GEO1330 Test 2 Study guide Ecology a systems approach to understanding relations of organisms and their surroundings ecosystem services species diversity oxygen biodiversity nutrient cycles Individual Population Community Ecosystem Individual 1 Population a group of one species many individuals Communities a bunch of living things populations together Ecosystem community and abiotic factors non living ex Rain temperature Biotic factors species interaction Biotic factor is a type of species interacton examples are parasitism commensalism 0 and mutualism Abiotic factors nonliving factors zone of optimum range succession disturbance regimes dynamic equilibrium stability through constant change disturbance patch dynamics allow succession to begin again creating a variation in age in plant populations and communities importance of and different types of disturbances Fires release nutrients allow light in alter population and community composition Surface fires prevent brush buildup and prevent more damaging crown or canopy fires which kill more wildlife and increase erosion Floods nutrients released through silt new seeds germinate in cleared sites Other types Geomorphic landslide earthquake tree fall disease and pest infestation anthropogenic agricultural logging travel grazing Biodiversity variety of life including species genetic and ecological diversity Highest in the tropics Greater biodiversity increases resilience genetic diversity the heritable variation among individuals of a single species or population keystone species Species at the center of an arc that hold an entire ecosystem together Most important species in a community apex predators At the top of the food web with no natural predators keep other populations in check They need vast spaces difficult to reintroduce when they disappear endangered species act FL has most endangered species of any state in the US Prevents the destructions of species or critical habitat without a permit problems with endangered species act does nothing to protect an animal unless it is already in a crisis stage Can still destroy with a permit Does not take whole system into account Recovery plans not implemented exotic species a species introduced into an ecosystem in which it did not evolve invasive species know some examples an exotic species that out competes native species Ex Brown Anole Chestnut blight kudzu hydrilla fire ants Muir preservationism beauty and spiritual values are more important than economic value of nature Minimal human impact use Wilderness is an escape from civilization pinchot conservationism all natural resources should be available for human and economic benefit Scientific management of resource use Influenced creation of US Forestry Service Pinchot was the first head of the service radical environmentalism including bioregionalism and deep ecology bioregionalism sustain ourselves on resources from the area around us Live in harmony with local ecosystems Deep Ecology intrinsic value of environment Only vital needs come before the environment Decline in human population more wild species deeply different economic and ideological system Thinks outside the box sustainable development economic and social development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs 3 pillars economic social and environmental Forestry history in the US and in Florida before 1850 timber did not travel far and was limited to small areas around rivers After 1850 railroads and other technological advances increased cutting Florida paper industry St Joe paper company 1940s 1960s Forestry is still the leading agricultural industry in FL almost of FL land is forests old growth forest Forests hundreds or thousands of years old never cut on an industrial scale US Forest Service created in early 1900s to manage tree supply on public land however 70 of forests are privately owned practice of fire suppression Created to ensure a steady supply of lumber Regulated logging and suppressed fires which is not a good thing because it causes more big canopy fires longleaf pine Once extremely abundant not less than 15 Declined due to using sap naval stores re planting fast growing varieties and fire suppression global deforestation rates are increasing in developing countries emits 20 of world s carbon causes habitat loss which leads to high extinction rates clear cutting vs selective cutting clear cutting completely obliterates an entire area Selective cutting mimics nature and is much more sustainable sustainable forestry selective cutting regeneration and conservation forest stewardship council FSC nonprofit organization for international forestry with high standards Certify people who do forestry sustainably Criticized for certification of companies engaging in illegal logging wetlands benefits of threats to Benefits Reduce erosion flooding and storm damage Filter pollutants nursery grounds for fish high biodiversity habitat for endangered species Threats to agriculture road construction industrial and residential development They are drained and filled in history of everglades It is a wetlands in FL that has been turned into a residential area by draining the wetlands signs of degradation to everglades 90 95 reduction in wading bird populations many endangered and threatened species billions of water lost per day to the the ocean millions of acres under health advisories for mercury contamination many invasive species issues with ecological restoration EXPENSIVE not enough funding exists politically difficult Incorrectly done because it is done by politicians not biologists Ways vulnerability to disasters is increasing globally urbanization is increasing which increases the concentration of people in specific areas especially along the coasts Infrastructural systems electricity etc are increasingly complex and interconnected Intensification of cyclones due to warming Hydrologic manipulation dams dikes levees Reasons why vulnerability is unequal around the world low income areas are more likely to have lower quality infrastructure and buildings Most urbanization is in the slums Evacuation plans assume car ownership also the wealthy have insurance ecological history of of New Orleans manipulation of Mississippi River the wetlands are receding due to the artificial straightening of the river channel the ground is compacting which is causing sinking why is New Orleans getting more vulnerable to