Intro to Ecology Biomes Biodiversity ch 18 19 20 Ecology study of interactions of living organisms with environment Hierarchy of life Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biosphere Levels of ecological study Organismal ecology how does organism adopt to environment EX Physiological adaptations of fish to suit water Population ecology what affects population density and growth EX impacts of hunting on deer population population all members of certain same species in area Community ecology interactions between different organisms community all living organism in area EX Obtaining food predator prey interactions competition Ecosystem ecology studying all living and non living factors EX study of energy flow nutrients cycling decomposition Energy flow in food chain Beyond ecosystem biosphere EX global warming all ecosystems What influences interactions of living organisms with environment Abiotic factors non living chemical physical Ex food parasites Biotic factors all organisms Ex sunlight water nutrients energy ch 18 19 temperature predators and competitors Energy Sunlight main source of energy flow in ecosystem Sunlight producers plants algae consumer Animals Ex algae inhabiting upper layer if water Other sources of energy Chemicals used by chemoautotrophs C Source Co2 energy source chemical H2S Sulfur nitrate electron acceptor O2 Other abiotic factors Temperature Typical life supporting temperature 0 45 degrees Why extremes are limiting enzymes may not work Exceptions archaea extremeophiles Other abiotic factors Water 65 human body water 95 blood water Adaptation to water loss Plants close stomata at night cuticle Animals Reptiles water proof skin amniotic egg Indirect influences of water Oxygen availability colder fast flowing water O2 high Also salinity Stagnate warmer water lower O2 availability Other abiotic factors Nutrients Terrestrial plants Iv limited Algae P limited Adaptation to environment Physiological Anatomical Behavioral Physiological Responses Ex goose bumps shivering when cold acclimation gradual response to environment change ex increase in red blood cells high altitude Anatomical Responses ex camouflage plants change shapes wind response Behavioral Responses ex reptiles sunning Biomes Ecosystems large geographical area Aquatic Terrestrial define by climate and vegetation Aquatic Biomes Freshwater lakes Ponds Rivers Streams Wetlands Marine oceans coral reefs estuaries General aquatic terms Planktonic organisms swim float in water Phytoplankton photosynthetic algae and bacteria Zooplankton small animals crustaceans and protozoans Benthic organism living on bottom of water bodies sediment rock EX insects worms crustaceans starfish oysters Freshwater covers less than 1 of earth Two types Standing water Flowing water Standing water lakes and ponds depth distributions of organisms General Terms Pelagic open water Photic zone at top photosynthesis Phytoplankton and zooplankton Aphotic Zone below photic zone light decreases no photosynthesis Littoral Zone area around the shore high density of aquatic plants Other lake properties Why does water freeze at the top of the lake Water is densest at 4 degrees Celsius or 39 degrees Fahrenheit sinks to bottom ice less dense floats Lake stratification Opilimnium upper layer warmer summer Hypolimnion Bottom cooler River and streams flowing water distinguishes from standing water limits organism must with stand current Differences Upstream channel is narrower switter flow Downstream channel wider slower current Other freshwater biomes Wetlands area of land with saturated soils butter zone pollutants hooding erosion costal Marine Biomes Oceans Coral reefs Estuaries Oceans General terms Different zones Intertidal costal meets land submerged exposed organism attached or borrowed ex molluscs barnacies algae starfish crabs Pelagic Zone open water largest Biome ex fish whales dolphins Photic Aphotic Photic Zone photoplankton zooplankton photosynthesis coral reefs Aphotic Zone no sunlight organisms feed on decaying organic matter EX sea urchins polychaete worm Abyssal deep sea high pressure cold Deep sea hydrothermal vents Volcanic activity bacteria use H2s for energy chemotrophs Coral Reefs warm shallow water boundaries of continents islands Corals cnidarians live symbiotically together with algae photosynthetic Corals provide habitat for algae Algae provide food nutrients for corals Estuaries Rivers mix with the ocean Fluctuation salidaty Nesting areas for water bowl breeding grounds for fish ex worms oysters crabs Estuaries brackish water mix of saltwater and freshwater Terrestrial Biomes determines by climate patterns and vegetation Types Savanna tropical Typical forest Desert Chaparral Temperature grassland Temperature deciduous forest Coniferous forest taiga northern coniferous forest Tundra Polar ice Climates and Biomes Latitude Warmer at equator cooler at high latitudes increase heat air rises Rising air cool rain occurs Dry air moves toward higher latitude Other influences on Biomes climate Oceans and lakes moderate climate absorb heat in summer release heat when air is cold Mountains temp cooler high altitude Types of biomes floor Tropical Forest Heavy rainfall Dense stand of trees canopy block sunlight little vegetation on forest Climbing plants light competition Epiphytes plants that grow on trees ex orchids Low air movement high humidity Savanna rolling grassland few trees low rain fall edges of tropical forest warm year round Wet and dry season abiotic factor FIRE helps plants reestablish Desert low rain fall low vegetation Cold desert Antarctic desert Hot desert Sahara plants adaptions cactus spines modified Leaves Closing stomata Animal adaptation active at night nocturnal Chaparral coastal areas Mediterranean Mild wet winters hot summers dry woody shrubs fire introduces minerals into soil Temperature grasslands ex great plains bison low rainfall cooler than savanna Temperate deciduous Forest Large part of eastern US Trees loose leaves in fall Rich soil decomposing leaves Animals hibernate Coniferous Forest Evergreen pine spruce Northern coniferous Forest Taiga largest terrestrial biome Poor soil Tundra arctic areas No trees shrubs mosses ferns grasses Permafrost permanently frozen soil low precipitation Co2 sink alpine tundra tops of mountains Polar Ice Arctic Antarctica Cold dry windy Producers phytoplankton Population Ecology Ch 18 Biodiversity ch 20 What is it Study of factors that affect the number of individual