AN INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND THE BIOSPHERE I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.

Interactions between organisms and the environment limit the distribution of species l Ecology l the study of the interactions between organisms and their environments l Involves biotic and abiotic factors of the environment l Biotic factors l Living l All organisms that are part of an individual’s environment l Abiotic factors l Nonliving l Chemical and physical factors l Temperature, soil, climate patterns, water, sunlight, salinity

Ecology is studied on many different levels of organization Organism ecology how an organism’s structure, physiology, and behavior meets challenges posed by its environment Population ecology analyzes factors that affect population size and how and why it changes through time Community ecology examines how interactions between species affect community structure and organization Systems ecology emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and the environment

The sum of all of the earth’s ecosystems The sum of all living organisms and their abiotic environments Abiotic factors are important because they determine the distribution of the biotic factors l Biome l Major type of ecosystem that occupies a very broad geographic region.

Temperature affects the ability of organisms to regulate their body temperatures Water essential to life availability varies with different ecosystems Sunlight the underlying energy source that drives all biological ecosystems Wind effects heat loss and water loss in ecosystems Also effects plant growth Rocks, Soil pH, mineral composition, and physical structure of rocks and soil affect plant growth and nutrient needs of animals Disturbances volcanoes, hurricanes, floods, fires can wipe out biological communities and create completely new ecosystems

Climate l Major components l Temperature l Precipitation l Sunlight l Wind

Climate l Macroclimates l patterns l Global, regional, local l Microclimates l Small-scale environmental variations l Under a log

Aquatic Biomes are diverse and dynamic systems that cover most of the Earth l Make up the largest part of the biosphere (75% of the earth’s surface) l Two major types l Fresh water l Marine l All aquatic biomes display vertical stratification

Aquatic biomes l Vertical stratification l Photic Zone l light penetration l photosynthesis l Aphotic zone l very little or no light l Benthic Zone l Bottom l Sand, inorganic matter and organic sediments l Detritus~ dead organic matter; food for benthic organisms

Thermocline l Narrow layers of fast temperature change that separate a warm upper layer of water and cold deeper waters. l Thermal stratification~ vertical temperature layering l Biannual mixing~ spring and summer l Turnover~ changing water temperature profiles; brings oxygenated water from the surface to the bottom and nutrient rich water form the bottom to the surface

Freshwater biomes l Two types l Standing l Lakes and wetlands l Moving l Rivers and streams. l Estuary l area where freshwater merges with ocean l Current l Prominent physical attribute l Great diversity of organisms in vertical zones and from headwaters to mouth

Freshwater biomes l Littoral zone l Shallow, well-lit, close to shore l Rooted and floating aquatic plants l Limnetic zone l Open surface water, farther from shore l Phytoplankton l Profundal zone l Deep, aphotic

Freshwater biomes l Lake classification l Oligotrophic l Deep water l Nutrient poor, oxygen rich l Eutrophic l Shallow water l Nutrient rich, oxygen poor

Marine biomes l Intertidal zone ~ area where land meets water l Neritic zone ~ shallow regions over continental shelves l Pelagic zone ~ open water of any depth l Benthic zone ~ seafloor bottom l Abyssal zone ~ benthic region in deep oceans l Coral Reef ~ cnidarians that secrete hard calcium carbonate shells, which vary in shape and support the growth of other corals, sponges and algae.

Terrestrial biomes l Climate largely determines the distribution and structure of terrestrial biomes

Terrestrial biomes l Precipitation and temperature are the driving forces

Terrestrial biomes l Tropical forests l Pronounced vertical stratification. l Canopy is so dense that little light breaks through. l Forests are marked by epiphytes. l Rainfall varies. l Greatest biodiversity of all terrestrial biomes l Savanna l Grasses with few trees l Dominant herbivores are insects l Fire is a dominant abiotic factor. l Many plants are adapted to fire l Two Seasons – rainy and dry l Plant growth heavy during rainy season l Animals migrate l Drought

Terrestrial biomes l Temperate deciduous (broad- leaf) forest l Dense stands of deciduaous trees that require sufficient moisture l More open and not as tall as rainforest l Stratified l Top layer –trees-one or two layers l Shrubs l Herbaceous stratum l Trees drop leaves in fall l Many mammals hibernate l Many birds migrate to warmer climes

Terrestrial biomes l Chaparral l Dominated by dense, spiny, evergreen shrubs l Coastal areas l Mild rainy winters l Long hot dry summers l Plants are adapted to fires l Temperate grassland l Seasonal drought l Occasional fires l Large grazing mammals l These factors prevent significant growth of trees l Soil is rich in nutrients l Good agricultural areas

Terrestrial biomes l Desert l Sparse rainfall l Plants and animals are adapted to conserve and store water l Temperature extreme – both hot and cold l Contain many CAM plants and plants with adaptations that prevent animals from consuming them such a spines on cactus. l A plant that utilizes the Crassulacean acid (CAM) as an adaptation for arid conditions. CO 2 entering the stomata during the night is converted into organic acids, which release CO 2 for the Calvin cycle during the day, when the stomata are closed.

Terrestrial biomes l Tundra l Permafrost – permanently frozen layer of soil l Very cold temperature l High winds l Little rainfall l No trees or tall plants l About 20% of the earth’s surface

Terrestrial biomes l Coniferous forest – Boreal forest - Taiga l Cone bearing trees l Pine l Spruce l Fir l The conical shape of conifers prevents much snowfall from accumulating on the tree branches l Long cold winters l Short summers

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