Bio - Ch.40 Part 1: An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Ecology

 study of interaction between organisms and their environment.

1. Abiotic factors 

1. Non-living

2. Ex. water, soil, rocks, wind temp (temp has the greatest effect on metabolic rates)

1. Biotic factors

1. All living or once living things

2. Can affect structure and organization of biological communities

3. Ex. predation and competition or producers and decomposer

1. Levels of organization from least inclusive to most

1. Individual

2. Population

3. Community

4. Ecosystem

Biomes

1. large areas of the earth that have similar climate and thus similar life forms

1. The 1st four determine the climate

1. Temperature

2. Water (moisture)

3. Sunlight

4. Wind

5. Rocks and soil

6. Periodic disturbances (fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic activity) How can fire suppression change species composition in a biome

1. Climate changes with latitude

1. Hotter at equator 

2. Colder at poles

3. More precipitation at the equator due to heat and wind

4. Less precipitation as you move away from the equator

 vertical stratification

1. Top: Photosynthetic - dissolved O2 is high

2. Middle: no photosynthesis - dissolved O2 is lower

3. Bottom: at the bottom - dissolved O2 is low

   1. Covered in detritus-dead organic matter (cell respiration)

1. Deep lakes

1. Nutrient-poor

   1. Little turnover

   2. Temperate lakes have turn over because of changes in seasons change water density

2. Oxygen-rich

3. Have little phytoplankton

1. Shallow lakes

1. Nutrient-rich

2. Oxygen poor

3. Have lots of phytoplankton

1. Marine layers include

1. Intertidal zone

2. Neritic zone

3. Pelagic biome

4. Coral reef

1. Intertidal zone

1. Where land and water meet

1. Neritic zone

1. Shallow water

1. Pelagic biome

1. Open ocean

1. Estuaries

1. A mixture of fresh and saltwater

2. Supports many semi-aquatic species

3. Often borders salt marshes

4. Many predators and humans are one of them