spheres evolution biomes Geosphere rock & soil Pedosphere Millions of microorganisms Minerals/Nutrients oxygen (O), silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) Decaying organic matter (humus) Void space water Void space air Pedosphere: soil properties Porosity Permeability Color Grain size Soil Texture ph - Acid, < 7.0 - Alkaline, > 7.0 Soil horizons O - surface litter layer Fresh at surface, decomposed at depth Humus provides N, K, binds particles, enhances soil moisture retention A - topsoil layer Beginning of true soil Dark in color Mixture of organic / inorganic products Most productive layer E - Eluviation layer Light colored Active leaching soluble minerals and nutrients carried downward B Subsoil, Illuviation Dense Lower in organic matter than A Zone of accumulation C - Substratum Pedosphere: soil profiles 1
Atmosphere Biosphere Universe Galaxies Solar systems Ecology Biosphere Planets Earth Ecosystems Communities Organ systems Organs Tissues Cells Populations Protoplasm Molecules Atoms Organisms species Subatomic Particles Ecosystem dynamics Food chain and trophic levels Producer Oxygen (O 2 ) Sun Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) First Trophic Level Producers (plants) Second Trophic Level Primary consumers (herbivores) Third Trophic Fourth Trophic Level Level Secondary Tertiary consumers consumers (carnivores) (top carnivores) Secondary consumer Primary (fox) consumer (rabbit) Solar energy Producers Soil decomposers Water Detritivores (decomposers and detritus feeders) Autotrophs (producers) Sun Quantifying productivity Light Reactions - Chlorophyll molecules absorb photons - Excited electrons make ATP - Photons split H 2 O to make H + and O 2 - H + used to make NADPH - O 2 released Dark Reactions - CO 2, NADPH, ATP used to make glucose Chlorophyll H 2 O Light-dependent O 2 Reaction Energy storage and release Chloroplast in leaf cell Gross primary productivity (gc/m 2 /yr) - rate at which producers turn solar energy to biomass Net primary productivity - rate at which producers turn solar energy to biomass minus respiration - energy available to consumers CO 2 Lightindependent reaction Glucose 2
Quantifying productivity Ecosystem interactions Quantifying productivity Swamps and marshes Tropical rain forest Temperate forest North. coniferous forest Savanna Agricultural land Woodland and shrubland Temperate grassland Tundra (arctic and alpine) Desert scrub Extreme desert Estuaries Lakes and streams Continental shelf Open ocean Terrestrial Ecosystems Aquatic Ecosystems Source: NASA Average net primary productivity (kcal/m 2 /yr) Heterotrophs (consumers) Herbivores Heterotrophs (consumers) Carnivores Detrivores (specialized consumers) Ecosystem dynamics Biodiversity What does biodiversity do for us? How do we as a species affect biodiversity? How do we protect biodiversity? 3
Nutrient Cycles Nutrient Cycles: Water Rain clouds Precipitation to land Precipitation Runoff Transpiration from plants Condensation Transpiration Surface runoff (rapid) Evaporation from land Evaporation Precipitation Evaporation from ocean Precipitation to ocean Infiltration and Percolation Groundwater movement (slow) Surface runoff (rapid) Ocean storage Nutrient Cycles: Carbon Nutrient Cycles: Nitrogen Nutrient Cycles: Phosphorus Nutrient Cycles: Sulfur 4
Single-cell prokaryotes form in the sea -Bacteria -Archaea Single-cell prokaryotes form in the sea Single-cell eukaryotes form in the seas -Amoebae -Ciliates -Flagellates -Heliozoa Cyanobacteria Credit: Micrographia 2 Amoeba Credit: Micrographia Single-cell prokaryotes form in the sea Single-cell eukaryotes form in the seas Multicellular organisms form in the seas, later on land Single-cell prokaryotes form in the sea Single-cell eukaryotes form in the seas Multicellular organisms form in the seas, later on land Red algae Credit: Berkeley, Palomar College Red algae Humans Credit: Berkeley, Palomar College 5
: Homonids Phylogeny: study of evolutionary relatedness Source: Reed et al., PLOS Biology Credit: NASA : Natural selection : Natural selection genetic variability traits must be heritable trait must lead to differential reproduction genetic variability traits must be heritable trait must lead to differential reproduction leads to adaptations: heritable traits that enable survival and reproduction - Structural, behavioral/sexual, physiological Structural adaptations Fruit and seed eaters Greater Koa-finch Kona Grosbeak Insect and nectar eaters Kuai Akialaoa Amakihi : Genetic variation mutations: random changes in the structure or # of DNA molecules in a cell that can be inherited by offspring Akiapolaau Crested Honeycreeper Maui Parrotbill Apapane Unknown finch ancestor 6
: Genetic variation : Genetic variation mutations: random changes in the structure or # of DNA molecules in a cell that can be inherited by offspring gene flow: introduced genes from a different population (same species) mutations: random changes in the structure or # of DNA molecules in a cell that can be inherited by offspring gene flow: introduced genes from a different population (same species) hybridization: 2 distinct taxa crossbreed to produce fertile offspring : Genetic drift random selection allows maladaptive traits in small populations - probability - chance Worms of different color over 4 generations: Large gene pool - Increases biological fitness of the species Small gene pool - Fewer traits for natural selection - Genetic drift has significant affects - Increased potential of extinction Hunted to near extinction, 30,000 to 1,000 in 1900 Behavioral Physiological Structural Genetic drift Coevolution Speciation through adaptations Speciation through chance/probability Interacting species engage in a back and forth genetic contest Convergent evolution Organisms not closely related, independently evolve similar traits due to similar ecological niches Speciation due to human selection 7
4,600 m (15,000 ft.) 3,000 m (10,000 ft.) 1,500 m (5,000 ft.) Average annual precipitation 100 125 cm (40 50 in.) 75 100 cm (30 40 in.) 50 75 cm (20 30 in.) 25 50 cm (10 20 in.) below 25 cm (0 10 in.) Coastal mountain ranges Sierra Nevada Mountains Great American Desert Rocky Mountains Great Plains Mississippi River Valley Appalachian Mountains Coastal chaparral and scrub Coniferous forest Desert Coniferous forest Prairie grassland Deciduous forest : # mammal species World Wildlife Fund 142 terrestrial ecoregions "geographically distinct assemblage of species, natural communities, and environmental conditions" Olson, BioScience, 2001 8
: # endemic mammal species World Wildlife Fund 142 terrestrial ecoregions Olson, BioScience, 2001 : # mammal species 9