Unit FiveUnit FiveEcology and Conservation Ecology and Conservation

BiologyBiology

Biogeochemical Cycles, Biogeochemical Cycles, Energy, and EcosystemsEnergy, and Ecosystems

Earth’s Environmental SystemEarth’s Environmental System

Ecologists study the interaction between Ecologists study the interaction between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystemabiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem

Ecosystems, if healthy, are in a state of Ecosystems, if healthy, are in a state of dynamic equilibrium i.e. they are always dynamic equilibrium i.e. they are always undergoing some type of fluctuation in undergoing some type of fluctuation in number of individuals of a species or number of individuals of a species or nutrient content nutrient content

Dynamic equilibrium relates directly to the Dynamic equilibrium relates directly to the concept of a feedback loopconcept of a feedback loop

Earth’s Environmental System Earth’s Environmental System cont’dcont’d

All ecosystems are open systems in that All ecosystems are open systems in that energy and matter are exchanged energy and matter are exchanged between thembetween them

The Earth can be divided into parts:The Earth can be divided into parts:– Lithosphere – rock and sediment on the various Lithosphere – rock and sediment on the various

land massesland masses– Atmosphere – gases surrounding the planetAtmosphere – gases surrounding the planet– Hydrosphere – the water on the EarthHydrosphere – the water on the Earth– Biosphere – all parts of the Earth that support Biosphere – all parts of the Earth that support

lifelife

Earth’s Environmental System Earth’s Environmental System cont’dcont’d

Landscape Ecologists study broad areas Landscape Ecologists study broad areas and attempt to learn more about the and attempt to learn more about the gradual changes in vegetative associations gradual changes in vegetative associations that occur over hundreds of kilometersthat occur over hundreds of kilometers

While traditional ecologists focus their While traditional ecologists focus their attention on ecosystems, landscape attention on ecosystems, landscape ecologists study many ecosystems at onceecologists study many ecosystems at once

While conducting research, both ecologists While conducting research, both ecologists and landscape ecologists study ecotones, and landscape ecologists study ecotones, transition areas between two transition areas between two ecosystems/biomes where plants from ecosystems/biomes where plants from both ecosystems/biomes are found both ecosystems/biomes are found

EcotoneEcotone

Earth’s Environmental System Earth’s Environmental System cont’dcont’d

Producers a.k.a. flora, plants, and Producers a.k.a. flora, plants, and autotrophs, are always at the bottom autotrophs, are always at the bottom of the food chain because all other of the food chain because all other living organisms depend directly or living organisms depend directly or indirectly on themindirectly on them

Producers carry out photosynthesis Producers carry out photosynthesis which supplies their cells with energy which supplies their cells with energy to maintain themselves and extra to maintain themselves and extra energy to growenergy to grow

Earth’s Environmental System Earth’s Environmental System cont’dcont’d

The overall production of energy by The overall production of energy by producers is called gross primary producers is called gross primary productionproduction

The extra energy that producers use to The extra energy that producers use to grow that is in addition to the energy grow that is in addition to the energy needed to maintain cells is called gross needed to maintain cells is called gross primary productionprimary production

Biomes such as desert, tundra, and open Biomes such as desert, tundra, and open ocean have low net primary productivityocean have low net primary productivity

Biogeochemical CyclesBiogeochemical Cycles

The availability of nutrients in addition to The availability of nutrients in addition to ample amounts of sunlight and water ample amounts of sunlight and water determine what areas of the Earth have determine what areas of the Earth have high net primary productivityhigh net primary productivity

In other words, it is not just water and In other words, it is not just water and sunlight that are important for plant sunlight that are important for plant growthgrowth

Nutrients such as carbon , nitrogen, and Nutrients such as carbon , nitrogen, and phosphorus are needed for substantial phosphorus are needed for substantial plant growthplant growth

                                                                  

  

Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle

Phosphorus CyclePhosphorus Cycle

Hydrologic CycleHydrologic Cycle

Geological Systems: How Earth Geological Systems: How Earth WorksWorks

The rock cycle is also very important to the The rock cycle is also very important to the existence of lifeexistence of life

The rock cycle is directly involved in the recycling The rock cycle is directly involved in the recycling of phosphorusof phosphorus

Plants have to attach themselves to some type of Plants have to attach themselves to some type of substrate in order to survive; they cannot live substrate in order to survive; they cannot live freely in the airfreely in the air

Most plantsMost plants grow out of soil grow out of soil A few plants can live directly on top of rock - A few plants can live directly on top of rock -

pioneer speciespioneer species Additionally, a few plants called epiphytes live off Additionally, a few plants called epiphytes live off

the ground attached to the bark of treesthe ground attached to the bark of trees

Geological Systems: How Earth Geological Systems: How Earth Works cont’dWorks cont’d

The rock cycle is defined as the means by The rock cycle is defined as the means by which rock is formed, changed, and which rock is formed, changed, and reformed by heat, pressure, and timereformed by heat, pressure, and time

Rock is divided into three categories based Rock is divided into three categories based on how it is formed and its chemical on how it is formed and its chemical compositioncomposition– Igneous – heat is requiredIgneous – heat is required– Metamorphic - heat and pressure are requiredMetamorphic - heat and pressure are required– Sedimentary - pressure is required Sedimentary - pressure is required

Geological Systems: How Earth Geological Systems: How Earth Works cont’dWorks cont’d

The majority of the fossil record used The majority of the fossil record used to construct the Geologic Time Scale to construct the Geologic Time Scale and additionally support the theory and additionally support the theory of evolution is found in sedimentary of evolution is found in sedimentary rock.....why?rock.....why?