Ecology
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What is ecology?
the science of how organisms interact with each other and their environment
Biotic vs. abiotic factors
biotic: living abiotic: non-living
Ecosystem services
services we can gain from around us
What approaches does modern ecology use?
• observational • experiments • data analysis + statistical modelling • community engagement + diverse knowledge systems
What is distribution and what do ecologists observe about it?
how a population/ species is spatially arranged. Ecologists observe limits to and changes in distributions
How do ecologists examine abundance?
changes in abundance and whether populations are growing or shrinking
Why is ecology important? (NO wrong answer)
to create a sustainable world, to reverse climate change and stop it, to prevent mass extinction and biodiversity loss
How do ecologists address conservation and biodiversity problems?
evaluating effectiveness of conservation strategies ex: do marine protected areas work?
How do ecologists manage environmental issues?
by evaluating the consequences of human activities ex: what effect is climate change having on biodiversity?
How are wildlife and resource management problems addressed?
by evaluating the effectiveness of management strategies ex: when does fishing become overfishing?
What role do ecologists play in pest control?
they create strategies for reducing crop loss ex: why do some insects get out of control?
How are ecologists involved in human health?
they examine how diseases are spread through animals ex: what is the role of climate and how will climate change affect pathogen spread?
What are the levels of ecological study? (from smallest to biggest)
• organism • population • community • ecosystem • landscape/ seascape • global
What has the most significant influence on the distribution of organisms?
climate
What is climate?
the long-term prevailing weather condition in a given area
What makes up a climate?
• temperature • precipitation • sunlight • wind • seasonal patterns
What determines climate? (main climate determinants)
• input of solar radiation • Earth’s movement in space
What determines climate? (climate modifiers)
• large bodies of water • mountain ranges • greenhouse gases
How does solar radiation determine climate?
more direct sunlight results in more heat and light (i.e. equator is hotter than the poles)
Why are deserts mostly found at 30 degrees North/South?
descending air from equator heats up again and evaporates moisture resulting in a dry and hot climate
Why does the equator have high precipitation?
solar radiation drives evaporation, the rising moist air cools and releases moisture as precipitation
How do large bodies of water and mountains modify climate?
• cool, moist air flows from offshore onto land • air warms as it crosses land • air cools as it travels up mountain and releases moisture as precipitation • dry air picks up moisture on other side of mountain
How do greenhouse gases modify the climate?
greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2 and methane) trap heat inside the Earth’s atmosphere
What characterizes a biome?
its climatic features and predominant vegetation