Ecology

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Ecology

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is the science by which we study how organisms interact in and with the natural world.

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Physical Environment

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provides for the context of life, while it also constrains its expression.

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(5) Levels of Ecology

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-organism approach
-population approach
-community approach
-ecosystem approach
-biosphere approach

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Water (H2O) is important because...

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-Life evolved in water.
-Hydrogen bond makes water possible.
-Polar (positive & negitive sides)

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Biomes

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Groups of biological communities & ecosystems (into catorgories!!) based on climate & dominate plant form, this is what gives them their overall character.

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Properties of H2O:

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-Liquid form over a broad ranges (32-212 degrees F).
-High heat of evaporation.
-Water is MOST dense in liquid form.
-Water is viscous (sticky & thick)
-Water has high polarity...making it a great solvent.

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Convergence
(convergent evolution)

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is the process by which unrelated organisms evolve a resembelance to each other in response to similar environmental conditions.

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Karst

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Freshwater ecosystem that has a HIGH calcium, higher pH level, is less valnerable to acid rain, and there is a greater number of mussel & snails.

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Lakes/ponds

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LENTIC systems (due to nonflowing water).

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Water Potential

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the ability to hold water

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Field Capticity

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amount of water held by soils.

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Photosynthesis

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conversion of sunlight to chemical energy (glucose).
6 CO2+6 H20 -> C6 H12 06 (glucose)+6 C02

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Producers

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Use photosynthesis (reduction)
ex. Plants

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CAM plants

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(Crassulacean) Cacti, stoncrop, succelents.
Open their stomates at NIGHT.
Thus not using C02, which they store.

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C4 Plants

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plants in hot climates. Ex. corn, sugarcane, many grasses.

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Products of photosynthesis:

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=glucose+O2

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Products of respiration:

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=CO2+H2O+cellular energy

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Respiration

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(oxidation)- utilizes glucose to make cellular energy (ATP)
gluecose+O2 -> CO2+H2O+cellular energy (ATP)

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Littoral Zone

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is the shallow zone around the edge of a lake/pond; within one finds rooted vegetation...
ex. water lilies & pickerelweed.

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Lakes

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Limnetic Zone
(aka pelagic)

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is where the producers are floating, single-celled algea (phytoplankton).

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LAKES

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Benthic Zone

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are the sediments found at the bottom of lakes & ponds.
This provides habitat for burrowing animals & micro-organisms.

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LAKES

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Estuaries

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are found at the mouths of rivers, espically where the outflow is partically enclosed by landforms or barrier islands. "Brackish water"
-UNIQUE: because they are a mixture of fresh & salt water.
HIGH biological productivity

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Streams/rivers

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are LOTIC systems (due to flowing/moving fresh water).

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Riffles

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is where water runs rapidly over a rocky substratum.
Unproductive areariffles.
- high O2
-little sedimentation
-fast flow

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Pools

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which are DEEPER streches of more slowely moving water.
Unproductive area

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Riparian Zone

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zone of terrestrial vegetation that is influenced by seasonal flooding & elevated water tables. Streams are borded by this zone.

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STREAMS

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El Nino

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a WARM (water)/countercurrent that moves down the coast toward Peru.
-more El Nino than La N.
-"We" get wet & cooler weather.
Galapagos under ENSO='feast' greener & more abundant life.

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ENSO

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El Nino-Southern Oscilliation

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La Nina

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is a peroid of COLD currents with STRONG trade winds that accentutate normal ocean surface & upwelling currents.

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Char. of La Nina

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-Heavy rainfall
-drought in north. temp regions
-increase in hurricane activity in North Atlantic Ocean
-COLD currents
-landscape is dry & dead

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Coriolis Efect

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causes winds & currents to veer to the RIGHT in the Northern Hemisphere and to the LEFT in the Southern Hemisphere

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Natural Selection

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is a change in frequency of genic traits in a population, through diffrent survial & reproduction of INDIVIDUALS bearing that trait.

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Evolution

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change in a POPULATIONS gene pool.

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Acclimatization

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a reversible change in the morphology or physiology o an organism in response to environmental change.

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Adaptions

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are modifications of structure & function that better suit an organism for life in its environment.

