AP Biology Chapter 52: An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

What is ecology?

The scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment.

organismal ecology

the focus on physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology, concerning organisms' structure physiology, and behavior based on environment.

population

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

population ecology

analyzes factors affecting population, size, how and why it changes over time

community

a group of populations of different species in an area

community ecology

examines how interactions between species, such as predators and competition affect community structure and organization

ecosystem

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

ecosystem ecology

examines energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and environment

landscape ecology

examines factors controlling exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystems

biosphere

global ecosystem, all of the planet's ecosystems and landscapes

global ecology

examines how regional exchanges of energy and materials influences the functioning and distribution of organisms across the biosphere

Contrast the terms ecology and environmentalism. How does ecology relate to environmentalism?

Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms and the environment whereas environmentalism is the advocation for the protection of nature. An ecologist will inform about environmental issues but environmentalists will inform others about these issues, while advocating to protect the environment and persuading others to do so as well. Ecological data is used to explain and support environmentalism.

What environmental issue was targeted in Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring? What was the outcome of her efforts?

Rachel Carson focused on the use of pesticides and the effects on organisms other than insects targeted. She was able to go to Congress and her efforts led to the ban on DDT in the US and more control on chemicals.

What is biogeography? What factors determine the distribution of organisms?

Biogeography is the study of the past and present distribution of species in the context of evolutionary theory. Two factors are biotic-living, and abiotic-non-living, factors other organisms vs. temperature, nutrients, light

Abiotic or Biotic? Accidental Transplant

Biotic. When an organism was brought from original habitat to another. Brown tree snake introduced to Guam made 12 species of birds and a lizard species extinct on Guam.

Abiotic of Biotic? Herbivores

Biiotic. An organism with a plant only diet, sea urchins limiting amount of seaweed cover (Fletcher study)

Abiotic or Biotic? Dispersal

Biotic. The movement of individuals away from area of origin or from areas of high population density. Cattle egret from Africa now found in Americas

Abiotic or Biotic? Competition

Biotic. An interaction between organisms or species in which the fitness of one is lowered by presence of another. Animals that share food sources such as lions and cheetahs can affect which will receive the food source

Abiotic or Biotic? Introduced pathogens

Biotic. Pathogens that are harmful to those species who were not previously exposed to, no immunity to them. Butternut canker on North American butternut trees

Abiotic or Biotic? Salinity

Abiotic. The amount of salt in a body of water. The barb fish is adapted to freshwater, cannot sustain in saltwater.

Abiotic or Biotic? Water

Abiotic. The availability of the resource. The camel can survive long periods of time without water, stays in desert areas.

Abiotic or Biotic? Sunlight

Abiotic. The amount of sunlight received by a species. Forest animals such as a bear would not be able to live in the desert due to the exposure to the Sun.

Abiotic or Biotic? Rocks and Soil

Abiotic. Regarding the pH, mineral composition and physical structure of rocks and soil. An iris, requiring 5-7.5 pH would not sustain in soil that is lower or higher.

Temperature

Abiotic. Regarding the effect of temperature on different species. An arctic land animal must be warm blooded to remain active, lizards do not live in extreme cold climates.

What is climate? What abiotic factors are its components?

Climate is the long-term, prevailing weather conditions in a particular area. Abiotic components are temperature, precipitation, sunlight, wind.

Explain how Earth's curvature and axis of rotation influence the amount of sunlight reaching a given area and how these factors influence the temperature and precipitation in that area.

The sunlight that hits the Earth near the tropics hits the Earth at a more direct angle compared to higher latitudes. Therefore, the tropics have intense sunlight and warmer climates. Due to global air circulation, the water that evaporates quickly in the tropics due to increased sunlight cause the tropics to receive abundant precipitation. Also, in these currents are now dry air flow, that comes down the Earth causing less precipitation in these areas, especially the poles. The axis of rotation causes the seasons, changing which part of Earth are receiving cold, dry deasons, and warm, wet ones. Parts of Earth pointed towards the sun receive the warmer temperatures while the other hemisphere will receive cold dry weather.

Why is the Pacific Northwest so rainy? What causes the Mediterranean climate?

The Pacific Northwest is rainy due to the cold current from California waters that warm when near the equator. The currents the Pacific Northwest receive are affected by the Californian climate. The Mediterranean climate is caused by the warm currents of the Gulf Stream.

Explain the rain shadow effect.

The rain shadow effect is when a mountain creates a barrier preventing rainfall. The windward side is where warm, moist air hits, rises, and cools, causing rain, and the leeward side cool, dry air descends producing a rain shadow

What effect does elevation have on climate? Why do we say that hiking from Gatlinburg, Tennessee at 393 meters of elevation in the Smoky Mountains region, to the top of Mount LeConte at 2010 meters is like traveling to Canada?

Higher elevations are cooler than lower ones. Going up a mountain is similar (climate-wise) to traveling north on the northern hemisphere. Species found on high elevations will be similar to those farther north.

What is a biome?

A major terrestrial or aquatic life zone, characterized by vegetation type in terrestrial biomes or physical environment in aquatic biomes.

What is the largest marine biome and how much of Earth's surface does it cover?

