Ecological Concepts

Katy Wozniak

FW 485

March 4, 2009

What is Ecology?What is Ecology?

Study of the interactions of living Study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and organisms with one another and with their nonliving environment of with their nonliving environment of matter and energymatter and energy

Study of the structure and functions Study of the structure and functions of natureof nature

Organism

Populations

Community

Ecosystem

Biosphere

Species

ClassificationsClassifications

OrganismOrganism Any form of lifeAny form of life Cell is the basic unit of life in organismsCell is the basic unit of life in organisms

Single cellular vs. multicellularSingle cellular vs. multicellular Organisms are:Organisms are:

EukaryotesEukaryotes cells surround by a membranecells surround by a membrane Distinct nucleusDistinct nucleus OrganellesOrganelles

All organisms except bacteria and some algaeAll organisms except bacteria and some algae ProkaryotesProkaryotes

Cell contains no distinct nucleusCell contains no distinct nucleus No organellesNo organelles

All bacteria are single-celled prokaryotesAll bacteria are single-celled prokaryotes

Eukaryotic Cell

Prokaryotic Cell

ProducersProducers

Organism that uses solar energy to Organism that uses solar energy to make foodmake food Plants (autotroph)Plants (autotroph)

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis chlorophyll in plants traps light energy from chlorophyll in plants traps light energy from

the sunthe sun light energy combines with carbon dioxide and light energy combines with carbon dioxide and

water from the atmospherewater from the atmosphereO2 + C6H12O6 O2 + C6H12O6 (glucose)(glucose)

H20 + CO2+ H20 + CO2+ SunlightSunlight

ConsumersConsumers

Organism that gets its nutrients by Organism that gets its nutrients by feeding on plants and/or animals feeding on plants and/or animals (heterotroph)(heterotroph) Primary consumerPrimary consumer

herbivoreherbivore Secondary consumerSecondary consumer

CarnivoresCarnivores OmnivoresOmnivores

Tertiary consumerTertiary consumer DetritivoresDetritivores

Consume detritusConsume detritus

DecomposerDecomposer

Organism that breaks down dead Organism that breaks down dead organisms and other waste into organisms and other waste into smaller mattersmaller matter How? How? DecompositionDecomposition

Two kindsTwo kinds Various bacteriaVarious bacteria FungiFungi

Return chemicals back to Return chemicals back to

the soilthe soil

How are organisms How are organisms related?related?

Chain:Chain: Linear relationship of plants Linear relationship of plants and animals in which matter and and animals in which matter and energy is transferred from one energy is transferred from one organism to anotherorganism to another

Web:Web: Interconnecting food chains Interconnecting food chains that occur in naturethat occur in nature

Energy TransferEnergy Transfer 10% of solar radiation is turned into useable

energy by plants 90% of the energy is released as heat energy

consumer only gets 10% chemical energy

Chemical energy converted to mechanical energy (thinking, moving etc.)

ClassificationsClassificationsOrganism

Populations

Community

Ecosystem

Biosphere

Species

SpeciesSpecies Group of organisms that resemble one Group of organisms that resemble one

another in appearance, behavior, another in appearance, behavior, chemical make-up and processes, and chemical make-up and processes, and genetic structure.genetic structure. Reproduce sexuallyReproduce sexually Fertile offspringFertile offspring

3.6 million to 100 million3.6 million to 100 million Many in tropical forestsMany in tropical forests Most insects and microorganismMost insects and microorganism

Identified 1.4 million speciesIdentified 1.4 million species Native vs. NonnativeNative vs. Nonnative

How do species coexist?How do species coexist? Niche- tNiche- total way of life or role of a species in otal way of life or role of a species in

an ecosysteman ecosystem Two typesTwo types

FundamentalFundamental Full potential of factors a species can use if there is no Full potential of factors a species can use if there is no

competitioncompetition RealizedRealized

Parts of fundamental niche that is actually used by Parts of fundamental niche that is actually used by speciesspecies

Different from habitat!! Different from habitat!! Niche is like a species occupation, habitat is like Niche is like a species occupation, habitat is like

its addressits address Examples?Examples?

