Unit 4 - Ecology
1. Sustainability
The Lorax
The Earth as an Apple
Tragedy of the Commons - Fishing Activity
2. Biodiveristy
Natural vs. Artificial Ecosystems
3. Food Webs, Chains, Trophic Levels, Pyaramids
4. Bioaccumulation
Beluga Whale Case Study
5. Biogeochemical Cycles
Carbon Cycle
Photosynthesis
Cell Respiration
Carbon Storage - Atmosphere, on land, oceans, underground
Formation of Fossil Fuels
Climate Change / Global Warming
Water Cycle
Evaporation, Condensation, Transpiration, Precipitation
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Fixation
Denitrification
Human Impacts: Nitrogen Depletion, Fertilizer, Algal Blooms, Eutrophication, Acid Rain
6. Population
Factors that affect Population
population growth = (births + immigration) - (deaths + emigration)
open vs. closed populations
Abiotic vs. biotic factors that limit populatin
Biotic Potential (birth potential, capacity for survival, procreation, length of reproductive life)Carrying capacity (depends on materials and energy, food chains, competition, density)
Density dependent vs density independent factors
Interaction Among Species
habitat = address, niche = ecological role (job)
competitive exclusion
Competition, Predation/Parasitism, Mutualism, Commensalism
Exotic species, extinction, extirpation
7. Biodiversity
Advantages
Important Species: Dominant, Keystone Species, Indicator Species, Ecosystem Engineers
Ecosystem Services
Threats to Biodiversity
Deforestation, Draining Wetlands, Alien/Invasive Species, Overexploitation, Disruption Connectivity Across Ecosystems, Extinction
Ways to Measure Biodiversity
Canopy Fogging, Quadrat Sampling, Transect Sampling, Netting
8. Change and Succession
Climax Community
Primary Succession
Secondary Succession
Fire Climax Zones