Ecology and Ecological Health
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Ecology Defined
Biochemical Cycles: The Carbon Cycle
Energy Flow Through a Community or Ecosystem
Symbiotic Relationships
Ecological Succession
Environmental Problems and Issues
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Deforestation
Eutrophication
Water pollution
Biomagnification
Air pollution
Atmospheric Problems
• Acid Rain
• Ozone Depletion
• Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming
– Renewable Energy Sources
– Biodiversity Loss
– Human Population Density
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What We Can Do
Ecology
= Study of the interaction of living and nonliving things
Sun
Biotic (living)
factors
Abiotic (non-living factors)
Food Chain
Less biomass,
fewer organisms
Quaternary consumer- carnivore
Tertiary consumer –carnivore
Secondary consumer-carnivore
Primary consumer-herbivore
Primary producer
Pyramid of energy
(autotroph)
Quaternary consumer
Tertiary consumer
The more biodiversity, the more complex the food web and
the more stable the community is.
Symbiotic Relationships
Flea sucking blood from a dog
Barnacles on a whale
Mycorrhizal fungi on pine
seedling roots
Lamprey eels attached to fish
Clown fish among sea
anemone tentacles
Ants living on an acacia tree
Parasitism
Commensalism
Mutualism
One party benefits
One party is harmed
One party benefits
One party is unaffected
Both parties benefit
Ecological Succession
Primary succession: progressive replacement of communities starting with bare rock (no soil); e.g after a glacier recedes
Secondary succession: replacement of communities starting with soil but no vegetation (e.g. after forest fire, bulldozing)
Deforestation
Human Impact and Global Concerns
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Flow of Energy; Food Chains
Deforestation
Eutrophication
Water pollution: Controlling Human Waste
Biomagnification
Air pollution
Atmospheric Problems
– Acid Rain
– Ozone Depletion
– Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming
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Renewable Energy Sources
Biodiversity Loss
Human Population Density
What We Can Do
Eutrophication
Fertilizer run-off stimulates plant growth, decomposition, and loss of oxygen
Sewage Treatment Encourages
Eutrophication in a Controlled Setting to
Reduce Nitrates and Phosphates
Human Impact and Global Concerns
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Flow of Energy; Food Chains
Deforestation
Eutrophication
Water pollution: Controlling Human Waste
Biomagnification
Air pollution
Atmospheric Problems
– Acid Rain
– Ozone Depletion
– Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming
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Renewable Energy Sources
Biodiversity Loss
Human Population Density
What We Can Do
Biomagnification of Pollutant Concentrations
Pollutants are toxic in high concentrations per gram of tissue
Human Impact and Global Concerns
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Flow of Energy; Food Chains
Deforestation
Eutrophication
Water pollution: Controlling Human Waste
Biomagnification
Air pollution
Atmospheric Problems
– Acid Rain
– Ozone Depletion
– Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming
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Renewable Energy Sources
Biodiversity Loss
Human Population Density
What We Can Do
Acid Rain
Damaging Effects of UV Light from
Chlorofluorocarbon Destruction of Ozone
Ozone Depletion
Carbon Dioxide and World Average
Temperature Increases
The Greenhouse Effect of Carbon Dioxide
Biggest contributor
to atmospheric
CO2
Human Impact and Global Concerns
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Flow of Energy; Food Chains
Deforestation
Eutrophication
Water pollution: Controlling Human Waste
Biomagnification
Air pollution
Atmospheric Problems
– Acid Rain
– Ozone Depletion
– Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming
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Renewable Energy Sources
Biodiversity Loss
Human Population Density
What We Can Do
Need for Renewable, Non-Fossil Fuel Sources of Energy
Loss of Biodiversity Makes Ecosystems More Fragile
Loss of habitat, introduction of alien species
Increasing likelihood of catastrophic failure of ecosystem
Population Density: The Major Factor in Environmental Impact
The US “Lower 48” land mass
The US “Lower 48” scaled on population density
Human Impact and Global Concerns
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Flow of Energy; Food Chains
Deforestation
Eutrophication
Water pollution: Controlling Human Waste
Biomagnification
Air pollution
Atmospheric Problems
– Acid Rain
– Ozone Depletion
– Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming
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Renewable Energy Sources
Biodiversity Loss
Human Population Density
What We Can Do
Managing Solid Waste
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Precycling
Limiting what and how much you
buy based on packaging
Basic Steps Towards Environmental
Stewardship
1. Reduce, reuse, recycle
2. Precycle, exercise product choice
3. Use ecologically sensitive transportation (reduce CO2,
oil, antifreeze releases)
4. Reduce chemical use (solvents, paints, pesticides,
herbicides)
5. Eat lower on the food chain
6. Advocate sustainable and renewable practices
7. Get involved in community habitat restoration (e.g.
www.hylebos.org)
Environmental Stewardship: Getting Involved