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ECOSYSTEMS TERRESTRIAL and AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY

Chapter 4

Chapter Outline
I.

Ecosystems: What Are They?

Description of an Ecosystem Components of an Ecosystem Earth, the just Right Adaptable Planet What is Biodiversity Terrestrial Biomes Aquatic Biomes

II. III. IV. V.

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Have we thanked the insects today?

Biosphere Ecosystem

Parts of the earth's air,water, and soil where life is found A community of different species interacting with one another and with their nonliving environment of matter and energy Populations of different species living in a particular place, and potentially interacting with each other A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place An individual living being. It is the most fundamental unit of ecology

Community

Population Organism

Cell Molecule
Water

The fundamental structural and functional unit of life Chemical combination of two or more atoms of the same or different elements Smallest unit of a chemical element that exhibits its chemical properties Stepped Art
Fig. 3-5, p. 58

Atom
Hydrogen Oxygen

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I.

Ecosystems: What Are They?

An ecosystem joins together the biotic community

and the abiotic conditions that this community lives upon. It is a community where populations of different species interact with one another and with their nonliving environment.

Humans are an integral part of ecosystems Components of an Ecosystem: Biotic community or a biota is a grouping of

plants, animals, and microbes living in a given area

physical factors that support and limit the growth of a community. Ex: water, moisture, climate, salinity

Abiotic factors are nonliving , chemical and

I.

Ecosystems: What are They?

Living or Biotic community: Producers or Autotrophs (self-feeders)

Make their own food from compounds and energy obtained from their environment. Are the basic source of all food Mostly green plants on land, algae in water Capture sunlight to produce their food through photosynthesis Some organisms such as deep ocean bacteria draw energy from hydrothermal vents and produce carbohydrates from hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas through chemosynthesis .

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I.

Ecosystems: What are They?

Consumers or Heterotrophs (otherfeeders):

Feed

on other organisms, i.e. organic matter, as a source of nutrients and energy. Primary consumers: herbivores Secondary consumers: carnivores Third and higher level consumers: carnivores that feed on other carnivores Omnivores: feed on both plants and animals

I.

Ecosystems: What are They?

Decomposers:
Mostly

some bacteria and fungi, known also as primary detritus feeders, are specialized in recycling nutrients in ecosystems, i.e. feeding on dead organisms and their products. Degrade organic matter into simpler and inorganic compounds through a metabolic activity called rotting Secondary detritus feeders, such as insects, mites and worms, feed on primary detritus feeders. Without the decomposers the planet would be knee-deep in plant litter, dead animals, animal wastes and garbage

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Detritus feeders

Decomposers

Longhorned beetle holes

Carpenter Termite Bark beetle ant galleries engraving carpenter ant work

Dry rot fungus

Wood reduced to powder Fungi

Time progression

Powder broken down by decomposers into plant nutrients in soil

Fig. 3-10, p. 61

I.

Ecosystems: What are They?

Components of an Ecosystem: non biotic factors

1) Biosphere is classified into: Land portion: biome (forests, deserts, grasslands) Water portion: Aquatic life zones (freshwater life zones and marine water life zones) 2) Nonliving or Abiotic components: Water, air, nutrients, and solar energy Soil Climate

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I.

Ecosystems: What Are They?

All the earths ecosystems together constitute the biosphere, the global ecosystem where all life is interconnected Ecosystems are not isolated from each others, and rarely have boundaries between each others. Species can move and live in more than one ecosystem at different times, like migrating birds This transitional region between one ecosystem and the other is called an ecotone It is the study of ecosystems and how living organisms interact with each others and with their non-living environment.

Ecology: (Greek oikos=house, logos=study)

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II.

Earth, the just Right Adaptable Planet

Earth has just the right physical and chemical conditions to allow the Development of life as we know it:
Temperature Water Size of the earth Gravity Atmospheric oxygen Biodiversity Sustainability.

III.

What is Biodiversity

Variety is the spice of life.

It is the variety of genes, species, ecosystems, and ecosystem processes. It is one of the earths most important renewable resources. Kinds of biodiversity:
Genetic diversity (within a species or a population) Species diversity (different species in different habitats) Ecological diversity (terrestrial & aquatic ecosystems) Functional diversity (matter cycling, communities, energy flow)

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IV.

Terrestrial Biomes

The Earth Major Biomes: A simplified diagram explaining how climate determines the types and amounts of natural vegetation found in our planet:

IV.

Terrestrial Biomes

Biomes: are large terrestrial regions characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals; regardless of where they are found in the world. Each biome consist of different ecosystems. land biomes: desert, grassland, chaparral, forest and mountain biomes. Aquatic biomes: saltwater and freshwater biomes

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IV.

Terrestrial Biomes

Similar changes occur in vegetation type when we travel from the equator to the poles (latitude) or from low lands to mountains (altitude).

