Environmental Science and Sustainability
Course Code: GEOG 280
Module #4
Instructor: Dr. Giliane Rasbold
Contact: giliane.rasbold@wku.edu
Institution: WKU Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences
A group of living organisms capable of interbreeding and exchanging genes.
A subset of individuals of one species occupying a specific geographic area.
An interacting group of various species in a common location.
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, encompassing both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
Describes the flow of energy and cycling of matter among organisms and their environment.
Aquatic Ecosystems: Freshwater, Marine
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Water temperature
Amount of sunlight
Oxygen levels in water
Nutrient availability
Water movement
Lakes, ponds, wetlands, rivers
Light availability (photic and aphotic zones)
Temperature
Depth
Distance from shore (Benthic vs. Pelagic zones)
Areas inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater, supporting vegetation adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, defined by U.S. regulations since the 1970s.
Absorb and remove pollutants from water (functioning like kidneys in the landscape)
Control flooding and stream flow rates
Serve as nurseries for biodiversity (hotspots)
Recreational spaces
Hydric soils develop under anoxic conditions, noted by color and physical structure.
Hydric vegetation adapted to substrate inundation, affected by oxygen levels.
Swamps: Forested wetlands in tropical and temperate climates.
Marshes: Wetlands without trees.
Bogs: Characterized by cooler climates.
Transitional zones between distinct ecosystems.
Higher species diversity due to the overlap of ecological niches.
Provisioning Services: Food, clean water, wood, and pollination.
Regulating Services: Climate regulation, flood control, and water purification.
Cultural Services: Aesthetic, recreational, and educational values.
Supporting Services: Soil formation, photosynthesis, and biodiversity maintenance.
A cluster of interacting ecosystems representing a specific geographical area.
Large geographical areas classified by temperature, precipitation, and dominant vegetation types.
Biomes share similar climate, soil conditions, and comparable communities.
Latitude, altitude, and precipitation.
The place where a species is adapted to live based on conditions and resources.
The role a species plays in its habitat, including food sources, reproduction, and relationships with other species
Operate within an optimum range, acting as environmental resistance.
Factors that increase population, like reproductive rates and adaptations.
Challenges like lack of food, water, suitable habitats, predators, diseases, and competition.
Describes the conditions under which a species can thrive, including physiological stress zones and intolerable conditions.
A species on which other ecosystem members heavily depend; its removal alters the ecosystem significantly.
Predator, Prey, Ecosystem Engineer.
Serves as a critical food source for predator populations.
Resilient and aids in maintaining predator-prey balance.
Controls prey population and range; their removal can cause a trophic cascade.
Top-Down: A change in predators triggers a chain reaction down the food web.
Bottom-Up: A change at the producer level affects the entire web.
Organisms that create or modify landscapes and influence the prevalence of other species.
Example: Beavers create ponds that offer habitats for other species, providing protection from predators.
Reflects environmental conditions, helping in monitoring ecological changes.
Amphibians (e.g., frogs) indicate pollution levels due to their sensitive skin.
Algae serve as indicators of water quality deterioration.
Species restricted to a specific geographical area, not found elsewhere.
Kangaroos in Australia, Lemurs in Madagascar, Poison dart frogs in Costa Rica.
Non-native species whose introduction can cause ecological harm.
Zebra mussels, Hydrilla, Asian Carp.
Competition: Both species harmed (- -)
Interspecific competition (between species)
Intraspecific competition (within species)
One organism benefits at the expense of another (predator-prey relationship).
Lions hunting zebras helps regulate both populations.
Both species benefit from the interaction.
Bees pollinating flowers while feeding on nectar.
One organism benefits at the other's expense, causing harm (parasite-host relationship).
Ticks feeding on dogs.
One species harmed while the other remains unaffected.
A tree shading smaller plants.
One species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.
Barnacles on whales.
Habitat change, conversion, fragmentation, simplification.
Overexploitation, pollution, invasive species, land management, and changing species interactions.
Follows the 10% rule: Approximately 10% of energy/biomass is passed to the next level.
1,000 lbs of plants (producers) -> 100 lbs of herbivores (primary consumers) -> 10 lbs of carnivores (secondary consumers).
Energy distribution may be reversed; higher trophic levels may contain more biomass than primary producers due to reproductive speed and energy efficiency.
Bioaccumulation: Contaminant accumulation in an organism over time from various sources.
Biomagnification: Increased toxin concentration in organisms higher up the food chain.
Mercury in predatory fish is a prominent example of biomagnification, leading to health risks for humans consuming these fish.
The ability of an ecosystem to return to normal after a disturbance.
Nutrient replenishment, plant and animal dispersion, regrowth, and succession.
Temperate Deciduous Forests: Characterized by hardwoods like oak and maple, found in the eastern U.S.
Coniferous Forests: Dominant in northern states and the Pacific, featuring evergreen trees.
Lakes and ponds are abundant, major river systems include the Mississippi and Colorado.
Include diverse ecosystems such as kelp forests, coral reefs, and crucial wetlands in coastal areas.
Bighorn Sheep, Grizzly Bears, Woodland Caribou, Killer Whales, Manatees, Polar Bears, Jaguars.
Habitat and Location
Human-Induced Threats
Consequences and Current Status
Conservation Strategies