Environmental

and Anthropogenic Stressors (Ch 2)

Learning Objec=ves
A"er studying this chapter, you should be able to:
1. Explain what environmental factors are, both abio=c and bio=c, and how they inuence organisms and the structure and func=on of ecosystems. 2. Explain the principle of limi=ng factors and its applica=on to the environmental problem of eutrophica=on. 3. Understand the key ecological ideas of tolerance, resilience, disturbance, and stability. 4. Explain several anthropogenic stressors and understand how they aect organisms/ecosystems.

Environmental Factors
Abio5c factors: Temperature Moisture Wind and currents Nutrients Toxic substances Bio5c factors: Direct eects such as preda=on, parasi=sm Indirect eects such as compe==on for space, light and other limited resources

Principle of Limi=ng Factors

Mineral nutrients are a limi=ng factor for aqua=c ecosystem produc=vity. Limi5ng factor: the required element (light, nutrient, space, etc) that is available in lowest quan=ty rela=ve to others Phosphorus (P) is the most limi=ng nutrient in freshwater lakes and can lead to eutrophica5on when it is present in high concentra=ons
Toledo Water Intake

Western end of Lake Erie in summer 2003. Green water is the result of a Microcys(s (cyanobacteria) algal bloom.

h[p://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

October 2011

Watch

h[p://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

October 2011

Fundamental vs Realized Niche

Realized niche is narrower than The range of values for environmental factors that a fundamental niche, because it reects tolerance to abio=c factors species tolerates denes its AND by bio=c interac=ons, such as fundamental niche. compe==on.

E.g., Pelargoniums cannot tolerate frost and is conned to southern Ontario

Oriental hybrid lilies (Lilium Stargazer) can tolerate colder condi=ons in Northern Ontario only if there is protec=on against compe==on by weeds and herbivory.

Stress versus Disturbance

Stress limits the growth (performance) of organisms in =me and space. Examples are nutrients, light, moisture, temperature, etc.
Disturbance removes organisms from established habitats, and is usually of a catastrophic nature (wildres, ood, wind storms, lava ows)

This Poten(lla tridentata growing on the rocks of Lake Superior shore is exposed to drought, lack of nutrients, and extreme temperatures.

Fireweed (Epilobium angus(folium) is abundant on recently burned sites.

Tolerance, Resistance and Resilience

Resistance (or tolerance) Refers to the capability of an organism, popula=on, community or ecosystem to func=on in a healthy manner within a range of intensi=es of environmental stressors (without undergoing change that is considered damage). Resilience The speed at which an organism, popula=on, community or ecosystem recovers to its pre- disturbance state.

Extreme Environments
Organisms that are able to thrive in extreme environments: Thermophilic (heat- loving) archaea microbes in deep sea vents with high pressure and temperatures above 100C. Endolithic bacteria in Earths crust. Bacteria in salt deserts. Lichens at high al=tudes.

Acidophilic bacteria such as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans can be found at pH 1.3.

1111

Anthropogenic Stressors
Many stressors are intensied or caused by human ac=vity:
Changing climate Input of waste chemicals that are toxic to organisms. Overharves=ng Changing land cover

Past emissions have led to toxic concentra=ons of essen=al elements such as Cu or Ni in the soil around the smelters in Sudbury, Ontario.

Biomagnica=on
Humans produce toxic substances that do not occur naturally, such as organochlorides such as DDT

(Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane).

Peregrine Falco peregrinus

www.mindfully.org

www.dirtygreek.org

Biomagnica=on
Humans produce toxic substances that do not occur naturally, such as organochlorides such as DDT Some of them can accumulate in food- chains, producing unexpected eects.

(Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane).

Peregrine Falco peregrinus

Biomagnica=on of DDT resulted in high concentra=ons in top predators and caused nes=ng failure in birds of prey.

Changes in Land Cover

Land use is by far having the greatest impact on natural systems. Foley et al. (2005) summarized these changes
Most dominant land uses are cropland and pasture (40% of the land) 700% increase in fer=lizer use Pressure on freshwater Last 300 years, 7-11 million km2 of forest have been cleared for agriculture.

Tropical Deforesta=on
Support at least half of Earths species. Skole and Tucker reported tropical forests occur in 73 countries and once covered 11,610,360 km2.
Brazil contains 1/3 of tropical forests.
Highest deforesta=on rate.

Land Use/Cover Change: Tropical Deforestation

1975

1986

1992

Annual rate of deforesta=on 19781988 was 15,000 km2/yr

1988

1978

Edge Eects
When a forest fragment is isolated due to cukng, its edge is exposed to greater amounts of solar radia=on and wind. Ho[er and drier environment changes the vegeta=on structure.

Interior Forest

Edge Agriculture

Human Inuence on Atmospheric Composi=on

Record of atmospheric composi=on during last 160,000 years was extracted from ice cores in Antarc=ca (Vostok sta=on). Samples of atmosphere trapped in ice. Core indicated two very large uctua=ons in atmospheric CO2 concentra=ons.
140,000 years ago. 13,000 years ago.

Ice age

Interglacial

Glacial Period

How do we know its from human sources?

Atmospheric analysis of CO2
14C

Carbon released from fossil fuels contains very li[le 14C Suess (1955) described a recent decline in 14C
Carbon in tree rings Suess eect

Bacastow and Keeling (1974)

Deple=on and Recovery of the Ozone Layer In 1985, Bri=sh Antarc=c Survey discovered major reduc=on in atmospheric ozone.
A[en=on focused on stopping chlorouorocarbons (CFCs).
1987 Montreal Protocol

Largest hole to date in 2000.

2003 saw rst reported evidence the ozone layer is recovering.