IV.
A.

Terrestrial Biomes

Desert Biomes: A desert is an area where evaporation exceeds precipitation. Annual precipitation is low Deserts cover about 30% of the earths land and are found mostly in tropical and sub-tropical regions, in the interiors of the continents.

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IV. Terrestrial Biomes

A. Desert Biomes: Two themes for survival: Beat the heat Every drop of water counts
Desert plants strategies: -Using deep roots to tap into groundwater -Loosing leaves and stay in a dormant stage in very hot periods. -Having wax-coated leaves -Having no leaves, storing water synthesizing food in fleshy tissues (cactus) -Staying inactive, sometimes for years until having enough water to germinate Some desert animals strategies: -Hiding in cool burrows by day -Staying in a dormant state -Having thick outer covering -Getting water from the morning dew accumulating on rocks. Desert ecosystems are fragile because Of their slow plant growth, low species diversity, and slow nutrient cycling.

Stepped Art Fig. 7-10, p. 155

IV. Terrestrial Biomes

B. Grassland Biomes:

Grasslands have enough precipitation to support grasses but not enough to support large stands of trees. They are found in tropical, temperate, and polar regions, mostly in the interiors of the continents

Stepped Art Fig. 7-11, p. 157

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IV.
B.

Terrestrial Biomes

Chaparral Biomes:

Chaparral biomes have a moderate climate but their dense vegetation and spiny shrubs are subject to periodic fires. It is located in many coastal regions Soil is thin and very fertile Chaparral has a nice climate but is a risky place to live.

IV. Terrestrial Biomes

C. Forest Biomes:

Forests have enough precipitation to support dense vegetation and trees. Forests are found in tropical, temperate, and polar regions.

Stepped Art Fig. 7-13, p. 160

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IV.
C.

Terrestrial Biomes

Forest Biomes: Tropical rain forest: Rafflesia

Tropical rain forests have heavy rainfall on most days. They have a rich diversity of species occupying a variety of specialized niches in distinct layers

V. Aquatic Biomes
We live on a water planet; most of it is saltwater: about 71% of the earths surface Aquatic life zones are classified in to two major types according to their salinity: 1. Marine or saltwater (estuaries, coastlines, coral reefs, oceans, mangrove swamps) 2. Freshwater (lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, wetlands) These aquatic systems play a major role in earths biological productivity, climate, biochemical cycles and biodiversity. They provide us with fish, oil, natural gas, minerals, Ocean Landocean recreation, transportation routes, and many other hemisphere hemisphere economically important goods and services.
Fig. 8-2, p. 169

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Aquatic Systems

Fig. 8-3, p. 170

V.

Aquatic Biomes

Life in aquatic zones in layers: Aquatic zones are divided into three layers: surface, middle , and bottom depending on important environmental factors that determine type of living organisms in each layer. These factors are:
Temperature Access to sunlight for photosynthesis Dissolved oxygen content Availability of nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus)

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V.
1.

Aquatic Biomes

Saltwater Life Zones Oceans occupy most of the earth surface and provide many ecological and economic services. Oceans have two major life zones: a) Coastal zones (most of the action is) Estuaries and coastal wetlands (centers of productivity) Mangrove forests Rocky and sandy shores (living with the tides) Coral reefs (biological treasures) b) Open sea (light rules)

V.
1.

Aquatic Biomes

Saltwater Life Zones: a) Coastal Zones. They make up less than 10% of the worlds ocean area but contain 90% of all marine species. They are warm, nutrient-rich, with ample supplies of sunlight, shallow waters that extend from the high-tide mark on land to the gently sloping shallow edge of the continental shelf

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Estuarine Zone Continental shelf

Euphotic Zone

50 100 200

Bathyal Zone

500 1,000 1,500

Water temperature drops rapidly between the euphotic zone and the abyssal zone in an area called the thermocline .

3,000 4,000 5,000

Aquatic Biomes
0 5 10 15 20 Water temperature (C) 25 30

10,000

Fig. 8-6, p. 173

V.
1.

Aquatic Biomes
Madagascars River as it flows into Mozambique Channel

a) Coastal Zones: Estuaries Estuaries are coastal zones where rivers meet the sea. They are enclosed water bodies where sea water mixes with fresh water as well as nutrients, pollutants, and runoff from land. Among the most productive ecosystems in the world because of high nutrient inputs from rivers and nearby land, rapid circulation of nutrients from tidal flows, presence of many plants, and ample sunlight penetration. Life in estuaries adapt to significant daily and seasonal changes in tides and river flows.

Saltwater Life Zones:

Darkness

Abyssal Zone

2,000

Twilight

Photosynthesis

High tide Coastal Low tide Zone

Open Sea Sea level

Depth in meters 0

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V.
1.

