Introduction to Biology IIBiology 1312

Dr. Brad Hoge

Spring 2007

Ecology and The Biosphere

Ernst Haeckel Robert MacArthur Rachel Carson Jane Goodall E.O. Wilson

Ecology

• Biotic– Organisms– systems

• Abiotic– Physical– Chemical

Time

• Ecological Time

• Evolutionary Time (Geologic Time)

– A Brief History of Life on Earth

Biotic Factors

• Niche Space

• Behavior

• Dispersal

• Limiting Resources

• Predation

Abiotic Factors

• Climate

• Water

• Environment

Global Climate

• Zones– Ocean Circulation– Air Circulation– Weather

• Seasons

• Cycles– Water– Carbon

Biomes

Aquatic

• Littoral

• Limnetic

– Profundal Zone– Benthos

– Oligotrophic Lakes– Eutrophic Lakes– Mesotrophic Lakes

Riparian

• Rivers and Streams

• Flood Plains

Wetlands

• Estuaries

• Marshes

• Swamps

Oceans• Intertidal

• Neritic– Continental Shelf– Coral Reefs

• Pelagic– Abyssal Plains– Mid-Ocean Vents

• Benthic

Polar

• Taiga

• Tundra

– Permafrost

• Alpine

Temperate• Deciduous Forest

– Old Growth Forests– Rainforests

• Coniferous Forest

• Grasslands– Prairie– Savanna– Chaparral– Steppes

Deserts

• 300 Latitudes

• High Deserts

• Arctic and Antarctic

Tropical

• Rain Forest

– Canopy– Emergents– Epiphytes

– Desertification

Climate Change

• Boundary Conditions

• Long-Term Climate Change– Glacial Cycles– Volcanism– Plate Tectonics

• Anthropogenic Factors

Population Ecology

• Populations

– Density– Dispersal– Diversity– Richness

Life Histories

• Reproduction• Population Growth• Carrying Capacity• Limiting Factors

• Life Tables– Survivorship Curve– Reproductive Rates

Reproductive Strategies

• Ovipary• Ovivivipary• Vivipary

• Semelparity• Iteroparity

Population Growth

• Growth Curves

N/t = B – D

Zero population growth

Exponential population growth

Population crash

Carrying Capacity

• Limiting Factors

• Predation– Lotka-Volterra Equations

• Environmental Change– Succession– Anthropogenic