bio 340: ecology i. what is ecology?
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BIO 340: ECOLOGY I. What is Ecology?. A. Definition :. ?. BIO 340: ECOLOGY I. What is Ecology?. A. Definition :. The study of the interactions of organisms with one another and with their environment. - Ricklefs Glossary. BIO 340: ECOLOGY I. What is Ecology?. A. Definition :. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?
The study of the interactions of organisms with one another and with their environment. - Ricklefs Glossary
A. Definition:
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?
The study of the interactions of organisms with one another and with their environment. - Ricklefs Glossary “The scientific study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and their interactions with the environment.”
A. Definition:
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?
BASIC APPLIED
Human Physiology Medicine
A. Definition:B. What it is not:
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?
BASIC APPLIED
Human Physiology Medicine
Ecology Conservation BiologyWildlife ManagementAgricultural Science
A. Definition:B. What it is not:
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?
BASIC APPLIED
Human Physiology Medicine
Ecology Conservation BiologyApplied EcologyWildlife ManagementAgricultural Science
Environ. Science Sustainability Science
A. Definition:B. What it is not:
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?
Science, not a social or political agenda
A. Definition:B. What it is not:
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?
Science, not a philosophy
A. Definition:B. What it is not:
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:
- complexity and diversity
Explain this Cost Rican Rainforest….
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:
- complexity and diversity
Explain this Cost Rican Rainforest….Now this one in New Guinea…
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:
- complexity and diversity - landscape context
Explain this Cost Rican Rainforest….Now this one in New Guinea…
And now these fragments of different size/isolation
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:
- complexity and diversity - interaction change
- as organisms develop
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:
- complexity and diversity - interaction change
- as organisms develop - with changes in population size
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:
- complexity and diversity - interaction change
- as organisms develop - with changes in population size - changes in communities over time: succession
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:
- complexity and diversity - interaction change
- as organisms develop - with changes in population size - changes in communities over time: succession - evolutionary changes over time causing divergence
Sharp-billed ground finches on different islands in the Galapagos
BIO 340: ECOLOGY
I. What is Ecology?A. Definition:B. What it is notC. The Challenges:
- complexity and diversity - interaction change
Anectdotal natural history stories General Principles
Primary Producers fix energy in sunlight and build/absorb organic molecules….some bacteria, some protists, and plants.
Consumers eat primary producers, decomposers, and other consumers as herbivores, detritivores, predators, and parasites… some bacteria, some protists, and animals.
Decomposers eat dead material and release nutrients to the soil. Bacteria and fungi.
II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles
II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles
- the evolution of ecosystems
4.5 bya
~2 bya~ 4 bya ~1 bya ~0.4 bya
present
Only bacteria and archaeans (all roles)
II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles
- the evolution of ecosystems
4.5 bya
~2 bya~ 4 bya ~1 bya ~0.4 bya
present
Evolution of eukaryotes and multicellular animals(consumers/detritivores)
II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles
- the evolution of ecosystems
4.5 bya
~2 bya~ 4 bya ~1 bya ~0.4 bya
present
Evolution of plants
II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles
- the evolution of ecosystems
4.5 bya
~2 bya~ 4 bya ~1 bya ~0.4 bya
presentBacteria are still major contributors to primary production (particularly in oceans)
Bacteria are still major consumers; all animals have bacterial endosymbionts that live in the gut, eating food
Bacteria are still major decomposers (with fungi)
Bacteria continue to form ecosystems in habitats where nothing else can survive (geothermal springs, oil deposits, etc.
II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles
- the evolution of ecosystems - chains, pyramids, and webs
Chain: one path of energy flow
II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles
- the evolution of ecosystems - chains, pyramids, and webs
Pyramid:Either abundance or biomass in trophic levels
II. Approaches in Ecology A.Biological ScalesB.Ecological Roles
- the evolution of ecosystems - chains, pyramids, and webs
Webs: all paths of energy flow. Reveals possible indirect effects
II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A. It describes our interactions with the environment, too
II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too
1. Humans are part of nature, and interact with the environment:- we are smart, social and technologically advanced predators, and can drive other species to extinction.