Aquatic Biomes

Saltwater Life Zones: a) Coastal Zones: Mangrove They are found in tropical and subtropical regions Mangrove trees grow in saltwater and have extensive roots growing above the water where they can get oxygen.

V.
1.

Aquatic Biomes

Saltwater Life Zones: a) Coastal Zones: Mangrove Importance of these coastal aquatic ecosystems: Filter toxic pollutants, excess plant nutrients, sediments, and other pollutants Reduce storm damage by absorbing waves Store excess water produced by tsunamis Provide food, habitats, and nursery sites for a various aquatic species. More than a third of the worlds mangrove forests are destroyed for aquaculture (Bangladesh)

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V.
1.

Aquatic Biomes

Saltwater Life Zones:

a) Coastal Zones: Rocky and Sandy Shores. The gravitational pull of the moon and the sun cause tides to rise and fall in specific coastal areas. Organisms experiencing daily high and low tides have evolved a number of ways to survive under harsh and changing conditions. They do so by: Holding on to something Digging in Hiding in protective shells

V.
1.

Aquatic Biomes

Saltwater Life Zones: a) Coastal Zones: Coral Reefs.

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V.
1.

Aquatic Biomes

Saltwater Life Zones: a) Coastal Zones: Coral Reefs.

Coral reefs, those beautiful natural wonders, are considered as the worlds oldest, most diverse and most productive ecosystem In terms of biodiversity, they are the marine equivalent of the tropical rain forests. Coral reefs are formed by massive colonies of tiny animals called polyps They slowly build reefs by secreting a protective crust of limestone around their soft bodies. When the polyps die, their empty crusts remain behind as a platform for more reef growth. The result is a network of holes, and crevices for a variety of marine animals.

V.
1.

Aquatic Biomes

Saltwater Life Zones: a) Coastal Zones: Coral Reefs.

Coral reefs provide numerous free ecological and economic services: Ecologically: -Help moderate atmospheric temperatures by removing CO2 -Act as natural barriers to protect 15% of the coastlines from erosion -Provide habitats for a variety of marine organisms. Economically: Produce >1/10th of the global fish catch Provide jobs and building materials for the worlds poorest countries Support touristic industries worth billions of dollars each year. One major problem facing coral reefs: Coral Bleaching

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V.
1.

Aquatic Biomes

Saltwater Life Zones: b) Open Sea: On the basis of the penetration of sunlight, the open sea is divided into three zones:
The euphotic zone is the brightly lit upper zone where floating phytoplankton carry out photosynthesis The bathyal zone is the dimly lit middle zone. No photosynthesis occurs there. Organisms populating this layer migrate to feed on the surface at night. The abyssal zone is the lowest zone. It is dark, cold and has little dissolved oxygen; yet contain enough nutrients to support the life of a large number of species.

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V.
Some

Aquatic Biomes

species living in abyssal zone

V.
2.

Aquatic Biomes

Freshwater Life zones Freshwater life zones include standing bodies of freshwater like: lakes, ponds, wetlands; and flowing bodies like: rivers, and streams. Freshwater life zones constitute only 1% of the earth surface They provide a number of ecological and economic services

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V.
2.

Aquatic Biomes

Freshwater Life zones: lakes. lakes are large natural bodies of standing freshwater formed when precipitation, runoff, and groundwater seepage fill depressions in the earths surface. Lakes vary in size, depth, and nutrient content. Deep lakes consist of four distinct zones:
Littoral zone (near shore, shallow, with rooted plants) Limnetic zone (open, offshore area, sunlit) Profundal zone (deep, open water, no photosynthesis) Benthic zone (bottom of lake, dead matter)

Painted turtle Green frog

Bluewinged teal Muskrat

Pond snail

2.
Littoral zone

Freshwater Life zones

Plankton

Diving beetle Yellow perch

Northern pike

Bloodworms
Fig. 8-16, p. 182

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V.
2.

Aquatic Biomes
With time, sediments, excessive supply of nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) form: eutrophic lakes

Freshwater Life zones: Lakes

having small supply of plant nutrients. (poorly nourished)

Oligotrophic lakes are new lakes

V.
2.

Aquatic Biomes

Freshwater Life zones: Streams and Rivers.

Precipitation that does not infiltrate into the ground, is the surface water that runs off and flows into streams and rivers.

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V.
2.

Aquatic Biomes

Freshwater Life zones: Inland Wetlands.

They are lands that act like natural sponges, covered with freshwater all or part of the time and are located away from coastal areas. They include marshes (without trees), swamps (with trees). Wetlands are highly productive because of an abundance in nutrients. They provide important ecological and economic services:
Filter and degrade toxic wastes and pollutants Reduce flooding and erosion help recharge ground water aquifers and replenish stream flow during dry periods Supply valuable products Provide recreation for birdwatchers

V.
2.

Aquatic Biomes

Freshwater Life zones: Inland Wetlands. The Aammiq Wetland

Marshes

Swamp

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