Ecology And The Biosphere

Front 1

ecology

Back 1

the scientific study of interactions between organisms and the environment
-oikos=home
-logos=to study

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ecology is the study of factors thats...

Back 2

determine the distribution and abundance of organisms

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Ecologists study how interactions between organisms and the environment affect...

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1. Number of species in particular area
2. Cycling of nutrients
3. Growth of populations

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Ecology involves both

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observations and experiments

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What are links between ecology and evolutionary biology?

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1. Animals eat plants, which reduces biomass and may cause plant death
2. Plants evolve physical and chemical defenses

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abiotic environment

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non living (chemical and physical)
-Temperature, light, water, nutrients

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biotic environment

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living component (all of the organisms)

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Whats the RELATIVE influence of abiotic and biotic factors?

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-What factors affect distribution? (Where?)
-What factors affect abundance? (How many?)

Amount and variability of precipitation appears to affect distribution
-Does climate interact with pathogens, parasites, competitors, and predators to influence abundance?

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What are subfields of ecology?

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Organismal, Population, Landscape, Ecosystem, Community

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Difference between ecology and environmentalism?

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ECOLOGY provides the scientific understanding underlying environmental issues

ENVIRONMENTALISM involves advocacy for environmental protection

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Precautionary Principle

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If an action may cause serious or irreversible harm, then the burden of proof falls on those who advocate taking the action

-relevant to: climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, food security, release of GMO's

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Levels of organization from most inclusive to lease inclusive

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ecosystem, community, population, individual

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biogeography

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the science that attempts to document and understand spatial patterns of biological diversity
-study of past and present distribution of species

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What are factors limiting species distribution?

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Abiotic:
-overview
-climate change

Biomes
-Aquatic
-Terrestrial

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Dispersal

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the movement of individuals away from their area of origin

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ABIOTIC FACTORS: energy, water, substrate

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Energy: sunlight, temp, wind
Water: moisture, temp
Substrate: composition, nutrient content, pH

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What are major components of climate?

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Temperature, water, sunlight, wind

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What are regional, local, and seasonal effects on climate?

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bodies of water, mountains, seasonality, microclimate, long term climate change

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Two types of climate

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Macroclimate and Microclimate

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Macroclimate

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global, regional, local level

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Microclimate

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fine-scale patterns (ex. organisms that live beneath a fallen log)

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Temperature and water vary

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across the earth's surface

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Global climate patterns are largely determined by...

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input of solar energy and Earth's movement in space

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Sunlight intensity

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Latitudinal variation: due to earth's curved shape, most heat and light falls on tropical latitudes

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Seasons are caused by

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the tilt of the earth as it revolves around the sun

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warmer air ________ water, and cooling ____________ water, causing__________

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absorbs

releases

more rain at some latitudes

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where do deserts occur?

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30 degrees latitude

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Effect of large bodes of water on climates

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1. Warm air over land rises
2. Air cools at high elevation
3. Cooler air sinks over water
4. Cool air over water moves inland

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Mountains and climate

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North versus south facing slopes receive different amounts of sunlight, which affect species distribution

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Effects of mountains on climate

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Wind patterns interact with mountains to cause more rain on windward sides, RAIN SHADOWS on lee sides

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South facing slopes in the N hemisphere receive ________ sunlight than North facing slopes-warmer and drier

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MORE

Front 32

Air cycle in mountains

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When warm, moist air approaches a mountain, the air rises and cools, releasing moisture on the windward side of the peak.

On the leeward side, cooler, dry air descends, absorbing moisture and producing a "rain shadow"

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MICROCLIMATES

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within a region or habitat, climate factors can vary dramatically
-these form small areas with distinct microclimates or microhabitats

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BIOME

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major types of ecological associations that occupy broad geographic regions of land or water

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What are the 2 types of biomes?

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Aquatic and Terrestrial

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Abiotic and biotic factors affect ______ and _____ of aquatic biomes

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structure and dynamics

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Two types of aquatic biomes:

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Freshwater: salt <1%

Marine: salt about 3%

(marine biomes cover 75% of earth)

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Aquatic biomes are physically and chemically stratified:

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Photic zone

Benthic zone

Pelagic zone

Intertidal zone

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Photo zone

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sufficient light for photosynthesis

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Benthic zone

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substrate at the bottom

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Pelagic zone

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open water

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intertidal zone

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periodically submerged and exposed by the tides

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Terrestrial biomes

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Desert

Temperate grassland

Tropical forest

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In Terr. Biomes, distribution of biomes is driven largely by:

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CLIMATE: temperature and precipitation

other factors: bedrock, topography, TIMING of precipitation

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The structure and distribution of terrestrial biomes are controlled by...

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climate and distribution