Week 2 Ecology

Ecology

Study of organisms and interactions in environment

Ecosystem

Physical factors that organisms interact

Tundra

North, -5 C, permafrost, no trees

Northern Coniferous Forest(Taiga, Boreal)

Far north, largest terrestrial biome, conifers

Temperate forest

Mid latitudes, 0-35 C, canopy and shrub layer, deciduous trees

Temperate grassland

Mid latitudes, 10-30 C, single layer grass, lots herbivores

Desert

30N - 30S, 30-50 C, sparse single layer vegetation, dry

Tropical rainforest

Equatorial, 25-29 C, canopy and herbs layers, plants on other plants

Main temp factor

Sun

Microclimate

Local, small changes allow different growth

Mountains

Rain shadows, influence climate

Oceans

Milder temps, cool breeze during day but cold nighttime air

Littoral zone

Shallow water

Limnetic zone

Open water

Pelagic zone

Full water, still sun

Photic zone

Sunlight penetrates

Aphotic zone

No sunlight

River and streams

Returns water to ocean, large biodiversity, sensitive to man-made pollution

Thermocline

Transition of warm oxygenated w low nutrients to cold low O2 and high nutrients

Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, no algae, high O2

Euthropic

High nutritions, lots of growth, low O2

Marshes and swamps

High biodiversity, sensitive to development and pollution

Benthic/Abyssal

Sea floor

Estuary

Where river meats ocean

Mangrove forest

Efficient nutrition usage, prevent coastline erosion, species in roots, tropical

Salt marshes

Emergent grasses, high productivity

Intertidal zone

Area between high and low tide marks

Rocky intertidal

Organisms cling to rock, tolerate wet and dry conditions, protect against water/land predators

Sand/mud dwellers

No large plants/ algae, live in burrows

Neuritic zone

Shallow ocean

Coral reef

30N-30S, sensitive to population, nutrition poor water

Kelp forest

Cool water, strongly anchored, tall

Benthic zone

Sessile invertebrates (live on floor)

Type 1

Low morality, few young and will till adulthood

Type 2

Intermediate, less common

Type 3

High morality, produce many but young fend for themselves