1. Ecological Principles Part I PaCES/HIMB Summer Program in Environmental Science David A. Krupp, Ph.D PaCES/HIMB Summer Program in Environmental Science David A. Krupp, Ph.D

2. Topics to be Studied Define “ecology” and describe its scope Define essential terms Contrast biotic and abiotic factors Physiological limits and abiotic factors Biomes Population characteristics Population growth Define “ecology” and describe its scope Define essential terms Contrast biotic and abiotic factors Physiological limits and abiotic factors Biomes Population characteristics Population growth

3. Ecology Ecology = the study of the interaction of organisms with their environments. It involves understanding biotic and abiotic factors influencing the distribution and abundance of living things. The word "ecology" coined from Greek word "oikos", which means "house" or "place to live”. Ecology = the study of the interaction of organisms with their environments. It involves understanding biotic and abiotic factors influencing the distribution and abundance of living things. The word "ecology" coined from Greek word "oikos", which means "house" or "place to live”.

4. The Scope of Ecology Population growth Competition between species Symbiotic relationships Trophic (= feeding) relationships Origin of biological diversity Interaction with the physical environment Ecosystem change Human impacts on the environment Population growth Competition between species Symbiotic relationships Trophic (= feeding) relationships Origin of biological diversity Interaction with the physical environment Ecosystem change Human impacts on the environment

5. Some Important Terms Population A collection of individuals all belonging to the same species in a defined area and time Community A group of interacting populations in a defined area and time Population A collection of individuals all belonging to the same species in a defined area and time Community A group of interacting populations in a defined area and time

6. Some Important Terms Ecosystem A system composed of the biological community interacting with its surrounding abiotic environment Biosphere The entire portion of the Earth in which life occurs; all of the ecosystems of the Earth combined Ecosystem A system composed of the biological community interacting with its surrounding abiotic environment Biosphere The entire portion of the Earth in which life occurs; all of the ecosystems of the Earth combined

7. Biotic Factors Dispersal Behavior Species interactions Competition for common resources Predator-prey relationships Symbiotic associations Dispersal Behavior Species interactions Competition for common resources Predator-prey relationships Symbiotic associations

8. Abiotic Factors Temperature Water Light Salinity Wind Currents Substrate Temperature Water Light Salinity Wind Currents Substrate

9. environmental gradient Physiological Limits

10. zone of tolerance Physiological Limits

11. zones of intolerance Physiological Limits

12. optimum range Physiological Limits

13. zones of physiological stress Physiological Limits

14. Biomes Biomes = major types of ecological assemblages that occupy broad geographic regions of land or water Aquatic biomes: primarily influenced by depth (light) and temperature Terrestrial biomes: primarily influenced by temperature and balance between precipitation and evaporation Biomes = major types of ecological assemblages that occupy broad geographic regions of land or water Aquatic biomes: primarily influenced by depth (light) and temperature Terrestrial biomes: primarily influenced by temperature and balance between precipitation and evaporation

15. Aquatic Biomes: Lakes oligotrophic eutrophic

16. Aquatic Biomes: Wetlands

17. Aquatic Biomes: Streams and Rivers

18. Aquatic Biomes: Estuaries

19. Aquatic Biomes: Intertidal

20. Aquatic Biomes: Oceanic Pelagic Biome

21. Aquatic Biomes: Coral Reefs

22. Aquatic Biomes: Marine Benthic Zone

23. Terrestrial Biomes

24. Terrestrial Biomes: Tropical Forests

25. Terrestrial Biomes: Deserts

26. Terrestrial Biomes: Savanna

27. Terrestrial Biomes: Chaparral

28. Terrestrial Biomes: Temperate Grasslands

29. Terrestrial Biomes: Coniferous Forest

30. Terrestrial Biomes: Temperate Broadleaf Forest

31. Terrestrial Biomes: Tundra

32. Population Characteristics Size and density Dispersion Survivorship Population growth Population age structures Size and density Dispersion Survivorship Population growth Population age structures

33. Density Number of individuals per unit area, per volume or unit of habitat. 5 individuals/m 2 15 individuals/m 2

34. Dispersion Patterns Random

35. Dispersion Patterns Clumped

36. Dispersion Patterns Uniform

37. Generation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Population Size 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512 Population Growth

38. Population Size 0 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 0 0 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 11 12 Generation Exponential Population Growth

39. Population Growth Population Size (N) Population Size (N) Births Deaths Immigration Emigration

40. Population Growth  N/  t = B - D dN/dt = bN - mN dN/dt = (b - m)N = rN r = b - m b = per capita birth rate m = per capita mortality rate b = per capita birth rate m = per capita mortality rate dN/dt = instantaneous rate of population increase

41. Population Growth dN/dt = rN r = per capita rate of increase dN/dt = r max N r max = optimal per capita rate of increase Under Optimal Conditions

42. Effects of Different Intrinsic Growth Rates (r) r max = 1.0 r max = 0.5

43. Density-Dependent Growth: The Logistic Growth Model

44. Population Growth A Paramecium population in the lab

45. Population Growth A Daphnia population in the lab

46. Population Growth A sparrow in its natural habitat

47. Density-Dependent Factors limiting resources (e.g., food & shelter) territoriality production of toxic wastes infectious diseases predation stress and other intrinsic factors emigration limiting resources (e.g., food & shelter) territoriality production of toxic wastes infectious diseases predation stress and other intrinsic factors emigration

48. Density-Independent Factors severe storms and flooding sudden unpredictable severe cold spells earthquakes and volcanoes catastrophic meteorite impacts severe storms and flooding sudden unpredictable severe cold spells earthquakes and volcanoes catastrophic meteorite impacts