Ecology
the study of the interactions of organisms with their environment
7 Levels of Ecological Organization
organism
population
community
ecosystem
landscape
biome
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
Coastal Strand
Coastal Salt Marsh
Oak Savannah
Riparian Woodland
Southern Live Oak Woodland
Coastal Sage Scrub
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
Bladderpod
California walnut
Poison oak
Deerweed
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