Ecology Basics. AP Environmental Science Mr. Schuller

Transcription

1 Ecology Basics AP Environmental Science Mr. Schuller

2 1. Ecology is the study of systems and their interactions among organisms and their interactions with their environment. Biotic (Organisms) What are the major categories of organisms? Abiotic (Environment) What are some physical conditions of the environment?

3 2. Levels of Organization of matter. Which ones are the levels of biology? How about ecology?

4 3. Structure of the Biosphere: Hydrosphere; Lithosphere, Atmosphere. (mainly Troposphere and Stratosphere) Draw a simple model of the Earth.

5 4. Ecosystems The biosphere is broken up into ecosystems: land portions are called biomes and water portions are called aquatic life zones. Biomes are determined by climate and life forms. Aquatic life zones are determined by the salinity of the water. Ecosystems do not have boundaries but are connected by ecotones (or regions that have a mix of species from surrounding ecosystems).

6 5. Communities a. Producers - produce their own food. (Autotroph self feeders) Photosynthesis using sunlight to make food. (most common) ex. Plants, phytoplankton What is the formula for photosynthesis? Chemiosynthesis using chemicals without sunlight to make food. Ex. bacteria b. Consumers - take in food for energy (Heterotroph) Respiration breaking down food into carbon dioxide and water. What is the formula for respiration?

7 6. Food Chains (Fig. 4-18) Draw a simple food chain.

8 7. Types of Consumersa. Primary Consumers directly consume producers. Herbivores. b. Secondary Consumers feed on primary consumers. Carnivores Can feed on primary and secondary consumers. Scavengers feed on the remains of animals. Omnivores feed on consumers and producers. c. Tertiary consumers feed on both primary and secondary consumers. Top carnivore or omnivore d. Decomposers break down all levels of consumers and producers and their waste.

9 8. Food Webs (Fig. 4-19) Why is the krill circled?

10 9. What sustains life on the Earth? a. Flow of energy from the sun. Lights and warms the Earth Supports photosynthesis Powers the cycling of matter Powers climate and weather b. Cycling of matter Need to recycle matter. c. Gravity Holds the atmosphere

11 10.ENERGY the ability to do work. a. What types of energy have we talked about so far? b. What are the two basic forms of energy? Potential Kinetic c. Thermodynamics the study of energy and its transformations. We typically study systems (as in an ecosystem) A system can be open or closed. What is the difference?

12 1. 1 st Law of Thermodynamics an organism may absorb energy from its surroundings or it may give off some energy to its surroundings, but the total energy content of the organism and its surroundings is always the same. What does this mean? 2. 2 nd Law of Thermodynamics the amount of useable energy available to do work in the universe decreases over time. What does this mean?

13 11. Energy flows through the trophic levels found in food chains/food webs. What pattern do you see?

14 12. This flow of energy can be displayed by using ecological pyramids. There are three main types: a. Pyramid of numbers b. Pyramid of biomass c. Pyramid of energy -

15

16 Silver Springs Activity: pg. 85 Color scheme: Producers green Herbivores blue Carnivores red Top carnivores orange Decomposers purple Energy in organic wastes brown Energy loss as heat - yellow

17 General model of nutrient cycling

18 Watershed -

19 PA Watersheds -

20 Hydrologic Cycle Condensation

21 Human effects on water cycle 1. Air pollution contaminates precipitation; land and water pollution contaminate surface water and ground water. Leads to acid precipitation. 2. Deforestation, agriculture, and municipal development increases runoff and reduce ground water needed for vegetation. Leads to increase soil erosion, water pollution, and eutrophication. 3. Pumping freshwater out of aquifers faster than natural recharge. Leads to land subsidence and depletes a valuable resource.

22 The carbon cycle Decomposition

23 Human effects on carbon cycle 1. Extraction and combustion of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) adds excess carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to the atmosphere leading to global warming and major climate shifts. 2. Deforestation and exposure of phytoplankton to deadly UV radiation by ozone depletion interferes with the removal of CO 2 from atmosphere by photosynthesis.

24 The nitrogen cycle Nitrogen Fixation Denitrification

25 Human effects on nitrogen cycle Combustion adds nitrogen oxide (NO) to the air leading to acid rain. Exposing soil to erosion allows nitrogen minerals to leach out reducing productivity. Adding large amounts of inorganic fertilizers to farm land leads to eutrophication of adjacent surface waters. Removing fixed nitrogen from ecosystems when harvesting and transporting vegetable materials.

26 The phosphorus cycle No atmospheric component. Assimilation Fossilization

27 Human effects on phosphorus cycle Mining large quantities of phosphorus rock for inorganic fertilizers and cleaning detergents. Deforestation (especially in tropic or subtropic areas) where nutrients of the soil are washed away by frequent rainfall. Adding excess phosphate to aquatic ecosystems through runoff of wastes and fertilizers from agriculture. Leads to artificial eutrophication. (enrichment of the water)

28 The sulfur cycle Acidic precipitation Decomposition Assimilation Venting Sedimentation

29 Human effects on sulfur cycle Burning fossil fuels that contain sulfur compounds for energy. (bituminuous coal and oil refining) Smelting of ore to remove valuable minerals. (Sulfur is a major waster product.)

30 Types of Research: Field Research: involves going into nature and observing and measuring the structure of ecosystems and what happens in them. Can use GIS s (Geographic Information Systems) Can use remote sensing form aircraft or satellites.

31 Types of Research: Laboratory Research: involves setting up, observing and measuring model ecosystems and populations under lab conditions. Easier to carry out. (Quicker, cheaper, easier to control) To be effective, need to be coupled with and supported by field research.

32 Types of Research: Systems Analysis Research: involves developing computer simulations of ecosystems where the values can be changed. Can project possible changes in environmental conditions, help anticipate surprises, and analyze the effects of various alternative solutions to environmental problems. Need to be bases on sound field and laboratory research for the baseline data.

33 Ecosystem Services: Figure 4-36 Ecosystems provide many ecosystems services for us and other species that without we would not exist. Recycling of important nutrients Renewable resources Nonrenewable resources Waste removal.