Transcript Ecology - plant phys

Ecology
The interaction of an organism
and its environment
Biology is multidimensional
Cell
Tissue
Organ
Organ System
Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
This array is an example of what dimension?
Levels of Organization
What fields of biology are at each extreme?
Biochemistry and Biophysics
In this course our focus will be upon…
The Plant!
Ecosphere
What is the
white mass at
the top?
What season is
it in
Connecticut?
What are the
white swirls?
Where is the
equator?
http://www.solstation.com/stars/earth.jpg
What is the big
green-brown
body in the
upper half?
What is one source for the water?
http://www.theexplorationplace.com/eforest/satellitepic.jpg
Biome: deciduous forest biome
http://www.natureconservancy.ca/images/upload/ATLNB%20%20Saint%20John%20River%20Hardwood%20Forest%20-%20Aerial%20%20Communications%20NB%2072%20DPI%20RGB%20JPG.jpg
Ecosystems: forest, riverine, old field, disturbed
Forest ecosystem: a community of trees
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/forestry/images/panama_forest.jpg
What are the different colors and shapes?
What are we not seeing without a closer look?
http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/blabea2s.jpg
Forest Community: What do producer, consumer, decomposer mean?
http://www.fountainforestry.com/Dunn.JPG
Population of trees--OK only if ONE species? Is that valid?
Why is this
one tree so
different from
those
individuals in
the previous
picture?
http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pages/maple_sugar/tree.jpg
Organism: one tree
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/images/acru6.jpg
Organ System: branch with stem, buds, petioles, leaves
blade
petiole
http://canada.culminis.com/canada/Silver%20Maple%20Leaf.JPG
Organ: one leaf
Tissues: epidermis, palisade and spongy mesophyll, xylem, phloem
epidermis
palisade mesophyll
photosynthesis
xylem
water and mineral intake
phloem
sugar and amino acid export
spongy mesophyll
evaporative cooling (photosynthesis)
epidermis
regulates water loss and gas exchange
http://gecko.gc.maricopa.edu/~lsola/Leaf/Leafxs.jpg
window, lens
Cell: a mesophyll protoplast (Cell wall was digested off by cellulase)
cell membrane
import/export
chloroplast
photosynthesis
vacuole
toxic waste processing
cytosol
fermentation glycolysis
http://www.botany.wisc.edu/images/mesophyll-protoplast_lg.jpg
nucleus
transcription
replication
Organelles: endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, mitochondrion, oleosome
endoplasmic
reticulum
nucleus
transcription, replication
DNA
http://www.tmd.ac.jp/artsci/biol/textbook/nucleus.gif
internal transport
zymogen granule
enzyme protein storage
and secretion compartment
mitochondrion
respiration
Macromolecular: DNA
ribose sugar
(green white)
phosphate
nitrogenous bases
(blue green white red)
http://sbchem.sunysb.edu/msl/dna.gif
(yellow red)
Environmental Requirements For Plants
Water (H2O)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Sunlight and Heat
Minerals (most from soil)
Macroelements (above plus:)
N=nitrogen P=phosphorus K=potassium
Ca=calcium Mg=magnesium
Fe=iron S=sulfur
Microelements (enzyme cofactors)
Co Mn Cu Zn Si Mo B Al Cl
http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/blabea2s.jpg
Forest Community Trophic Levels:
What do producer, consumer, decomposer mean?
Food Web and Trophic Pyramid
Energy lost at
each transition
and with “life
cost” at each
level
energy processed
2° Carnivores 10 kcal m-2 yr-1
1° Carnivores 400
Herbivores 4,000
Producers 21,000
Food Web and Trophic Pyramid
plants outweigh
all consumers
combined!
biomass
1° Carnivores 0.1 g DW m-2
Herbivores 0.6
Producers 470.0
Food Web and Trophic Pyramid
Which trophic
level has the
higher rates of
growth and/or
reproduction?
biomass
Zooplankton 21g DW m-2
Phytoplankton 4
What happens if I use “weed
and feed” on my lawn?
Food Web and Trophic Pyramid
This might be
expected for a
grasslands
ecosystem
population size
2° Carnivores
1° Carnivores
Herbivores
Producers
Food Web and Trophic Pyramid
This might be
expected for a
tropical singletree ecosystem
population size
2° Carnivores
1° Carnivores
Herbivores
Producer
What is the compensating factor making this stable?