Generalists vs. Specialist Generalists vs. Specialist SpeciesSpecies

GeneralistGeneralist Broad nichesBroad niches Eat a variety of foodsEat a variety of foods Tolerate a wide range of env. conditionsTolerate a wide range of env. conditions

raccoonsraccoons CoyotesCoyotes FliesFlies CockroachesCockroaches

SpecialistSpecialist Narrow nichesNarrow niches Narrow range of env. conditionsNarrow range of env. conditions

Tiger salamandersTiger salamanders Red-cockaded woodpeckersRed-cockaded woodpeckers

Types of InteractionsTypes of Interactions PredationPredation

(+, -)(+, -) one species benefits, one is disadvantagedone species benefits, one is disadvantaged

CompetitionCompetition (- , -)(- , -) Each specie is negatively affectedEach specie is negatively affected

MutualismMutualism (+,+)(+,+)

Both species benefitBoth species benefit Example: Acacia trees and antsExample: Acacia trees and ants

CommensalismCommensalism (+, 0)(+, 0) One specie benefits, the other is unaffectedOne specie benefits, the other is unaffected Example: redwood sorrelExample: redwood sorrel

CompetitionCompetition

Results when organisms compete for Results when organisms compete for the same resourcesthe same resources Intraspecific: competition between Intraspecific: competition between

organisms of the same speciesorganisms of the same species Lions competing for a food sourceLions competing for a food source

Interspecific: competition between Interspecific: competition between organisms of different speciesorganisms of different species Lions and hyenas competing for same food Lions and hyenas competing for same food

sourcesource

Predator/Prey Predator/Prey RelationshipRelationship

DefinitionsDefinitions PredatorPredator: organism that captures or feeds on : organism that captures or feeds on

other organismsother organisms PreyPrey: organism that is attacked: organism that is attacked

Mechanisms?Mechanisms?

Individual changes in populationsIndividual changes in populations Increase prey causes an increase in predatorsIncrease prey causes an increase in predators Increase predators causes decreased preyIncrease predators causes decreased prey Decrease prey causes a decrease in predatorsDecrease prey causes a decrease in predators Decrease predators cause increase in preyDecrease predators cause increase in prey

ClassificationsClassificationsOrganism

Populations

Community

Ecosystem

Biosphere

Species

PopulationPopulation

Group of individual organisms of the Group of individual organisms of the same species living in a particular area.same species living in a particular area. interact interact

Examples:Examples: Sunfish in a pondSunfish in a pond White oak trees in a forestWhite oak trees in a forest People in a countryPeople in a country

Reside in an environment known as its Reside in an environment known as its habitathabitat

Major Characteristics of Major Characteristics of PopulationsPopulations

Population dynamics is a study of Population dynamics is a study of how populations change in:how populations change in: SizeSize DensityDensity Age distributionAge distribution DispersionDispersion

What affects a What affects a Population Size?Population Size?

ImmigrationImmigration BirthsBirths DeathsDeaths EmigrationEmigration

Population change= (births + immigration) – (deaths + emigration)

No population can grow indefinitely!!

Limiting FactorsLimiting Factors

Amount of resourcesAmount of resources WaterWater NutrientsNutrients LightLight

Presence of competitors and predatorsPresence of competitors and predators INVASIVE SPECIES (nonnative species)INVASIVE SPECIES (nonnative species) All factors together = All factors together = Environmental Environmental

ResistanceResistance

Carrying CapacityCarrying Capacity

Maximum number of individuals of a Maximum number of individuals of a given species that can be sustained given species that can be sustained indefinitely in a given spaceindefinitely in a given space

Population decreases as it nears Population decreases as it nears carrying capacitycarrying capacity Why?Why?

What happens if population What happens if population exceedsexceeds K? K?

DIEBACKS

EXTINCTION!!

Population with few resource limitations grows exponentially.

Rapid exponential growth followed by a steady decrease in growth with time until population size levels off.

Exponential Growth

Logistic Growth

Population DispersionPopulation Dispersion

RandomRandom UniformUniform ClumpingClumping

Most common…Why?Most common…Why? Resources vary from place to placeResources vary from place to place Protection from predatorsProtection from predators Groups for mating and caring for youngGroups for mating and caring for young Better chance of getting a mealBetter chance of getting a meal

Examples: pack of wolves, flock of geeseExamples: pack of wolves, flock of geese

ClassificationsClassificationsOrganism

Populations

Community

Ecosystem

Biosphere

Species

CommunityCommunity

Populations of different species living Populations of different species living and interacting in an area at a and interacting in an area at a particular time.particular time.

