Community

Ecology and
Biodiversity

J.K. Abraham, 2007

Biodiversity
What does this word mean?

J.K. Abraham, 2007

Biodiversity
The variety of biological units in a specied
area within a specied Cme (i.e. the variety of
life).
What are some possible measures of biological
diversity?

Biodiversity
The variety of biological units in a specied
area within a specied Cme (i.e. the variety of
life).
What are some possible measures of biological
diversity?
Number of species (Species Richness)
Evenness of species
Number of func<onal groups (species that perform
similar ecosystem func<ons)
Gene<c diversity (varia<on in alleles)

Biodiversity
Major paHerns of biodiversity
Where are the most diverse places on earth?

Biodiversity
Major paHerns of biodiversity
Where are the most diverse places on earth?
Biological hotspots

Biodiversity
Major paHerns of biodiversity
Where are the most diverse places on earth?
Biological hotspots

California Kelp System

California Kelp System

California Kelp System

California Kelp System

Worldwide distribu<on of kelp

= areas of cold water upwelling

Abio<c Inuences on Kelp Abundance

Sea temperature
Higher sea temperatures lead to:
Lower reproduc<ve success
Lower nitrogen concentra<ons in water
Kelp fronds break down faster in warm water

Wave ac<on
Storms can dislodge kelp from substrate

Direct Eects

Interac<ve Eects?

Worldwide distribu<on of kelp

= areas of cold water upwelling

Tasmania

Tasmanian Kelp Decline

Over past 30 years, kelp forests have declined
by 95-99% in Tasmania
120 km2 to an esCmated 0.5-1 km2

Threatens local economy

Fisheries
Primary producer in ecosystem
Oxygenates water
Provides 3-dimensional environment for marine animals

Scuba industry
Medicinal uses
hHp://www.geol.utas.edu.au/kelpwatch/facts_d.html

Tasmanian Kelp Decline

Over past 30 years, kelp forests have declined
by 95-99% in Tasmania
120 km2 to an esCmated 0.5-1 km2

Threatens local economy

Fisheries
Primary producer in ecosystem
Oxygenates water
Provides 3-dimensional environment for marine animals

Scuba industry
Medicinal uses
hHp://www.geol.utas.edu.au/kelpwatch/facts_d.html

Aboriginal Tasmanian use of kelp

hHp://www.craYaustralia.org.au/library/review.php id=colin_marCn_baskets_and_belonging

What is causing the Tasmanian

kelp decline and why?
What can we do about it?

Sea surface temperature in southeastern

Tasmania

Sea surface temperature in southeastern

Tasmania

Sea urchins
need water at
least this warm
to reproduce

When could urchins permanently

establish in southeastern Tasmania?

A. 1960s
B. 1980s
C. 1990s
D. 2000s

Sea urchins
need water at
least this warm
to reproduce
successfully

When could urchins permanently

establish in southeastern Tasmania?

A. 1960s
B. 1980s
C. 1990s
D. 2000s

Sea urchins
need water at
least this warm
to reproduce

Sea urchin range expansion

1960s

Sea urchin range expansion

1960s

Why do we see
this paHern of
urchin range
expansion?

2005

Tasmanian Kelp System

No oSers! Top predator in
system is spiny lobster.

Status of predators
oYen aects
primary producers

What does this graph tell us about

changes in the lobster popula<on over
<me?

Lobster Body Size (mm)

What is causing reduc<on in lobster size?

What is causing reduc<on in lobster size?

Lobsters must be of
certain size to eat
adult urchins

Body Size MaSers

Lobsters must be
this big to eat adult
urchins

Lobster Body Size (mm)

Tasmanian Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

What is the eect of lobster shing on urchins?

Open to shing

Protected from shing

What is the eect of lobster shing on urchins?

Open to shing

Protected from shing

1) What hypothesis can you

come up with?
2) Describe an experiment to
test what impact lobster
shing has on the likelihood
of adult urchin survival.
3) Draw graph(s) showing your
predic<on of the results
from your experiment.

What is the eect of lobster shing on urchins?

Open to shing

Example experiment:
Released 100 marked
adult urchins per site
Staked them to the
ground
Tracked urchin
survival for 200 days
100

100

Protected from shing

100

100

Results from Study

What are the factors aec<ng this

system?

What is causing the Tasmanian

kelp decline?

Tasmania
Kelp Forest
Food Web

California
Kelp Forest
Food Web

Humans
Lobsters

OHers

Sea Star
Blenny

Sea Star

Urchins

Kelp

Urchins
AbioCc factors
(e.g. temp,
waves., etc.)

Abalone

Kelp

Who is the best?

A.You
B.Those Der kids

Preparing for Final

Review your old exams!

WHY did you lose points on quesCons?

Didnt study?
Study!

Didnt read the quesCon carefully?

Take the Cme to focus on what is being asked. If it says EXPLAIN,

EXPLAIN!
If I say PLANTS, dont write about ANIMALS

Didnt understand what was being asked?

Raise your hand! I will try to rephrase for you if I can.

Review the learning objecCves!

The test will cover a subset of objec<ves. If I spent a whole

day on something (cough, coughnatural selec<oncough),
STUDY it.

Get some sleep!

Rest, stress level correlated with short term memory

Preparing for Final

Review your old exams!

WHY did you lose points on quesCons?

Didnt study?
Study!

Didnt read the quesCon carefully?

Take the Cme to focus on what is being asked. If it says EXPLAIN,

EXPLAIN!
If I say PLANTS, dont write about ANIMALS

Didnt understand what was being asked?

Raise your hand! I will try to rephrase for you if I can.

Review the learning objecCves!

The nal will cover a subset of objec<ves. If I spent a whole

day on something (cough, coughnatural selec<oncough
animal phylacough), STUDY it.

Get some sleep!

Rest, stress level correlated with short term memory

Connec<ng Concepts
Consider an atom of carbon
Can trace its path through the carbon cycle

Wikipedia.com; barackobamaeaCngthings.tumblr.com

Connec<ng Concepts
Consider an atom of carbon
Can trace its path through the carbon cycle

CirculaCon/
RespiraCon

Photosynthesis

ConsumpCon

Cellular RespiraCon

Thanks!