AN INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND THE BIOSPHERE

1. AN INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND THE BIOSPHERE

2. Ecology is the study of • interactions among and between organisms and the environment

3. What are the different subfields of ecology or levels of organization?

4. Levels of Organization in Ecology Biosphere Biome Ecosystem Community Population Species

5. A View of the Biosphere From Space

6. Subfields of Ecology:1. Organismal Ecology • Ways the individual meets challenges posed by the environment

7. 2. Population Ecology • Factors that affect population size and composition.

8. 3.Community Ecology • Involves predator/prey relationships, competition and disease.

9. 4. Ecosystem Ecology • Energy flow, chemical cycling, primary productivity.

10. Most Famous Book: Silent Spring Rachel Carson

11. Interactions Between • Organisms Limit the • Distribution of Species

13. Abiotic and Biotic Factors • Influence the Structure • And Dynamics of Aquatic • Biomes

14. What types of abiotic factors affect the biosphere?

15. Abiotic Factors of the Biosphere: • temperature • water • sunlight • wind • rocks and soil • periodic disturbances (e.g. tornadoes, hurricanes…)

16. Flowchart of Factors Limiting Geographic Distribution

17. Seasonal Variation

19. Temperature and • Precipitation distinguish one biome from the other • An ecotone exists between biomes

22. Deciduous Forest

24. Deciduous or • Temperate Broadleaf Forest • Dominant Plants: Deciduous trees • Variety of mammals, migratory birds, • insects • May have extremes in temperature but • not as much as the taiga or grassland

25. Grassland

26. Grassland • Grasses dominate the plains • and the Midwest of U.S. • Large grazing animals such as bison • and wild horses, prairie dogs • Seasonal temperatures may be • extreme

28. Savanna

31. Savanna • Dominates Africa south of the Sahara • Can have a dry season up to 8 months • Plants: thorny, reduced leaf surface, • Fires common in dry season • Animals include wildebeest, zebras, • lions, hyenas, termites.

32. Chaparral/Temperate Woodland and Shrubland

34. Chaparral/ Temperate Woodland and • Shrubland • Dominant biome in Southern California • along the coast • Has characteristic dry season and • rainy season • Plants adapted to dry season, some • germinate only after fires

35. Tundra

36. Tundra • Occupies 20% of earth’s surface • Typical Plants: mosses, lichens, dwarf • trees. • Permafrost dominates • Animals include caribou, reindeer, • wolves, foxes.

41. Tropical Rain Forest

42. Tropical Rain Forest • Contains 50% of all species on earth • Threatened by logging and farming • Can receive up to 400 cm of • precipitation each year

43. Coniferous Forest/Taiga

46. Coniferous Forest or Taiga • Dominated by Conifers • Some temperate areas (ex: WA State) • May receive up to 300 cm of • precipitation per year • Typical animals include moose, • Bears, migratory birds, periodic • outbreaks of insects • Threatened by logging

47. Desert

48. Desert • Receives less than 30 cm of • precipitation per year (driest biome) • Plants are adapted to drought with • reduced leaf size; succulents • Animals tend to be nocturnal

50. What mountain ranges would be in the same locations in S. California?