1. Introduction to Ecology Chapter 50

2. Ecology Study of interactions between organisms and the environment Interactions  determine the abundance and distribution of organisms Since prehistoric times humans are interested in this dist. & abund.  WHY???

3. Ecology Changing  was a descriptive science, now is becoming more of an experimental science Provides a scientific context for evaluation of environmental issues Is very closely related to evolutionary biology

4. Environment Affects the distribution of organisms Is made up of  Abiotic  no living components  Biotic  living components

5. Abiotic Factors Light Water Temperature Soil O 2 /CO 2 Periodic disturbances in all these leads to species diversity

6. Biotic Factors Individual organisms Populations Communities Ecosystems Biosphere  global ecosystem All living organisms of the earth  portion that can sustain life

7. Distribution of Organisms Distinct global and regional patterns in the distribution of organisms Biogeography is the study of past and present distributions of individual species Ecologists  what limits the geographical distribution of any species

8. Factors that Affect Distribution Species dispersal Behavior and Habitat Selection Biotic factors Abiotic

10. Species dispersal Transplanted species  Successful  potential range of the species is larger than the actual range.  Unsuccessful,  distribution is limited by other species or abiotic factors

11. Problems with Introduced Species Transplanted species  explode Ex: African honeybee & Zebra mussel

12. Behavior and Habitat Selection organisms select particular habitats Insects  oviposition, breeding areas Chemical signaling between plants and pollinators Evolution does not produce the perfect organism  populations do not evolve overnight, even natural selection may not be

13. Biotic Factors Predators limit distribution of prey species

14. Abiotic Factors Temperature Water Sunlight Wind Rocks and soil

15. Temperature and Water Climate is the prevailing weather conditions in an area  major components  Temperature, water, light, and wind Climate determines the makeup of Biomes

16. Climate and Biomes

17. Temperature and Water Global Climate Patterns  Sunlight & Planet’s movement

18. Temperature and Water contd Local and seasonal effects on climate Microclimate Long-term climate change Effect of mountains on rainfall

19. Biomes A distinct ecological community of plants and animals living together in a particular climate Biomes often run into each other Major types  Aquatic  Terrestrial

20. Aquatic Biomes Vertical stratification of aquatic biomes  The photic zone  The aphotic zone  Thermocline  The benthic zone

21. Freshwater biomes The littoral zone is shallow and close to shore. The limnetic zone is the open surface water. The profundal zone consists of the deep, aphotic regions.

22. Lakes Oligotrophic

23. Lakes Eutrophic

24. Streams and Rivers

25. Wetlands

26. Estuaries

27. Zones in Marine Communities

28. Coral Reefs

29. Terrestrial Biomes Tropical Rain forest Savanna Desert Chaparal Temperate grasslands Temperate deciduous forest Coniferous forest Tundra

30. The Spatial Scale of Distributions Different factors may determine the distribution of a species on different scales Most species have small geographic ranges