Ecology and The BiosphereCh. 49

What is Ecology?• Ecology study of all living

things on Earth and their environments

• What are the two types of factors in an environment?– Biotic and Abiotic

• Biosphere Earth1) Hydrosphere all water 2) Lithosphere all rocks/dirt3) Atmosphere all gases

Types of Ecology• Basic ecology studying species

interactions and trends• Applied ecology programs to prevent or

repair ecological damage (mostly by humans)

• 6 Levels of Ecological Classification:1) Biosphere Earth2) Biome climate regions3) Ecosystem movement of nutrients and

energy in an area4) Community all populations in an

environment5) Population one group of one species6) Individual one member of a

population

Climate of an Ecosystem• Climate abiotic factors creating the

weather conditions that last for extended periods

• Influences On Climate:1) Solar Radiation different latitudes

receive different amounts and strengths of sunlight– 23.5o tilt creates season everywhere but

the tropics near the equator (between Tropic if Cancer and Capricorn lines)

2) Air Circulation rotation of Earth causes wind as warm air raises at the equator and cools as it moves to the poles– Low-latitude cell 0o-30o; Wind move East

to West– Mid-latitude cell 30o-60o; Wind moves

West to East– Polar cell above 60o; Wind moves East to

West

Climate of an Ecosystem3) Precipitation warm air hold more water, so air near the equator carries moisture form oceans N and S– Adiabatic cooling lowering

temperature without losing energy

– Topography also influences rainfall; typically clouds cool as that hit mountains resulting in heavy rain

– Rain shadow warming, water absorbing air after crossing a mountain

Climate of an Ecosystem4) Ocean Currents wind, rotation of the Earth, and gravity stir the oceans generally clockwise in the North and counterclockwise in the South– Influenced greatly by land

masses; influence climate of land near the ocean (maritime climates)

– Continental climate too far from the ocean to be directly influenced

Climate and Behavior• Organisms must adapt to their

environment so climate can effect behavior patterns

• Hertz and Huey discovered populations of lizards increase the amount of time resting in the sun as they more higher in altitude

• ESSAY!!!• Research one observed change

in animal behavior that is believed to be caused by change in climate/environment– NO CHINESE REFERENCES– DUE NEXT TUESDAY

Freshwater Environments: Lotic• Any watery environment with a

salt conc. below 0.5%• Wetlands land areas underwater;

great source of nutrients• Lotic flowing water• 3 Habitats of Lotic water:1) Riffles shallow, fast, and

turbulent2) Pools deep, slow, smooth3) Runs deep, fast, smooth• Streams less nutrients, cooler,

smaller sources; more O2

• Rivers more nutrients, warmer, large meeting point of many sources; less O2

Freshwater Environments: Lentic• Lentic stagnant water• 2 zones horizontally:

– Littoral shallow end; full penetrated by light

– Limnetic deep end; only top is penetrated by light; Dark bottom Profundal zone

• 2 zones vertically:– Photic penetrated by light– Aphotic not penetrated by light

• Oligotrophic poor in nutrients, rich in O2, clear

• Eutrophic high in nutrients, less O2 on the bottom; seasonal algae blooms; cloudy

Freshwater Environments: Temperate Lakes• 4 season bring 4 stages of a lake

ecosystem• Winter top layer freezes as ice

floats; top near 0o while bottom is kept near 4o

• Spring ice melts and dense cold water sinks (taking O2) as warm water rises (taking nutrients); Spring overturn– Brief period water is uniform

temperature • Summer Epilimnion heats surface

water while hypolimnion cools bottom– Thermocline barrier between regions

• Fall surface water cools and sinks (autumn overturn)

Homework• Suggested Homework:– Test Your Knowledge

• Actual Homework:– Discuss the Concepts #2– Apply Evolutionary

Thinking– Due Tuesday

• Essay! Due Tuesday