Ecology Part 4. Populations Part 5. Communities Part 6. Biodiversity and Conservation
Population Ecology: Population Growth Models Population Limiting Factors Population growth models Logistic Growth Model Often called the S-shaped growth curve Occurs when a population s growth slows or stops following exponential growth. Growth stops at the population s carrying capacity Populations stop increasing when: Birth rate is less than death rate (Birth rate < Death rate) Emigration exceeds Immigration (Emigration > Immigration)
Population Ecology: Population Growth Models Population Limiting Factors Population growth models Logistic Growth Model The S-curve is not as pretty as the image looks 1. Carrying capacity can be raised or lowered. How? Example 1: Artificial fertilizers have raised k Example 2: Decreased habitat can lower k 2. Populations don t reach k as smoothly as in the logistic graph. Boom-and-Bust Cycles Predator-Prey Cycles
Community Ecology: Communities Communities Review: A community is a group of interacting populations that occupy the same area at the same time.
Community Ecology: Communities Communities Limiting Factors Any abiotic or biotic factor that restricts the numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms.
Community Ecology: Communities Communities Range of Tolerance The limits within which an organism can exist.
Community Ecology: Ecological Succession Ecological Succession Ecological Succession The change in an ecosystem that happens when one community replaces another as a result of changing biotic and abiotic factors
Community Ecology: Ecological Succession Ecological Succession Ecological Succession Consists of 2 types: Primary Succession Secondary Succession
Community Ecology: Ecological Succession: Primary Succession Ecological Succession Ecological Succession: Primary The establishment of a community in an area of exposed rock that does not have topsoil is called Primary Succession. It occurs very slowly at first
Community Ecology: Ecological Succession: Primary Succession Ecological Succession Ecological Succession: Primary The first organisms to arrive are usually lichens or mosses, which are called pioneer species. They secrete acids that can break down rock Their dead, decaying organic materials, along with bits of sediment from the rock make up soil.
Community Ecology: Ecological Succession: Primary Succession Ecological Succession Ecological Succession: Primary Small weedy plants and other organisms become established. As these organisms die, additional soil is created
Community Ecology: Ecological Succession: Primary Succession Ecological Succession Ecological Succession: Primary Seeds brought in by animals, water and wind begin to grow in the soil. Eventually enough soil is present for shrubs and trees to grow.
Community Ecology: Ecological Succession: Primary Succession Ecological Succession Ecological Succession: Primary The stable, mature community that eventually develops from bare rock is called a climax community.
Community Ecology: Ecological Succession: Secondary Succession Ecological Succession Ecological Succession: Secondary Disturbances (fire, flood, windstorms) can disrupt a community. After a disturbance, new species of plants and animals might occupy the habitat.
Community Ecology: Ecological Succession: Secondary Succession Ecological Succession Ecological Succession: Secondary Pioneer species in secondary succession are usually plants that begin to grow in the disturbed area. This is much faster than primary succession
Community Ecology: Ecological Succession Ecological Succession Ecological Succession: End point? Cannot be predicted Different rates of growth & human involvement make it impossible to know if a true climax community has been reached.
Biodiversity and Conservation: Introduction On the left side of your IntNB, address the following: What would happen if all of the jackrabbits in a food web died suddenly? Is the disappearance of one species from Earth important, or will another species fill its niche?
Biodiversity and Conservation: What is biodiversity? What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity The variety of life in an area that is determined by the number of different species in that area. There are 2 main types: Genetic Diversity Species Diversity
Madagascar Periwinkle: Used to treat childhood forms of leukemia Biodiversity and Conservation: Why is biodiversity important? Biodiversity Penicillin: Derived from bread mold Teosinte: A distant relative of corn Domestic corn plant
Biodiversity and Conservation: Extinctions Extinction Rates The gradual process of becoming extinct is known as background extinction. Mass extinctions: When a large percentage of all living species become extinct in a relatively short period of time. 250 MYA: Over 90% of species died
Biodiversity and Conservation: Extinctions Group Estimated number of Extinctions since Mainland 1600 Island Ocean Total Approximate Number of Species Percent of Group Extinct Mammals 30 51 4 85 4000 2.1 Birds 21 92 0 113 9000 1.3 Reptiles 1 20 0 21 6300 0.3 Amphibians 2 0 0 2 4200 0.05 Fish 22 1 0 23 19,100 0.1 Invertebrates 49 48 1 98 1,000,000+ 0.01 Flowering Plants 245 139 0 384 250,000 0.2
Biodiversity and Conservation: Extinctions Five Most Recent Mass Extinctions Cretaceous Period (65 MYA) Triassic Period (200 MYA) Permian Period (250 MYA) Devonian Period (360 MYA) Ordovician Period (444 MYA)
Activity: Understanding Geological Time Working in your groups, you will get the following supplies: A meter stick A roll of 5 meters of paper Colored pencils Using the worksheet, plot out the dates. 1 million years is a millimeter 1 billion years is a meter