Transcript Introduction to Ecology - University of Illinois at Chicago

Introduction to Ecology
Lecturer: Dr. Darrel L. Murray
E-mail:
To: [email protected]
RE: BioS 101-……
Office Hrs: 12-1pm MWF
Office Location: 3472 SES
Readings: Freeman Chapter 50 (pages 1144-1156)
Webpage:http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios101/M
urrayMolumbia07.htm
Ecology
• The study of interactions of living things
with each other and their physical
environment.
• Ecological events occur within a time frame
of one to several generations.
Ecologists Study
• Populations-- A group of individuals that
interact while seeking resources or
producing offspring.
• Communities -- An assemblage of
populations of different species.
• Biomes -- Large geographic regions that
have similar vegetation and climate.
• Biosphere -- The living portion of planet
earth.
Questions Ecologists Ask
• Why certain species of plants or animals are
present at some times or places and not
others?
• What factors influence abundance?
• What path does matter and energy follow in
moving from one living thing to another?
Ecologists Answer Questions By
•
•
•
•
•
Careful Observations of Nature.
Laboratory Experiments.
Mathematical Models.
Computer Simulations.
Controlled Field Experiments.
BIOME
• A collection of communities that share similar
vegetation and climate.
• Occupies a large geographical area.
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Biomes of the World
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Study the North American portion of map on page 1150 in Freeman.
Biomes of North America
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Climate of Biomes of North
America
• Climate is the prevailing
long term weather of a
given region.
• Weather is the day to day
atmospheric conditions of
temperature, precipitation,
sunlight, and wind.
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Climate Characteristics of a
Deciduous (Temperate) Forest
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• The current climate of
the Chicago region is
that of a Deciduous
Forest Biome.
• Past climate favored a
(Temperate) Grassland
Biome. Hence, the
prevalence of prairies
prior to the 1850’s.
DECIDUOUS (TEMPERATE)
FOREST
• Climate:
* medium to high
average annual
precipitation (55 to
210 cm or 25 to 85
in)
*cool to warm
average annual
temperatures (10 to
28 0C or 49 to 83 0F)
DECIDUOUS FOREST
VEGETATION
• Trees
* Flower bearing with thin, broad leaves
* Conspicuous and abundant
* Many species (Beech, Maple, Oak, Hickory, Elm)
• Shrubs & Vines (form under story)
• Grasses and Forbs (abundant in spring and
found in clearings)
• Ferns and Mosses (present but inconspicuous)
DECIDUOUS FORESTS
CONIFEROUS (BOREAL)
FOREST
• Climate:
* medium to high
average annual
precipitation (50 to
200 cm or 20 to 80
in)
*cold to cool average
annual temperatures
(0 to 10 0C or 32 to
50 0F)
CONIFEROUS FOREST
VEGETATION
• Trees
* Cone bearing with needle-like leaves
* Conspicuous and abundant
* Few species (Pines, Hemlocks, Spruces, Firs)
• Shrubs (scattered)
• Grasses and Herbs (abundant in clearings)
• Ferns and Mosses (often abundant in clearings)
CONIFEROUS FORESTS
*
(ARTIC) TUNDRA
• Climate:
*cold average annual
temperatures (-11 to
4 0C or 12 to 38 0F)
* medium to high
average annual
precipitation (2-110
cm or 5 to 45 in)
TUNDRA
VEGETATION
• Lichens and Mosses
* Wide spread
* Conspicuous in rocky areas
• Grasses and Sedges (abundant)
• Forbs (several species)
• Shrubs (stunted)
• Trees (largely absent)
TUNDRAS
(SUBTROPICAL) DESERT
• Climate:
*cool to warm average
annual temperatures
(11 to 26 0C or 47 to
80 0F)
* low average annual
precipitation (2 to 35
cm or 1 to 14 in)
DESERT
VEGETATION
• Shrubs
* Wide spread
* Several species (commonly called sage brush)
• Succulents (cacti, etc)
* Abundant in hot deserts
* Scarce in cool deserts
• Grasses and Sedges (abundant in cool deserts)
• Forbs (conspicuous in rainy season)
• Trees
* Along stream beds
* Xerophytic species in hot deserts
DESERTS
GRASSLAND
• Climate:
*cold to hot average
annual temperatures (3
to 32 0C or 32 to 88 0F)
* low to medium average
annual precipitation (25
to 90 cm or 10 to 35 in)
GRASSLAND
VEGETATION
• GRASSES
* Conspicuous and abundant
* Short in dry areas; tall in moist areas
• FORBS
* Conspicuous and abundant
* Many species
• SHRUBS (scattered)
• TREES (found along streams)
GRASSLANDS
Which Biome?