The largest marine biome are oceans that cover 75% of Earth's surface.

photic/aphotic

photic (zone)- where there is sufficient light for photosynthesis

aphotic (zone)- where little light penetrates

benthic/pelagic

benthic (zone)- bottom of aquatic biome made up of sand and organic and inorganic sediments occupied by benthos (organisms in benthic zone)

pelagic (zone)- a vast realm of open blue water, constantly mixed by ocean currents

oligotrophic/eurotrophic

oligotrophic-lakes that are nutrient-poor and oxygen rich

eutotrophic-lakes that are nutrient-rich and often depleted of oxygen in deepest zone and if tice covers lake in winter

littoral zone/limnetic zone

littoral zone-shallow, well-lit waters by shore where rooted and floating aquatic plants live

limnetic zone-far from shore, too deep for rooted plants, inhabited by phytoplankton and bacteria

zooplankton/phytoplankton

zooplankton-small drifting heterotrophs found in limnetic zone

phytoplankton-eaten by zooplankton in limnetic zone, rooted aquatic plants

neritic/abyssal

neritic-coastal zone of the ocean

abyssal (zone)-in ocean, part of benthic zone that lies between 2000-6000 meters below surface

Lakes: Description, autotrophs, heterotrophs, human impact

Standing bodies of water

Phytoplankton,rooted aquatic plants

zooplankton, fish

Runoff from land that's fertilized and waste dumping leads to nutrient enrichment producing algal blooms oxygen depletion and fish death

Wetlands: Description, autotrophs, heterotrophs, human impact

Flooded by water, very saturated soil

pond lilies, cattails,sedges, tamarack, black spruce, moss

invertabrates, birds, dragonflies, herbivores, larvae, otters

Draining and filling has destroyed 90% of wetlands

Streams and rivers: Description, autotrophs, heterotrophs, human impact

Moving water (currents) vertical zones

phytoplankton, rooted aquatic plants

fish, invertabrates

pollution, degrades water quality, kills organisms, damming affects migration

Estuaries: Description, autotrophs, heterotrophs, human impact

Transition area between river and sea

salt marsh grasses and algae, phytoplankton

worms, oysters, crabs, fish, waterfowl, marine mammals

pollution from upstream, filling and dredging

Intertidal: Description, autotrophs, heterotrophs, human impact

zones periodically exposed and submerged by tides

algae, seagrass

worms, clams, crustaceans, sponges, anemones, fish,echnoderms

oil pollution

Oceanic pelagic: Description, autotrophs, heterotrophs, human impact

open blue water mixed by currents

phytoplankton, bacteria

zooplankton, protists, worms, mammals krill, jellies, fish

overfishing depletes fish abundance pollution by waste

What two abiotic factors are most important in determining the distribution of the biome?

Annual mean temperature and precipitation

Understand Biome Chart #18 in packet

Tropical Rainforest

rainfall: 200-400cm per year; temperature: 25-29 degrees C year round; Fauna: amphibians, birds, reptiles, mammals, arthropods; location: equatorial and subequatorial regions; Flora: canopy trees, shrub, herb, broadleaf evergreen, orchids

Desert

rainfall: less than 30 cm per year; temperature: 30-50 degrees C; location 30 degrees North and South; Fauna: snakes, lizards, scorpions, ants, beetles, birds, rodents; Flora: cacti, succulents

Savanna

rainfall: 30-50cm per year; location: equatorial and subequatorial regions; temperature: 24-29 degrees C year round; fauna: mammals (lions, hyenas), termites; flora: trees, thorny dry leaves, tall grasses

chaparral

rainfall: seasonal (30-50 cm/year) temperature: seasonal 10-12 degrees C, 30-40 degrees C; location: midaltitude coastal regions; flora: shrubs, small trees, grasses, herbs (fire resistant/adapted); fauna: deer, goats, amphibians, birds, reptiles, insects

temperate grassland

rainfall: seasonal (30-100 cm/year) temperature:seasonal (-10-30 C); location: South Africa, Hungary, North America, Russia, Argentina, Uruguay

Flora: grass and forbs, woody shrubs and trees; fauna: mammal (grazers), burrowing mammals

northern coniferous forest

largest terrestrial biome on earth; rainfall: 30-70 cm/year; location: north america, Eurasia; Flora: cone bearing trees; temperature: (-50-20 C); fauna: migratory birds, moose, brown bears, siberian tigers, insects

temperate broadleaf forest

rainfall: 70-200 cm/year; temperature: seasonal (0-35 C) location: midlatitude North America also NZ and Australia; flora: dense trees (leaf dropping); Fauna: hibernating mammals, migratory birds, insects

tundra

rainfall: (snow) 20-60 cm/year; temperature (-30-10 C); location: Arctic, high mountaintops; flora: moss, grass, forbs, shrubs, lichen; fauna:grazing oxen, caribou, bears, wolves, foxes, birds

macroclimate

patterns on the global, regional, and local level

microclimate

very fine patterns, such as those encountered by the community of organisms that live beneath a fallen log

thermocline

a narrow layer of abrupt temperature change (oceans and lakes)

turnover

semiannual mixing of lake water as a result of changing temperature profiles. Oxygenated water falls to the bottom and nutrient rich water from the bottom comes to the surface (spring and autumn)

climograph

a plot of temperature and precipitation in a particular region

ecotone

area of intergradation between biomes