Complex and interacting network of Complex and interacting network of plants, animals, and microorganismsplants, animals, and microorganisms ProducersProducers ConsumersConsumers DecomposersDecomposers

Community StructureCommunity Structure

Biological communities differ in their:Biological communities differ in their: Physical appearancePhysical appearance

Relative sizeRelative size Distribution of speciesDistribution of species

Number of speciesNumber of species Species richnessSpecies richness

Ecological roles their species playEcological roles their species play Niche structure- how many ecological nichesNiche structure- how many ecological niches

Similar or different?Similar or different?

ClassificationsClassificationsOrganism

Populations

Community

Ecosystem

Biosphere

Species

EcosystemsEcosystems

Community of different species Community of different species interacting with one another and with interacting with one another and with the chemical and physical factors the chemical and physical factors making up its nonliving environment.making up its nonliving environment.

Range in sizeRange in size Puddle of waterPuddle of water Patch of woodsPatch of woods Entire forestEntire forest

Natural or artificialNatural or artificial Examples: crop fields, farm pondsExamples: crop fields, farm ponds

Major Components of Major Components of EcosystemsEcosystems

Abiotic: nonlivingAbiotic: nonliving WaterWater AirAir NutrientsNutrients Solar energySolar energy

Biotic: livingBiotic: living PlantsPlants AnimalsAnimals microbesmicrobes

Terrestrial EcosystemsTerrestrial Ecosystems

Biologists have classified terrestrial Biologists have classified terrestrial land portion of biosphere into biomesland portion of biosphere into biomes

Biomes:Biomes: major terrestrial community major terrestrial community with its own type of climate, with its own type of climate, vegetation and animal lifevegetation and animal life

Primary controls for biomesPrimary controls for biomes ClimateClimate TopographyTopography SoilSoil

Distribution of BiomesDistribution of Biomes

Biomes of the TropicsBiomes of the Tropics

Temperature generally > 20 degree Temperature generally > 20 degree CelsiusCelsius

Types:Types: Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest Tropical Deciduous forestTropical Deciduous forest DesertDesert SavannaSavanna

Tropical Rain forestTropical Rain forest High rainfall High rainfall

> 250 cm/yr> 250 cm/yr Found near equatorFound near equator

SE AsiaSE Asia Sub-Saharan AfricaSub-Saharan Africa South AmericaSouth America

AmazonAmazon More than half of the More than half of the

world’s species of world’s species of plants and animals plants and animals found herefound here Biodiversity centerBiodiversity center

Dominated by Dominated by broadleaf evergreen broadleaf evergreen plantsplants

www.tiskita-lodge.org

DesertDesert Cover 30% of earth’s

land surface < 100 cm/yr

precipitation (very dry) Evaporation exceeds

precipitation sparse vegetation organisms adapted to

withstand water stress Adaptations?

Deserts are found in tropical, temperate, and polar regionswww.biology.ed

SavannaSavanna Characterized by tall Characterized by tall

grasses, scattered treesgrasses, scattered trees precipitation falls precipitation falls

between that of the between that of the desert and tropical desert and tropical rainforestrainforest Seasonal rainfallSeasonal rainfall

Grazing and browsing Grazing and browsing animalsanimals Giraffes, zebras, Giraffes, zebras,

wildebeestwildebeest Benefits?Benefits?

www.wikipedia.com

Biomes of Temperate Biomes of Temperate RegionsRegions

Temperature between 0 and 20 Temperature between 0 and 20 degrees Celsiusdegrees Celsius

Types:Types: Temperate Rain forestTemperate Rain forest Temperate deciduous forestTemperate deciduous forest Temperate grasslandTemperate grassland Temperate shrubland (chaparral)Temperate shrubland (chaparral)

Temperate Deciduous Temperate Deciduous ForestForest

Grow in areas with Grow in areas with moderate avg. moderate avg. temperatures that change temperatures that change significantly with the significantly with the season.season. Long, warm summersLong, warm summers Cold, but not too severe Cold, but not too severe

winterswinters Abundant precipitation Abundant precipitation

spread evenly over the yearspread evenly over the year Trees lose leaves Trees lose leaves

seasonallyseasonally What we have in Michigan!What we have in Michigan!

