Chapter 10: An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Ecology

study of the interactions between organisms and the environment

Ecologists work at levels ranging from _______ to _______

individuals to planet

Organismal ecology

studies how an organism’s structure, physiology, and (for animals) behavior meet environmental challenges

population

is a group of individuals of the same species living in an area

Population ecology

focuses on factors affecting how many individuals of a species live in an area

community

is a group of populations of different species in an area

Community ecology

deals with the whole array of interacting species in a community

ecosystem

is the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which they interact

Ecosystem ecology

emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling among the various biotic and abiotic components

landscape

is a mosaic of connected ecosystems

Landscape ecology

deals with arrays of ecosystems and how they are arranged in a geographic region

biosphere

is the global ecosystem, the sum of all the planet’s ecosystems

Global ecology

examines the influence of energy and materials on organisms across the biosphere

how did they study the effect of climate change?

They make 3 area, one is completely dry, one is completely wet, and one is in between the two, then observe the ecological impacts.

what did they notice with the effect of climate change with the dogwood?

They found flowering dogwoods would be more sensitive to extended periods of drought than other species of hardwoods

when linking ecology and evolutionary biology what is a good example

Darwin finches is an example. After a long period of drought, 180 out of the 1200 medium ground finches survived. The average beak size in the next generation was larger

who is Rachel Carson?

warned that the widespread use of pesticides such as DDT was having an effect the eagle

what was Rachel Carson book called and when was it made?

Silent Spring in 1962

what was the name of the pesticide that Rachel Carson looked into?

DDT

Ecologists recognize two kinds of factors that

determine distribution

biotic and abiotic

abiotic

nonliving factors

biotic

living factors

Dispersal

is movement of individuals away from centers of high population density or from their area of origin

can dispersal be limited by barriers?

Yes

Natural Range Expansions

the process where a species extends its geographic distribution into areas where it wasn't previously present

name an example of Natural Range Expansions

Cattle egret migrated from Africa, to is current range and the bird who followed the cattle for the flies they attract

Species transplants

include organisms that are intentionally or accidentally relocated from their original distribution

Why is it bad to do species transplant?

can disrupt the communities or ecosystems to which they have been introduced

name an example of a species transplant

Bullfrog

Habitat selection

the rules used by organisms to choose among patches or habitats that differ in one or more variables, such as food availability or predation risk, that influence its fitness

name an example of habitat selection

pine snakes

Biotic factors that affect the distribution of organisms may include:

Interactions with other species

Predation

Competition

Abiotic factors affecting distribution of organisms include:

Temperature

Water

Sunlight

Wind

Rocks and soil

climate

temperature, water, sunlight, and wind

Macroclimate

consists of patterns on the global, regional, and local level

Microclimate

consists of very fine patterns, such as those encountered by the community of organisms underneath a fallen log

More heat and light per unit of surface area reach the ______ than the high latitudes

tropics

Seasonal variations of light and temperature increase steadily toward the poles because of

the tilt of the Earth's axis and its orbit around the sun.

Global air circulation and precipitation patterns play major roles in determining

climate patterns

What does air flow close to Earth’s surface create?

predictable global wind patterns

Cooling trade winds blow from east to west in the tropics; prevailing westerlies blow from

west to east in the temperate zones

The Gulf Stream carries

warm water from the equator to the North Atlantic

Mountains have a significant effect on

The amount of sunlight reaching an area

Local temperature

Rainfall

rain shadow

Rising air releases moisture on the windward side of a peak

Biomes

are the major ecological associations that occupy broad geographic regions of land or water

turnover

Many lakes undergo a semiannual mixing of their waters

thermocline

In oceans and most lakes, a temperature boundary; separates the warm upper layer from the cold deeper water

disturbance

Biome patterns can be modified; such as a storm, fire, or human activity

climograph

a plot of the temperature and precipitation in a region

ecotone

Terrestrial biomes usually grade into each other, without sharp boundaries

what is a?

Canopy

what is B?

lower canopy

what is c?

understory trees

what is d?

Shrub

what is e?

Herbaceous

what is f?

organic layer

what is g?

Mature forest

what is h?

young forest

what is i?

mixed herbaceous

what is J?

Emergent

what is k?

shrub

what is L?

deep water

what is m?

shallow water

what is N?

Floating plants

what is o?

submerged plants

What is p?

Epilimnion

what is Q?

metalimnion

what is R?

hypolimnion

what is s?

open-water phytoplankton

Aquatic biomes account for the_____ _____ of the biosphere in terms of area

largest part

Oceans cover about ____ of Earth’s surface and have an enormous impact on the biosphere

75%

littoral zone

the down-sloping shelf of a pond or lake

limnetic zone

the open water area where light does not generally penetrate all the way to the bottom

The pelagic zone consists of the water column

• Photic receives light

• Aphotic does not

benthic zone

the lowest ecological zone in a water body

Many aquatic biomes are stratified into zones or layers defined by

light penetration, temperature, and depth

neritic zone

shallow marine environment extending from mean low water down to 200-metre (660-foot) depths, generally corresponding to the continental shelf

abyssal zone or abyssopelagic zone

This zone remains in perpetual darkness and covers 83% of the total area of the ocean and 60% of Earth's surface.