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Phenotypic Plasticity
i.e Cactus Wren

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the genetically based capacity of an individual to respond to environmental varation by changing its form, function or behivor.

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Semelparity

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LONG lived organisms that die after ONE reproductive attempt.
i.e.Salmon, Agave

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Darwin's Finches

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story of evolution of Finich population.
Durring La Nina (dry/dead)= seed abundence DECREASED, along with population.
Over the 2 yr. pd- the size of the beak had "evolved"

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Spring Overturn

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spring=vertical mixing in temp. lake, as surface ice melts
& surface water warms & sinks.
this is the MOST productive times in a lake.
Lots of nutrients!

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Gulf Stream

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Warm ocean current water, along eastern coast of US up to Irland.
Conveyor belt of heat from the tropics to the nothern hemisphere.

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Upwelling

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divergent currents, where the ocean hits the continent.

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Rain Shadow Effect

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created by mountains. More rainfall on.....

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Biomes

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communities based on dominate plant form, which is determined by climate, topography & soil.

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Convergent Evolution

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similar structure due to SHARED evolution.
-Succulent plants show convergent evolution – similar structure due to shared evolutionary pressure not shared common ancestry.
ex- Mexico/Africa (similar looking plants) but one in desert other in shrubland biome.
ex- Sugar Maple, diffrent "Acer" species. Diffrent physical requirements (ecological tolerance)

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Major terrestial biomes defined by 2 key characteristics:

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temperature & precipitation

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Hadley Cells...(influence rainfall)

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-tropics=HIGH rainfall
-Cool dry air moves N & S, dense and falls back at 30ºN & S. (creates subtropical HIGH pressure belts)
-Falling air warms, sucks up moisture. Major deserts 30° N & 30° S
-Pattern repeats between 30°- 60° and between 60° & poles

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Eddies & Pools

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Have...
-lower O2
-high organic material
-slow movement

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Aquatic biomes

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are defined by salinity, water movement & depth.
-stream organisms are the "mushrooms" of decomposers.

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Fall Overturn

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the vertical mixing of water layers in a temperate lake in fall following the breakdown of thermal stratification as the surface waters cools & sinks.
-LOTS of nutreints!!

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Overcome Water Potential

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1st Osmosis= movement of water from an area of LOW solute concentration to HIGH solute concentration.
2nd Root Hairs= permeable to water & dissolved nutrients but not to intercellular

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Soil Composition

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sand= LARGEST particles
silt= medium particles
clay= SMALLEST particles

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pH Scale

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measured acidity-such as the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution is reffered to its acidity

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Clay Particles

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are SMALL therefor hold water TIGHTLY, creating LESS water available to plants.

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Leaf Surface

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covered in stomates, which open for photosynthesis.
(Gaurd cells open & close)

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Transpiration

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evaporation of water from leaf cells & other parts of plants.

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Adaptions of plants & their soils

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-Desert = sand = "fleshy" vegatation (cactus)
-Rainforest = NOT drownd = compeating for nutrients
-Old Forest = WATER Logged, "knee"

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C3

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Terrestrial plants show adaptations in photosynthetic processes too --> C3.
-To function need saturated CO2 ->
-leave stomates open to get enough...BUT needs A LOT of water!
-Advantage – lots of photosynthetic cells, maximize photosynthesis BUT LOSE WATER!

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Most producers are green, WHY?

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Absorption spectrum for chlorophyll & carotenoids.
-lose leafs so tree's don't have to CONTINUALLY make food.

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Homeostasis

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is the ability to maintain constant internal environment - generally based on negative feedback loops

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Conduction

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heat gain and loss from contact (air vs water)
-transfer of heat between substances.

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Convection

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transfer of heat by movement of a fluid, such as air OR water.

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Evaporation

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transformation of water from the liquid to the gas state w/ the input of heat energy.

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What are some connections (concerning 'ecology') represented in, "There's Hair in My Dirt"?

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-adding or taking organisms from their ecosystem can distrube the entire community
-that ingorant human interaction with the natural world only causes corruption
-disruption of organisms niche's
-that the worms are decomposers

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Ecological Systems

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-organism
-population
-community
-ecosystem
-biosphere

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Solar Equator

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The parallel of latitude lying directly under sun's zenith.
This variation causes complex sesonal patterns of percipitation along EQUATOR