If the tree is unique in a very diverse tropical rainforest,
if the associated species have obligate relationships,
what happens if we “harvest” this one tree?
Competition:
Spirodela is excluded by Lemna when grown together
Did/Will you observe
competitive exclusion in
the arboretum?
Spirodela http://www.univ-ubs.fr/ecologie/Photos/lemna.jpg
Allelopathy: chemical
inhibition of other
organisms nearby.
Lemna http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/Lemna_graphics_New/L_gibba2.jpg
Symbiosis: Mutualism
Legume - Rhizobium
Pollinator - Flowering plant
Ant - Acacia
Trees - Mycorrhizal fungi
Lichen
http://faculty.vassar.edu/suter/1websites/osawa/photography/images/lichenfoliose.jpg
Symbiosis: Commensalism
Tree - Vitis labrusca
http://www.all-creatures.org/pica/ftshl-grape-24.jpg
Symbiosis: Parasitism
Vitis labrusca - Phylloxera infestans
http://ohioline.osu.edu/b919/images/919_080.jpg
Symbiosis: Herbivory
Ungulate or Rodent - Plant
http://www.gri.msstate.edu/research/cmdmn/im
ages/cactoblastis.jpg
Opuntia - Cactoblastis cactorum - Cyclura rileyi
http://www.oceanoasis.org/fieldguide/images/opun-lag-fruit-rebman.jpg
http://www.falle.de/scripts/fleischfresser/fallen_dionaea_z.jpg
Symbiosis: Carnivory
Carnivorous plant - Animal
Succession: Primary
Pioneer Species colonizing rock, creating soil
Succession: Secondary
Successional Seres: Old Field going back to Forest
http://www.freewebs.com/kingsprovince/Old%20field.jpg
Is a Climax Community a valid concept? (Chestnut, Dogwood)
Terrestrial Landmarks and Photoperiod Swings
The sun passes directly overhead for
more days per year than anywhere else
Minimal photoperiod swings
The sun passes directly
overhead only one day
per year
Tropical Climate
Photoperiod swings
The sun fails to rise at
least one day per year
Extreme photoperiod
swings
Effect of Latitude and Solar Incidence
Effect of Latitude, Longitude (proximity to water)
How harsh is the winter in Willimantic, Connecticut?
Effect of Latitude
H
30°N
L
westerlies
horse latitudes
NE trade winds
0°
equatorial doldrums
SE trade winds
horse latitudes
westerlies
30°S
H
L
• The thin white line
around the earth is its
atmosphere!
• Air pockets called “cells”
have the circulation
indicated by arrows.
• Arrows coming down
indicate high pressure,
less precipitation.
• Arrows pointing outward
indicate low pressure,
and high precipitation.
• Pattern repeated in
Southern Hemisphere
(not shown)
Effect of Elevation
Biomes on Earth
Biome
Temperature
Precipitation
Key Plants
Other Features
Rainforest
High
High
Broadleaf evergreen trees,
epiphytes, lianas (vines)
The soils are infertile and the
species diversity is very high
Savannas and
Deciduous
Tropical Forest
High
Seasonal
Drought
Grasslands with scattered
broadleaf deciduous shrubs
and trees
Periodic fire is common, C4
photosynthesis
Desert
High
Low but a
"wet" season
Succulents and some annual
herbs
Small/no leaves, thick waxy
cuticles, hairy epidermi, CAM
photosynthesis
Grasslands
Temperate
Moderate Low
Perennial bunch and sod
grasses
Land exploited for crops
Temperate
deciduous
forest
Temperate
Moderate Even
Deciduous trees and
perennial herbs
Obvious herbaceous plants
vary with season
Temperate
mixed and
conifer forests
Moderate
Moderate
Mixtures of broadleaf and
conifers
Transition between temperate
and taiga, soils are infertile
Mediterranean
scrub
Temperate
moist winter
dry summer
Evergreen and summer
deciduous trees and shrubs,
thicket/coppice
Also known as chaparral (NW)
and maquis (OW)
Taiga
Severe temperate
Moderate Low
Coniferous forest
Soils are acid and infertile,
possible permafrost
Low
Very low shrubs, grasses,
lichens, herbs
Permafrost present in soil,
much plant biomass is below
ground
Tundra
Extreme temperate