Ecology and Ecological Health

1. Ecology and Ecological Health • Ecology Defined • Biochemical Cycles: The Carbon Cycle • Energy Flow Through a Community or Ecosystem • Symbiotic Relationships • Ecological Succession • Environmental Problems and Issues • Deforestation • Eutrophication • Water pollution • Biomagnification • Air pollution • Atmospheric Problems • Acid Rain • Ozone Depletion • Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming • Renewable Energy Sources • Biodiversity Loss • Human Population Density • What We Can Do

2. Ecology = Study of the interaction of living and non-living things Sun Biotic (living) factors Abiotic (non-living factors)

3. Food Chain Less biomass, fewer organisms Quaternary consumer- carnivore Tertiary consumer –carnivore Secondary consumer-carnivore Primary consumer-herbivore Primary producer (autotroph) Pyramid of energy

4. Quaternary consumer Tertiary consumer The more biodiversity, the more complex the food web and the more stable the community is.

5. Symbiotic Relationships Flea sucking blood from a dog Barnacles on a whale Mycorrhizal fungi on pine seedling roots Lamprey eels attached to fish Ants living on an acacia tree Clown fish among sea anemone tentacles Parasitism One party benefits One party is harmed Commensalism One party benefits One party is unaffected Mutualism Both parties benefit

6. Ecological Succession Primary succession: progressive replacement of communities starting with bare rock (no soil); e.g after a glacier recedes Secondary succession: replacement of communities starting with soil but no vegetation (e.g. after forest fire, bulldozing)

7. Deforestation

8. Human Impact and Global Concerns • Flow of Energy; Food Chains • Deforestation • Eutrophication • Water pollution: Controlling Human Waste • Biomagnification • Air pollution • Atmospheric Problems • Acid Rain • Ozone Depletion • Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming • Renewable Energy Sources • Biodiversity Loss • Human Population Density • What We Can Do

9. EutrophicationFertilizer run-off stimulates plant growth, decomposition, and loss of oxygen

10. Sewage Treatment Encourages Eutrophication in a Controlled Setting to Reduce Nitrates and Phosphates

11. Human Impact and Global Concerns • Flow of Energy; Food Chains • Deforestation • Eutrophication • Water pollution: Controlling Human Waste • Biomagnification • Air pollution • Atmospheric Problems • Acid Rain • Ozone Depletion • Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming • Renewable Energy Sources • Biodiversity Loss • Human Population Density • What We Can Do

12. Biomagnification of Pollutant Concentrations Pollutants are toxic in high concentrations per gram of tissue

13. Human Impact and Global Concerns • Flow of Energy; Food Chains • Deforestation • Eutrophication • Water pollution: Controlling Human Waste • Biomagnification • Air pollution • Atmospheric Problems • Acid Rain • Ozone Depletion • Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming • Renewable Energy Sources • Biodiversity Loss • Human Population Density • What We Can Do

14. Acid Rain

15. Damaging Effects of UV Light from Chlorofluorocarbon Destruction of Ozone

16. Ozone Depletion

17. Carbon Dioxide and World Average Temperature Increases

18. The Greenhouse Effect of Carbon Dioxide Biggest contributor to atmospheric CO2

19. Human Impact and Global Concerns • Flow of Energy; Food Chains • Deforestation • Eutrophication • Water pollution: Controlling Human Waste • Biomagnification • Air pollution • Atmospheric Problems • Acid Rain • Ozone Depletion • Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming • Renewable Energy Sources • Biodiversity Loss • Human Population Density • What We Can Do

20. Need for Renewable, Non-Fossil Fuel Sources of Energy

21. Loss of Biodiversity Makes Ecosystems More Fragile Loss of habitat, introduction of alien species Increasing likelihood of catastrophic failure of ecosystem

22. Population Density: The Major Factor in Environmental Impact The US “Lower 48” land mass The US “Lower 48” scaled on population density

23. Human Impact and Global Concerns • Flow of Energy; Food Chains • Deforestation • Eutrophication • Water pollution: Controlling Human Waste • Biomagnification • Air pollution • Atmospheric Problems • Acid Rain • Ozone Depletion • Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming • Renewable Energy Sources • Biodiversity Loss • Human Population Density • What We Can Do

24. Managing Solid Waste 1. 2 3. Precycling Limiting what and how much you buy based on packaging

25. Basic Steps Towards Environmental Stewardship • Reduce, reuse, recycle • Precycle, exercise product choice • Use ecologically sensitive transportation (reduce CO2, oil, antifreeze releases) • Reduce chemical use (solvents, paints, pesticides, herbicides) • Eat lower on the food chain • Advocate sustainable and renewable practices • Get involved in community habitat restoration (e.g. www.hylebos.org)

26. Environmental Stewardship: Getting Involved