Ekofizyoloji Ecophysiology

Donald M. Broom Centre for Animal Welfare and Anthrozoology Department of Veterinary Medicine University of Cambridge, U.K. dmb16@cam.ac.uk Eco-Physiologogy Willmer, Stone & Johnston. 2005. Environmental Physiology of Animals 2nd edition, Blackwell Science. ISBN1-4051-0724-3. .

Ecophysiology Ecophysiology is the study of how the environment, both physical and biological, interacts with the physiology of an organism. It includes the effects of climate and nutrients on physiological processes in both plants and animals, and has a particular focus on how physiological processes scale with organism size.

Study of physiological responses to the environment Interface between ecology and physiology: Ecology provides the questions Physiology provides the ‘tools’

Why does a particular species live where it does? How does it manage to grow and reproduce successfully and why is it absent from other environments?

What is the environment? Physical Environment (light intensity, temperature, gravity, etc.) Chemical Environment (H2O, CO2, O2, N2, minerals, toxins, etc.) Living things Biotic Environment (soil organisms, competition for space and other resources, herbivory, allelopathy, etc.)

Eco-Physiologogy Study of interactions between organisms and their physical environment. Emphasizes individuals, not groups like populations or communities. The intersection between ecology and physiology (study of how organisms function). Also mostly equivalent to "ecophysiology."

Adaptation of organisms to specific environments Eco-Physiologogy Two themes: Homeostasis – maintenance of constant internal conditions in varying environments Adaptation of organisms to specific environments Animals have many needs and these can be investigated.

Energy Three big problems Obtaining energy and nutrients Maintaining temperature Obtaining and holding onto water Energy All organisms require energy to live and reproduce Heterotrophs – acquire energy from organic material, live or dead most animals feed on living organisms decomposers (fungi, some animals) feed on dead organisms

Energy All organisms require energy to live and reproduce Heterotrophs – acquire energy from organic material, live or dead most animals feed on living organisms decomposers (fungi, some animals) feed on dead organisms

Chemosynthetic autotrophs: Autotrophs – acquire energy from sunlight or chemicals in the environment. Chemosynthetic autotrophs: obtain energy from inorganic chemicals like methane or hydrogen sulfide. sea-vent bacteria. Photosynthetic autotrophs: combine energy from sunlight and CO2 to make sugars many bacteria, some protists (algagae), and nearly all plants.

Organisms presences All living things. Studied at many levels.

Environment Abiotic Factors: non-living factors. Ex: Temperature, Light, Water Nutrients Biotic Factors: effect of other organisms. Ex: Competition, Predation

Abiotic Factors 1. Temperature 2. Water 3. Sunlight 4. Wind 5. Rocks and Soil 6. Disturbance

Temperature Effects biological processes. Ex: Cold – cells will rupture if they expand while freezing. Hot – many proteins denature above 45 oC. Point – life can only exist over a fairly narrow temperature range.

Sunlight Provides energy for Photo-synthesis, which drives most food webs. Plants often compete for light because of shading or absorption of light by deep columns of water.

Wind Effects temperature and water conditions for many organisms. May carry abrasive particles that limit plant growth by killing the SAM areas.

Rocks and Soil Physical structure, pH, mineral composition of rocks and soil limit where plants can grow. Ex. Se soils. Plants limit what animals can be found in an area.

Disturbance Disturbance is often an important part of an environment. Allows organisms to re-colonize an area. Ex: Fire Humans Wind

Climate Shapes environments and what organisms can live in a particular area. Climate is the average weather in a place over many years. While the weather can change in just a few hours, climate takes hundreds, thousands, even millions of years to change(But NOW???)

Climatic Factors Solar Radiation and Latitude Axis Tilt/Seasons Changes the amount of light and energy delivered per surface area Axis Tilt/Seasons Air/Water Circulation Patterns

Global Air Patterns Air rises when heated, sinks when cools. Zones of rising/sinking are created. Earth's rotation causes zones to "twist”.

Result Air circulation patterns. Rainfall patterns. rising air: wet areas descending air: dry areas

Biomes Broad geographical regions with characteristic communities of organisms.

Biomes Controlled by: Temperature Water Geography

Tropical Forests Areas covered with dense growth of trees and vines. Climate: Warm temperatures. Constant day length. High water.

Tropical Forests

Tropical Forests Have the greatest diversity of species of any area on Earth. Soil is usually very infertile. Most of the nutrients are in the plant life. One of the most endangered Biomes.

Savanna Grasslands with a few trees. Climate with three growing seasons: Cool and dry Hot and dry Warm and wet

Savanna Rich in herbivores and predator species. Only major biome not found on North America.

Desert Characterized by plants adapted to dry growing conditions. Climate: Dry (<30cm/yr). May be cold or hot. Often found in areas of descending air masses. Low productivity, but still fairly diverse in species.

Chaparral Characterized by spiny evergreen shrubs. Climate: Mild rainy winters Hot summers Ex: Southern California

Chaparral Maintained by fires. Plants adapted to periodic fires by seeds or re-growing from the roots.

Temperate Grasslands Grasses and other herbs are the dominant vegetation. Climate: Intermediate water Relatively cold winters

Grasslands Very productive for agriculture. (wheat, corn) Need disturbance (fires) to keep trees out. Come in several types: Tall grass Short grass

Temperate Forests Deciduous trees dominate. Climate: Relatively high rain Cold winters Very little natural area left. Good diversity of species.

Taiga Coniferous trees dominate. Climate: Long cold winters Short wet summers Long summer daylength

Taiga or Boreal Forest Relatively low species diversity. Being logged at an alarming rate.

Tundra Grasses and sedges dominate. Climate: Very cold and dry Low light in winter

Tundra Permafrost present. Plants low in height. Poor species diversity.

Altitude and Latitude Mirror each other. Their Biomes are similar because the environments are similar. Ex: Alpine = Tundra

Aquatic Biomes

Fresh water Biomes Have <1% salt concentration. Strongly influenced by temperature and light. Classification – based on water flow patterns.

Marine Biomes Cover 3/4 of the Earth's surface. Average 3% salt. Controlled by light and the distance to the shore.

Light Zones Photic - Enough light for Photo-synthesis. Red light lost rapidly as depth increases. Aphotic - Lacks enough light for Photosynthesis and depends on food made in photic zone for energy. Part of the most extensive biome on the planet.

Marine Biomes 1. Estuaries 2. Intertidal 3. Coral Reefs 4. Pelagic 5. Benthos

Estuaries Where a freshwater river meets the ocean. Salinity variable. Very productive Biome.

Coral Reef Characterized by coral. Found in shallow warm waters. Very productive. High species diversity.

Benthos Bottom area. Usually fed by nutrients drifting down from upper levels. Fairly rich in life.

Ecology factors Know what is involved with the study of “Ecology”. Know the major factors of planet Earth that shape climate. Know the major terrestrial biomes and the factors that control them.