Transcript Ecology PowerPoint Presentation - Dr. Fine`s 8th Grade Science Class

Perturbation of Ecological
Systems
Dr. Debrah Fine
Ecology
• The study of how living things interact with
each other and their non-living environment
– From Greek “oikos,” meaning “home,” and “logy,”
meaning “knowledge.”
Lesson Overview
• I. Types of ecological interactions
• II. Examples of human perturbation of
ecological systems
– Australia
– Hawaii
– New Zealand
• III. What are humans doing now to perturb
the ecosystem?
Types of Social Actions
Effect on
organism 1
Effect on
organism 2
Benefit
Harm
No Effect
Benefit
Mutualism
Predation or
parasitism
Commensalism
Harm
Predation or
parasitism
Competition
Amensalism
No Effect
Commensalism
Amensalism
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Lesson Overview
• I. Types of ecological interactions
• II. Examples of human perturbation of
ecological systems
– Australia
– Hawaii
– New Zealand
• III. What are humans doing now to perturb
the ecosystem?
Rabbits in Australia
• In 1859, Thomas Austin imported and
released 24 rabbits in Australia
• "The introduction of a few rabbits could do
little harm and might provide a touch of
home, in addition to a spot of hunting."
Population Surge
• Since there were few
natural predators to
rabbits in Australia,
their population soared
to an estimated 20
billion by the 1920’s
Why are rabbits such a nuisance?
• Rabbits threaten native mammalian populations
– Support fox and feral cat populations
– Compete with similar sized native mammals for
shelter and food
• Rabbits threaten native plants
– Rabbits feed on seedlings and prevent regeneration
of native trees and shrubs
An Early Attempt at Containment
Myxoma Virus
Development of Resistance to
Myxoma Virus
Resistant
Resistant
Hawaii: Mongoose
• Sugar cane farmers
brought the mongoose
to control the rat
population
Hawaii: Mongoose
• No natural predators in
Hawaii
Hawaii: Mongoose
• The mongoose did not
control the rat
population, but instead
preys on native birds
and bird eggs
New Zealand: Possum
• Possums were
introduced in New
Zealand to establish a
fur trade
New Zealand: Possum
• No natural predators
New Zealand: Possum
• Spread bovine
tuberculosis
• Damage crops and
orchards
Lesson Overview
• I. Types of ecological interactions
• II. Examples of human perturbation of
ecological systems
– Australia
– Hawaii
– New Zealand
• III. What are humans doing now to perturb
the ecosystem?
Humans and the Earth’s Ecosystem
Climate Change
Climate Change: What is a
Greenhouse Gas?
A Map of the World
Population
Energy Consumption
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
What is a Carbon Footprint?
• Your carbon footprint is
the sum of all
emissions of CO2
(carbon dioxide), which
were induced by your
activities in a given
time frame
Ways to Reduce Our Carbon Footprints
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Take public transportation, walk, ride a bicycle, carpool
Switch to bio-diesel or a hybrid car
Less air travel
Use energy efficient lightbulbs and appliances
Recycle and reuse stuff
Don’t be wasteful
Eat food grown locally
Eat less meat
– If your four-person family skips steak 1 day a week [for a year], it’s like
taking your car off the road for almost 3 months