13 Species Hunted to Extinction by Humans
…even in the largest habitat on earth, as a consequence of nets and longlines…
~400 tons of mackerel caught in one pull of a single purse seine
~30% of fished species have populations that have collapsed
II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too
1. Humans are part of nature, and interact with the environment:- we are smart, social and technologically advanced predators, and can drive other species to extinction. - we facilitate the population growth of other species at every trophic level:
- crops (primary producers) - livestock (herbivores) - pets (predators)
II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too
1. Humans are part of nature, and interact with the environment:- we are smart, social and technologically advanced predators, and can drive other species to extinction. - we facilitate the population growth of other species at every trophic level:
- crops (primary producers) - livestock (herbivores) - pets (predators)
2. Ecology describes our population growth - As a consequence of these interactions, our population has increased 7x in 150 years.
1860 – 1 billion2010 – 7 billionJan 14, 2014 – 7.2 billion
II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too
1. Humans are part of nature, and interact with the environment:
2. Ecology describes our population growth
3. And, with other environmental sciences, describes the effects we are having on every earth system
3. And, with other environmental sciences, describes the effects we are having on every earth system - Biosphere: We are using 40% of NPP, causing one of six mass extinction events in earth history
3. And, with other environmental sciences, describes the effects we are having on every earth system - Atmosphere: We are changing the composition of the atmosphere and patterns of energy flow
396 – Dec 2013
3. And, with other environmental sciences, describes the effects we are having on every earth system - Hydrosphere: We sequester 50% of the freshwater on the planet for our own use, and are changing the pH of the oceans
3. And, with other environmental sciences, describes the effects we are having on every earth system - Lithosphere: Through mountaintop removal and burning of fossil fuels, we are a geological force.
II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too
B. It informs us about solutions - Sustainability 1.Humans have always affected these systems on a smaller scale, but our previous strategy (moving) won’t work
Extensification
Intensification
II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too
B. It informs us about solutions - Sustainability 1.Humans have always affected these systems, but our previous strategy (moving) won’t work
2. Sustainability Brundtland Commission of the U.N. - Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too
B. It informs us about solutions - Sustainability 1.Humans have always affected these systems, but our previous strategy (moving) won’t work
2. Sustainability Brundtland Commission of the U.N. - Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
HOW? …
II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too
B. It informs us about solutions - Sustainability 1.Humans have always affected these systems, but our previous strategy (moving) won’t work
2. Sustainability Brundtland Commission of the U.N. - Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
HOW? … mimicry…
Emphasizes inputs and outputs from the reservoir called “the environment”…but what of internal processes that could buffer inputs or increase outputs?
Pollution ResourcesInternal efficiencies
II. Why is Ecology Important to Humanity? A.It describes our interactions with the environment, too
B. It informs us about solutions - Sustainability 1.Humans have always affected these systems, but our previous strategy (moving) won’t work
2. Sustainability
3. The Value of Biodiversity
3. The Value of Biodiversity a. Ecological value: Diverse communities are more productive and more resistant to change than less diverse communities. They provide ‘ecosystem services’ like cleaning water, cleaning air, fertilizing soils, and producing food more effectively than low diversity systems. Resistance to change means they are more stable – more sustainable over time.
3. The Value of Biodiversity b. Utilitarian value: We use other species as physiological models, and as sources of compounds for drugs and other materials; in addition to recreational use (hunting, fishing) which has a serious economic impact. - THE LOSS OF GENETIC INFORMATION IS FOREVER.
3. The Value of Biodiversity c. Asthetic/Inherent value: Are we emotionally enriched by it – indeed, an evolutionarily dependent on it? Do we have an obligation to assist species imperiled by our actions?