Lab Practical- Final

Ecology

the study of the interactions of organisms with their environment

7 Levels of Ecological Organization

1. organism
2. population
3. community
4. ecosystem
5. landscape
6. biome
7. biosphere

Population

all individuals of the same species in a given area

Community

all individuals of all species in an area

Ecosystem

all individuals of all species in a given area plus abiotic factors

Landscape

multiple adjacent ecosystems that may interact

Biome

all ecosystems of the same type in the world

Biosphere

all ecosystems on the planet

Dichotomous key

an identification guide to the species in a particular taxonomic group for a particular region

List the 7 ecosystems of SoCal

1. Coastal Strand
2. Coastal Salt Marsh
3. Oak Savannah
4. Riparian Woodland
5. Southern Live Oak Woodland
6. Coastal Sage Scrub
7. Chaparral

Coastal Strand location

sandy areas by the sea

Coastal Salt Marsh location

low-lying areas near the ocean; usually where freshwater meets the ocean

Oak Savannah location

usually next to large prairies near rolling hills

Riparian Woodland location

usually in a narrow band immediately adjacent to a freshwater source

Southern Live Oak Woodland location

in canyons such as Topanga and Malibu Canyons

Coastal Sage Scrub location

hillsides at lower elevations and near the ocean

Chaparral location

inland and higher elevation hillsides and ridges throughout our area

Coastal Strand abiotic conditions

high levels of salt, little shade, lots of sun

Coastal Strand plant adaptations

large vacuole in each plant cell; allows storage of extra salt

Coastal Salt Marsh abiotic conditions

high levels of salt, varying levels of water

Coastal Salt Marsh plant adaptations

large vacuole in each plant cell; allow storage of extra salt

Oak Savannah abiotic conditions

low precipitation, poor soil, frequent wildfires

Oak Savannah plant adaptations

pubescent leaves; retain moisture

Riparian Woodland abiotic conditions

dominated by trees; little sun exposure

Riparian Woodland plant adaptations

relatively large leaves; maximize sun absorption
flexible/compound leaves; allows contact of sunlight from many directions

Southern Live Oak Woodland abiotic conditions

shaded by surrounding hills; limited sunlight
increased moisture from rainfall that runs down nearby hills and collects in low-lying areas

Southern Live Oak Woodland plant adaptations

tall trees to catch sunlight from low elevation

Coastal Sage Scrub abiotic conditions

moisture from periodic rain/coastal fogs
relatively dry
excessive evaporation and sun exposure

Coastal Sage Scrub plant adaptations

pubescent leaves; retain moisture

Chaparral abiotic conditions

hot/dry summers, little rain, frequent fire

Chaparral plant adaptations

small/wavy/nearly vertically attached leaves; reduce sun exposure
light in color; reflect sunlight
tough/thick/folded/pubescent leaves; reduce evaporation by wind

List the 5 plants with compound leaves

1. Bladderpod
2. California walnut
3. Poison oak
4. Deerweed
5. Elderberry

What is the single non-native plant we studied?

Wild mustard

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Saltbush
Family Chenopodiaceae
Coastal Strand, Coastal Salt Marsh

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Pickleweed
Family Chenopodiaceae
Coastal Salt Marsh

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Bladderpod
Family Cleomaceae
Coastal Salt Marsh, Coastal Sage Scrub

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Dodder
Family Convolvulaceae
Coastal Salt Marsh, Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Salt grass
Family Poaceae
Coastal Salt Marsh

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Valley oak
Family Fagaceae
Oak Savannah

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Wild mustard
Family Brassicaceae
Oak Savannah

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Willow
Family Salicaceae
Riparian Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Black cottonwood
Family Salicaceae
Riparian Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

White alder
Family Betulaceae
Riparian Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Elderberry
Family Adoxaceae
Riparian Woodland, Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Mule fat
Family Asteraceae
Riparian Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

California sycamore
Family Platanaceae
Riparian Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

California bay
Family Lauraceae
Riparian Woodland, Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Coast live oak
Family Fagaceae
Riparian Woodland, Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Wild cucumber
Family Cucurbitaceae
Riparian Woodland, Southern Live Oak Woodland, Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Mistletoe
Family Viscaceae
Riparian Woodland, Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Coffeeberry
Family Rhamnaceae
Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Poison oak
Family Anacardiaceae
Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Toyon
Family Rosaceae
Southern Live Oak Woodland, Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

California walnut
Family Juglandaceae
Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Golden currant
Family Grossulariaceae
Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

California sagebrush
Family Asteraceae
Coastal Sage Scrub

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Bush sunflower
Family Asteraceae
Coastal Sage Scrub

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Coyote brush
Family Asteraceae
Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Purple sage
Family Lamiaceae
Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Black sage
Family Lamiaceae
Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Laurel sumac
Family Anacardiaceae
Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Lemonadeberry
Family Anacardiaceae
Coastal Sage Scrub

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

California buckwheat
Family Polygonaceae
Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Coastal prickly pear
Family Cactaceae
Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Chamise
Family Rosaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Mountain mahogany
Family Rosaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Holly-leaved cherry
Family Rosaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Chaparral yucca
Family Agavaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Manzanita
Family Ericaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Yerba santa
Family Boraginaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

California lilac
Family Rhamnaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Redberry
Family Rhamnaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Deerweed
Family Fabaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Sticky monkeyflower
Family Phrymaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Tree poppy
Family Papaveraceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Woolly blue curls
Family Lamiaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Desert brittle bush
Family Asteraceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Sugar bush
Family Anacardiaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

Scrub oak
Family Fagaceae
Chaparral

Common Name: ______
Family: _____
Ecosystem(s): _____

California cholla
Family Cactaceae
Chaparral

Family Adoxaceae

Blue elderberry

Family Agavaceae

Chaparral yucca

Family Anacardiaceae

Laurel sumac
Lemonade berry
Sugar bush
Poison oak

Family Asteraceae

California sagebrush
Coyote brush
Mule fat
Bush sunflower
Desert brittlebush

Family Betulaceae

White alder

Family Boraginaceae

Yerba santa

Family Brassicaceae

Wild mustard

Family Cactaceae

California cholla
Prickly pear

Family Chenopodiaceae

Salt bush
Pickleweed

Family Cleomaceae

Bladderpod

Family Convolvulaceae

Dodder

Family Cucurbitaceae

Wild cucumber

Family Ericaceae

Manzanita

Family Fabaceae

Deerweed

Family Fagaceae

Coast live oak
Scrub oak
Valley oak

Family Grossulariaceae

Golden currant

Family Juglandaceae

California walnut

Family Lamiaceae

Purple sage
Black sage
Woolly blue curls

Family Lauraceae

California bay

Family Papaveraceae

Tree poppy