Biodiversity
Climate Change
Population Dynamics
Characteristics of Populations
Community Interactions
100
What is Biodiversity?
biodiversity is the many different kinds (diversity) of life (bio-)
100
Give me 3 Direct effects of Climate Change
• Melting permafrost, leading to release of bog methane (CH4) increasing warming via positive feedback • Changing patterns of precipitation • Regional drought • Regional flooding • Ocean warming, leading to increased evaporation • Increasing rainfall • Increasing erosion, deforestation, and desertification • Release of sedimentary deposits of methane (CH4) hydrates – positive feedback* • Ocean acidification: 0.1 pH unit drop already documented; 0.5 more predicted by 2100 • Loss of corals • Loss of plankton and fish • Temperature extremes
100
How can a population display exponential growth?
Populations can do this when all conditions of their environment are ideal.
100
What is a population?
a population is a group of organisms of a single species living within a certain area.
100
What is a Community in Biology?
A community is the biotic component of an ecosystem. It consists of populations of different species that live in the same area and interact with one another.
200
Where is biodiversity the richest? Why?
biodiversity is richest at the equators, but decreases toward the poles.Temperature is undoubtedly a major factor, with warmer, equatorial regions allowing year round growth in contrast to seasonal limitations nearer the poles.
200
Give me 3 indirect effects of climate change.
• Decline in cold-adapted species such as polar bears and trout • Increase in forest pests and fires • Change in seasonal species, already documented • Potential increase in photosynthesis, and consequent changes in plant species • Loss of carbon to the atmosphere due to • Increasing fires, which together with deforestation lead to positive feedback • Increasing decomposition of organic matter in soils and litter
200
How do populations Grown in Nature?
They rise until population limiting factors play a part in the population causing the population to stay constant.
200
Why do biologists study population?
Biologists study populations to determine their health or stability
200
What are Keystone Species? Provide an example
They are a predator that plays an important (key) role in their community. Introduction or removal of a keystone species has a drastic effect on its prey population. This, in turn, affects populations of many other species in the community.
300
Give me 3 causes of extinction.
-Cause of Extinction #1: Habitat Loss -Cause of extinction #2: Introduction of invasive species -Cause of extinction #3: Introduction of invasive species -Cause of extinction #4: Global Climate Change -Cause of Extinction # 5: Overpopulation -Cause of Extinction # 6: Pollution
300
How can we slow and eventually stop Climate Change?
Reduce energy use!
300
Give me the population growth rate equation.
Growth Rate=Birth Rate-Death Rate
300
Come up and Draw a Population Pyramid. How can you know if a population is healthy through looking at a pyramid like this?
You can tell if a population is healthy by making sure the graph is triangular meaning there are many young individuals with decreasing older individuals and that there are almost an equal amount of males and females.
300
Explain the difference between interspecific and intraspecific competition. Examples may be helpful.
-Intraspecific competition occurs between members of the same species. For example, two male birds of the same species might compete for mates in the same territory. -Interspecific competition occurs between members of different species. For example, two predator species might compete for the same prey. Interspecific competition takes place in communities of interacting species.
400
Why is Biodiversity Important? Give 3 reasons.
-Increasing Ecosystem Productivity - Increasing Ecosystem Stability -Maintaining the Atmosphere -Maintaining Soils -Pollination and Pest Control
400
What is the Greenhouse effect?
Of the solar radiation which reaches the Earth’s surface, as much as 30% is reflected back into space. About 70% is absorbed as heat, warming the land, waters, and atmosphere. If there were no atmosphere, most of the heat would radiate back out into space as infrared radiation. Earth’s atmosphere, however, contains molecules of water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and ozone (O3), which absorb some of the infrared radiation. Some of this absorbed radiation further warms the atmosphere, and some is emitted, radiating back down to the Earth’s surface or out into space. A balance between the heat which is absorbed and the heat which is radiated out into space results in an equilibrium which maintains a constant average temperature for the Earth and its life.
400
Explain r and K selected species and give an example of each.
r selected species are animals that produce lots of young per year but have a high death rate and low parental care and example could be Atlantic Salmon. K selected species are animals that produce very little young but have a high survival rate and high parental care. An example of this could be a moose.
400
Come up and Draw the three general survivorship curves.
Draw on Board
400
Describe Ecological Succession
It is the process by which a whole community of populations changes through time. It occurs following a disturbance that creates unoccupied areas for colonization. The first colonizer species are called pioneer species. They change the environment and pave the way for other species to move into the area.
500
How can we protect Biodiversity? Give 4 ways.
-Consume thoughtfully and wisely: reduce your consumption where possible. re-use, and recycle. make durability and efficiency your criteria for product purchases. -When You Use Water, Remember Its Importance To All Life -When You Must Use Energy, Consider Consequences and Choose Your Source Carefully -When You Must Dispose of Waste, Learn the Best Practice for Its Disposal: Recycle!!! -Don’t Contribute to the Problem of Exotic Species -Practice Sustainable Management on Your Own Land, Even If it is “Only” a Small Yard -Adopt and Spread Sustainable Perspectives and Philosophy
500
How is Global Warming caused and why are plants so important for this reason?
-scientists today agree that recent global warming is caused by an unprecedented rise in atmospheric CO2 which resulted from human activities – primarily burning of fossil fuels, but also continuing deforestation and changes in land use. -Carbon is absorbed for energy of the plant and Oxygen is released as a byproduct making plants a vacuum for CO2.
500
Come up and draw a graph showing carrying capacity on a population. What is carrying capacity?
Draw graph on board. Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that a particular environment can support without habitat degradation
500
Explain what type 1 and type 3 survivorship curves mean to the population.
-Species showing a Type I pattern have the highest survival rates, with most individuals living to old age. Many large animals, including humans, show this “late loss” pattern of survivorship; few offspring, high levels of parental care, and low “infant” death rates characterize Type I species -Species with Type III survivorship patterns experience high death rates among offspring; relatively few survive to old age. Most plants and invertebrates and many fish show this “early loss” pattern. Parents invest most of the reproductive energy in high numbers of offspring to offset the high death rates, and little or no energy remains for parental care.
500
What are the three basic types of symbiotic relationships? Explain each of them.
1. Mutualism: a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit. 2. Commensalism: a symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the other species is not affected. 3. Parasitism: a symbiotic relationship in which one species (the parasite) benefits while the other species (the host) is harmed.