Introductory Ecology

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Introductory Ecology
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Defined

• Ecology is the study of the interactions between
  living organisms and the living (biotic ) and
  non-living (abiotic) components of the ecosystem

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Questions

• Imagine that you are an ecologist.
• What is the most general ecological statement of
  fact that you can make?
• What is a more specific ecological statement that
  you can make regarding life on Earth?

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Examples of Abiotic Factors

• Sunlight
• Oxygen
• Rocks Minerals
• Climate
• Humidity
• Lightning

• Gravity
• Water
• Elevation
• Temperature
• Topography
• Wind

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The Most ImportantAbiotic Factors

• SUNLIGHT

• WATER

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Earths Tilt The Sun

• The distribution and intensity of sunlight is
  dependent on the tilt of Earths axis and its
  position relative to the Sun during its annual
  revolution
• Due to latitudinal difference seasons are
  apparent in the temperate mid-latitudes

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Seasons

• Autumnal or Fall Equinox (September)suns rays
  directly over the Equator
• Winter Solstice (December)suns rays directly
  over the Tropic of Capricorn
• Vernal or Spring Equinox (March)suns rays
  directly over the Equator
• Summer Solstice (June)suns rays directly over
  the Tropic of Cancer

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Air Currents Moistureat the Equator

• Sunlight at the equator cause warm moist air to
  rise
• In the upper atmosphere much of this moist air
  cools, condenses, and falls as rain, while the
  remaining dried air is diverted north and south
• The diverted dry air descends at 30o north and
  south
• This circulation is called a Hadley Cell

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Hadley Cells
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Biomes

• Major types of terrestrial ecosystems that cover
  large regions of Earth
• What biomes are determine by the Hadley cells?
• What happens between these biomes during the
  course of an annual circuit around the sun?

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The Distribution of Other Biomes

• Biome are characterized by the climate (sunlight
  and moisture) and the major type(s) vegetation
  that have adapted to that climate

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Temperature Moisture Gradients
Tundra Tundra Tundra Tundra
Coniferous Forest Coniferous Forest Coniferous Forest Coniferous Forest
Desert Grassland Deciduous Forest Tropical Forest
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Biome Vegetation

• Tundra Grasses, small wildflowers, cushion
  plants, and lichen
• Coniferous Forest Evergreen Needle bearing Trees
• Desert Cactus
• Grassland Grasses
• Deciduous Forest Broadleaf Trees that lose their
  leaves
• Tropical Forest Broadleaf Evergreen Trees