change

- as organisms develop - with changes in population size

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:

- complexity and diversity - interaction change

- as organisms develop - with changes in population size - changes in communities over time: succession

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:

- complexity and diversity - interaction change

- as organisms develop - with changes in population size - changes in communities over time: succession - evolutionary changes over time causing divergence

Sharp-billed ground finches on different islands in the Galapagos

BIO 340: ECOLOGY

I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:

- complexity and diversity - interaction change

Anectdotal natural history stories General Principles

II. Approaches in Ecology A. Biological Scales

II. Approaches in Ecology A. Biological Scales

Emergent properties at each scale

Primary Producers fix energy in sunlight and build/absorb organic molecules….some bacteria, some protists, and plants.

Consumers eat primary producers, decomposers, and other consumers as herbivores, detritivores, predators, and parasites… some bacteria, some protists, and animals.

Decomposers eat dead material and release nutrients to the soil. Bacteria and fungi.

II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles

II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles

- the evolution of ecosystems

4.5 bya

~2 bya~ 4 bya ~1 bya ~0.4 bya

present

Only bacteria and archaeans (all roles)

II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles

- the evolution of ecosystems

4.5 bya

~2 bya~ 4 bya ~1 bya ~0.4 bya

present

Evolution of eukaryotes and multicellular animals(consumers/detritivores)

II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles

- the evolution of ecosystems

4.5 bya

~2 bya~ 4 bya ~1 bya ~0.4 bya

present

Evolution of plants

II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles

- the evolution of ecosystems

4.5 bya

~2 bya~ 4 bya ~1 bya ~0.4 bya

presentBacteria are still major contributors to primary production (particularly in oceans)

Bacteria are still major consumers; all animals have bacterial endosymbionts that live in the gut, eating food

Bacteria are still major decomposers (with fungi)

Bacteria continue to form ecosystems in habitats where nothing else can survive (geothermal springs, oil deposits, etc.

II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles

- the evolution of ecosystems - chains, pyramids, and webs

Chain: one path of energy flow

II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles

- the evolution of ecosystems - chains, pyramids, and webs

Pyramid:Either abundance or biomass in trophic levels

II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles

- the evolution of ecosystems - chains, pyramids, and webs

Webs: all paths of energy flow. Reveals possible indirect effects

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A. It describes our interactions with the environment, too

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? 

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too

1. Humans are part of nature, and interact with the environment:- we are smart, social and technologically advanced predators, and can drive other species to extinction.

13 Species Hunted to Extinction by Humans

…even in the largest habitat on earth, as a consequence of nets and longlines…

~400 tons of mackerel caught in one pull of a single purse seine

~30% of fished species have populations that have collapsed

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too

1. Humans are part of nature, and interact with the environment:- we are smart, social and technologically advanced predators, and can drive other species to extinction. - we facilitate the population growth of other species at every trophic level:

- crops (primary producers) - livestock (herbivores) - pets (predators)

(mutualism, not predation)

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too

1. Humans are part of nature, and interact with the environment:- we are smart, social and technologically advanced predators, and can drive other species to extinction. - we facilitate the population growth of other species at every trophic level:

- crops (primary producers) - livestock (herbivores) - pets (predators)

2. Ecology describes our population growth  - As a consequence of these interactions, our population has increased 7x in 150 years.

1860 – 1 billion2010 – 7 billionJan 14, 2014 – 7.2 billion

Human Ecology:

- distribution...

Human Ecology:

- distribution...

Human Ecology:

- distribution...

Human Ecology:

- distribution...

Human Ecology:

- distribution...

Human Ecology:

- distribution... and abundance...

Human Ecology:

- distribution... and abundance...

Born 1928 (2 b)

Born 1960 (3 b)

Born 1987 (5 b)

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too

1. Humans are part of nature, and interact with the environment:

2. Ecology describes our population growth

3. And, with other environmental sciences, describes the effects we are having on every earth system  

 

3. And, with other environmental sciences, describes the effects we are having on every earth system   - Biosphere: We are using 40% of NPP, causing one of six mass extinction events in earth history

 

3. And, with other environmental sciences, describes the effects we are having on every earth system  - Atmosphere: We are changing the composition of the atmosphere and patterns of energy flow

 

396 – Dec 2013

3. And, with other environmental sciences, describes the effects we are having on every earth system  - Hydrosphere: We sequester 50% of the freshwater on the planet for our own use, and are changing the pH of the oceans

 

1989 2009

The Aral “Sea” – formerly one of the 4 largest lakes in the world

3. And, with other environmental sciences, describes the effects we are having on every earth system  - Lithosphere: Through mountaintop removal and burning of fossil fuels, we are a geological force.

 

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too

B. It informs us about solutions - Sustainability 1.Humans have always affected these systems on a smaller scale, but our previous strategy (moving) won’t work

Extensification

Intensification

 

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too

B. It informs us about solutions - Sustainability 1.Humans have always affected these systems, but our previous strategy (moving) won’t work

2. Sustainability Brundtland Commission of the U.N. - Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too

B. It informs us about solutions - Sustainability 1.Humans have always affected these systems, but our previous strategy (moving) won’t work

2. Sustainability Brundtland Commission of the U.N. - Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

HOW? …

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too

B. It informs us about solutions - Sustainability 1.Humans have always affected these systems, but our previous strategy (moving) won’t work

2. Sustainability Brundtland Commission of the U.N. - Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

HOW? … mimicry…

Before the industrial revolution, this was a sustainable system.

Emphasizes inputs and outputs from the reservoir called “the environment”…but what of internal processes that could buffer inputs or increase outputs?

Pollution ResourcesInternal efficiencies

II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too

B. It informs us about solutions - Sustainability 1.Humans have always affected these systems, but our previous strategy (moving) won’t work

2. Sustainability

3. The Value of Biodiversity 

3. The Value of Biodiversity a. Ecological value: Diverse communities are more productive and more resistant to change than less diverse communities. They provide ‘ecosystem services’ like cleaning water, cleaning air, fertilizing soils, and producing food more effectively than low diversity systems. Resistance to change means they are more stable – more sustainable over time.

7,000 km2 = approx. ½ of Connecticut

3. The Value of Biodiversity b. Utilitarian value: We use other species as physiological models, and as sources of compounds for drugs and other materials; in addition to recreational use (hunting, fishing) which has a serious economic impact. - THE LOSS OF GENETIC INFORMATION IS FOREVER.

3. The Value of Biodiversity c. Asthetic/Inherent value: Are we emotionally enriched by it – indeed, an evolutionarily dependent on it? Do we have an obligation to assist species imperiled by our actions?

That’s why all bio majors must take an ecology class…

And why all FU students must take a Humans and the Natural Environment class…