I ntr oduction to E cology
BIO101 Fall 2011
Key Terms:
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Landscape
Biotic
Abiotic
Dispersal
Climate
Biome
Benthic
Pelagic
Photic
Aphotic
Littoral
Limnetic
Thermocline
Estuary
Neritic zone
Savanna
Chaparral
Temperate
Tropical
Tiaga
Tundra
Key Questions:
• How do ecology and environmental science differ?
• How does climate differ from weather? What influences each?
• What biotic and abiotic factors influence biomes?
• What are the key differences between biomes?
Lecture Outline:
What is Ecology?
Organismal Ecology – focus on the individual’s adaptations. structure, physiology, behavior
Population Ecology – focus on group of one species in one area at one time
Community Ecology – interactions of all species in one area at one time
Ecosystem Ecology – how physical factors affect the community.
Landscape Ecology – mosaic of connected ecosystems & how the ecosystems interact
Global Ecology – full planet
Ecology vs. Environmental Science
What controls where species are found?
biogeography – ie, distribution of species, past and present
not only where they are but why they are in place A but not in place B
optimal range is called an organism’s fundamental niche
dispersal – movement of organisms away from their initial location
controlled by two groups of factors: biotic and abiotic
Climate and weather
Biotic and abiotic factors collaborate to define different regions
Aquatic Biomes. both freshwater and saltwater (marine)
Benthic Zone: bottom surface of lake, river, ocean. unique community at earth/water interface
Pelagic Zone: water above the benthic zone
Photic Zone: effective light penetration allowing photosynthesis
Aphotic Zone: little light. generally insufficient for photosynthesis
Lakes – standing bodies of water. highly variable size.
Littoral zone is shallow enough for rooted plants (usually close to shore)
Limnetic zone is too deep for rooted plants
Wetlands – inundated with water at least some of the time. no limnetic zone
Streams/Rivers – highly variable flow rates, dramatically affecting abiotic factors and community
Estuaries – transition between river and sea
Intertidal zone – may or may not be submerged by ocean, depending on tides
Ocean Pelagic zone – ie open ocean.
Coral Reefs
Marine Benthic Zone – ocean bottoms
Terrestrial Biomes
Tropical Forest – in the tropics (b/w 23.5oN and 23.5oS latitudes)
Deserts – precipitation less than 30cm per year. Temp may be hot or cold
Savanna – usually in equatorial and subequatorial regions.
Chaparral – midlatitudes, near coasts.
Temperate Grasslands – wetter than savanna or chaparral
Temperate Broadleaf Forests
Taiga – aka Northern Coniferous Forest.
Tundra – High winds, low temps. large areas of the arctic