GrasslandGrassland Cover vast expanses of Cover vast expanses of

plains and gently rolling plains and gently rolling hillshills

Precipitation is sparsePrecipitation is sparse Falls unevenly Falls unevenly

throughout the yearthroughout the year Cold wintersCold winters Hot, dry summersHot, dry summers Fertile soilsFertile soils

Growing cropsGrowing crops Grazing cattleGrazing cattle

Types include tall-grass Types include tall-grass prairies and short-grass prairies and short-grass prairiesprairies Western U.S and CanadaWestern U.S and Canada

www.thinkquest.org

Temperate ShrublandTemperate Shrubland Found in coastal regions Found in coastal regions

that border desertsthat border deserts Winter rainy seasonWinter rainy season

Due to closeness to seaDue to closeness to sea Long, hot and dry Long, hot and dry

summerssummers Vegetation becomes Vegetation becomes

dry and highly dry and highly flammableflammable

Dense growths of low-Dense growths of low-growing evergreen shrubsgrowing evergreen shrubs

www.blm.gov

Biomes of High Latitude Biomes of High Latitude RegionsRegions

Temperature: < 10 degrees CelsiusTemperature: < 10 degrees Celsius Types:Types:

Boreal Forest (taiga or evergreen Boreal Forest (taiga or evergreen coniferous forest)coniferous forest)

Tundra (polar grasslands)Tundra (polar grasslands)

TundraTundra Occur south of arctic Occur south of arctic

polar cappolar cap Treeless plains covered Treeless plains covered

with ice and snowwith ice and snow thick, spongy mat of thick, spongy mat of

low-growing plantslow-growing plants GrassesGrasses MossesMosses Wood shrubsWood shrubs

PermafrostPermafrost Caribou, lemmings, Caribou, lemmings,

polar bears, arctic harepolar bears, arctic hare

www.marietta.edu

Boreal ForestBoreal Forest Found just south of the Found just south of the

arctic tundraarctic tundra Northern regions across N. Northern regions across N.

America, Asia, EuropeAmerica, Asia, Europe Winters are long, dry, Winters are long, dry,

extremely coldextremely cold Summers are short, mildSummers are short, mild Dominated by coniferous Dominated by coniferous

(cone-bearing) evergreen (cone-bearing) evergreen treestrees Spruce, fir, cedar Spruce, fir, cedar Adaptations?Adaptations?

Low plant diversityLow plant diversity Why?Why?

Grizzly bear, caribou, Grizzly bear, caribou, wolverinewolverine www.marietta.e

du

Disturbance and Disturbance and SuccessionSuccession

DisturbanceDisturbance Change in environmental conditions that Change in environmental conditions that

disrupts a community or ecosystemdisrupts a community or ecosystem FireFire LandslideLandslide PlowingPlowing Invasive species!!Invasive species!!

SuccessionSuccession Sequential changes following disturbance in Sequential changes following disturbance in

the dominant biota occupying and affecting a the dominant biota occupying and affecting a sitesite

Primary- gradual establishment of biotic Primary- gradual establishment of biotic communities on lifeless groundcommunities on lifeless ground

Secondary- biotic communities established where Secondary- biotic communities established where biotic community is already presentbiotic community is already present

More rapid, commonMore rapid, common

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

Aquatic Life ZonesAquatic Life Zones

Scientists divide the water parts of Scientists divide the water parts of biosphere into aquatic life zonesbiosphere into aquatic life zones

Freshwater life zonesFreshwater life zones

Ocean or Marine life zonesOcean or Marine life zones

Freshwater Life ZonesFreshwater Life Zones

LakesLakes StreamsStreams RiversRivers PondsPonds

www.fws.gov

Ocean Life Zone Ocean Life Zone

Marine Life ZonesMarine Life Zones Coral reefsCoral reefs Coastal estuariesCoastal estuaries Deep oceanDeep ocean

ClassificationsClassificationsOrganism

Populations

Community

Ecosystem

Biosphere

Species

BiosphereBiosphere

All of earth’s ecosystems together All of earth’s ecosystems together make up the biosphere.make up the biosphere.