1. Welcome to SCI 204, Environmental Science Biodiversity (Introduction) In this presentation we will look at: 1.Ecosytems categories 2.Ecology 3.Trophic levels 4.Ecological disruption and ecosystem degration 5.Sustainable ecosystems

2. How is the Biosphere Structured? The biosphere is planetary scheme of life organized into a hierarchy of ecosystems 1.The biosphere (or Ecosphere) 2.Ecozones (or Biozones) 3.Biomes 4.Ecoregions (or Bioregions) 5.Ecotopes (the smallest identifiable ecosystem) Within an ecosystem, species have various relationships with other species, including predation, mutualism, commensalism parasitism and others. The study of these different relationships is called ecology.

3. Ecozones

4. Biomes

5. Ecoregions

6. Of What is an Ecosystem Composed? There are two interacting dimensions to ecosystems 1.The abiotic physical environment of biogeochemical cycles A.The local atmosphere (climate and weather) B.The hydrosphere (water and moisture) C.The geology (underlying rock formations) D.The pedosphere (soil) 2.The biotic (or biologic) community A.The flora (plants) B.The fuana (animals) C.The taxonomic arrays of living organisms

7. How is a local ecosystem structured? The relationships of living organisms within a local community can be structured into interdependent tiers called trophic levels The largest relationship of an ecosystem is referred to as the Cycle of Life Autotrophs produce their own food Heterotrophs consume their food Saprotrophs decompose dead organic matter and waste, converting Autotrophs Heterotrophs Saprotrophs > <

8. How is the Biosphere Changing? Current Blend of Population vs Wilderness c 2000 Notice the areas of green and brown compared with the next slide (2050) Notice the areas of green and brown compared with the next slide (2050)

9. Anaticipated Blend Of Population vs Wilderness c 2050 How is the Biosphere Changing? Notice the fragmentation and decrease in green And the extensive and intensive expansion of brown Compared with the previous slide (2000) Notice the fragmentation and decrease in green And the extensive and intensive expansion of brown Compared with the previous slide (2000)

10. Why is the Biosphere Changing? Malthus’ Principle of Population stated that : A population is limited by the quantity, access or availability of food to sustain the population. In the mid 1800’s, Justus von Liebig expanded on Malthus’ idea and crafted the Law of the Minimum, which states that The growth of a population is controlled by the resource which is scarcist—and not by the total of all resources A population needs air, water, food and shelter. Liebig’s Law states that the population growth will be restricted to the resource which is least is supply (air or water or food or shelter)—not by the total combination of all four. All the air in an atmosphere cannot replace a limitation on water. A population needs air, water, food and shelter. Liebig’s Law states that the population growth will be restricted to the resource which is least is supply (air or water or food or shelter)—not by the total combination of all four. All the air in an atmosphere cannot replace a limitation on water.

11. What is the Cause of Changes in the Biosphere? The biosphere is becoming increasingly affected by the the influence of Human Beings 1.Ecosystems are disrupted by natural events (i.e. extremely severe weather including hurricanes, dramatic climate change or volcanic eruptions) 2.Ecosystem populations are being depleted by hunting, gathering & fishing 3.The purity of ecosystms is being degraded by human economic activity (mining, logging, grazing and agriculture) 4.Ecosystems are being divided and fragmented by power lines, of communication networks and transportation corridors 5.Ecosystems being sterilized and homogenized by agriculture and urbanization 6.Ecosystems are being disrupted by the introduction of exotic species (species which are not native to the local community) 7.Ecosystems are being disrupted by rapidly changing climates

12. How are the Changes in the Biosphere Affected by Nature and/or Human Kind? There are various levels of health assigned to ecosystems and populations of species Stable and Healthy Potentially threatened species Threatened species Endangered species Speciation crises Extinction Each level represents the degree to which a species or ecosytem is disrupted and negatively effected. The ability of an ecosystem to maintain its health and stability over a given period of time refers to its sustainability

13. What Are the Consequences of the Biosphere’s Changes on Civilization? As larger ecosystems and numbers within larger species are reduced, they are replaced by smaller ecosystems and larger numbers of smaller species Ecosytems are repository of carbon, a key part of the Carbon Cycle When a species or ecosytem is lost, the initiative of the Carbon Cycle pushes smaller species as replacements in much greater numbers When larger sized species are lost, it causes an advance in the number and diversity of species (large mammals are replaced by small rhodents) As the diversity, order, and surviviability of macro sized ecosystems is reduced, the speciation and population of microorganisms increases This usually translates into diseases

14. What can be Done to Affect Changes in the Biosphere for Human Benefit? The way that ecosystems are managed is through the use of land management strategies 1.Introducting new areas of protected and restricted use lands (i.e. international heritage sites, national, state & local parks and public properties) 2. Enforcing the protection of esta lands (i.e. wildlife refuges and wilderness areas) 3. Promoting the use of directed purpose lands (i.e. natural resource preserves, parks and recreation areas) 4. Implementing land and ecosystem restoration initiatives (i.e conservation initiatives and set aside lands)