• This area consists of widely scattered
drought-resistant shrubs and
succulents. Periods of rainfall are
marked by sudden spectacular blooms
of annual forbs. Individual plants are
widely spaced -- a pattern that may reflect
intense competition for water.
Which Biome?
• This area is characterized by cold to
hot average annual temperatures with
cool to cold winters and warm to hot
summers. Many species of forbs are
conspicuous and abundant. Trees are
scattered along streams.
Which Biome?
• This area experiences a period in
which mean monthly temperatures fall
below freezing and plant growth stops.
During this time, trees which are the
dominant vegetation drop their leaves
and become dormant. They grow new
leaves in the spring.
Which Biome?
• This area is characterized by cold to
cool average annual temperatures with
medium to high average annual
precipitation. There are only a few tree
species such as pines, hemlocks,
spruces and firs. These trees retain
their needle-like leaves all year.
Which Biome?
• This area has a growing season that is
6-8 weeks long; otherwise,
temperatures are below freezing. The
soils are saturated year-round even
though precipitation is often low. Most
soils are perennially frozen and known
as permafrost.
“Altitudinal” Biomes
• In general terms, an increase in elevation of 100
meters results in a temperature drop of 0.5 0C.
Thus, as one goes up a snow capped mountain he
or she can encounter a series of vegetation types.
• For example, there areas on the slopes of Mt.
Rainer where one can travel from grasslands
(prairies) at the base through coniferous forest to
tundra near the summit.
• This would be like traveling from North Dakota
through Manatoba to the upper reaches of the
Northwest Territory of Canada.
Seasonal Climate Variation
• Variation in temperature
and precipitation
throughout the year is
shown in a climate graph
for the Chicago region.
• Remember-- Climate
represents the long term
averages of temperature
and precipitation.
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Geographic Distribution of
Deciduous Forest Types
Within a biome one finds
a number of community
types. Eight deciduous
forest types are
commonly identified in
eastern United
States.The forests in
our area have been
recently reclassified as
Beach-MapleBasswood
(BioScience,April 2006).
Numerous Community Types
Have Been Described
• The Illinois Natural History Survey lists 67
land based community types for the state of
Illinois. (http//ww.science.siu.edu/plantBiology/Invasives/Community%20types.pdf)
• There is little agreement on the classification
of Community Types.
What is a Biological
Community?
• An assemblage of many populations, each
of different species, that have similar
requirements or tolerances.
• Has a few species that are common
(represented by many individuals), many
more that are rate (represented by a few
individuals) and most with intermediate
population sizes.
Most Biological Communities
Consist of Thousands of Species
• Over 10,000 species have been
documented in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. Scientists
believe an additional 90,000 species
may live here.
• This is the only place on Earth where
attempts to scientifically name all
species have been undertaken.
Only Crude Estimates Exist of
Population Sizes in Natural
Communities
• For example, Wolf Road Prairie Preserve has a
plant species list that contains 327 scientific names
of native plants. One of these was added just this
summer.
• An attempt at a crude census of native forb species
in this community revealed that population sizes
ranged from thousands of individuals for some
species to as few as 3 individual plants for others.
Introduction to Ecology
Lecturer: Dr. Darrel L. Murray
E-mail:
To: [email protected]
RE: BioS 101-……
Office Hrs: 12-1pm MWF
Office Location: 3472 SES
Readings: Freeman Chapter 50 (pages 1144-1156)
Webpage:http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios101/M
urrayMolumbia07.htm