Ecology and the Biosphere (Chapter 52)

Psalm 104:10-13
He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.
They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.
He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit
of his work.
Ecology is about INTERACTIONS
Ecology: [oikos = home; logos = study] the study of how organisms interact
with
each other and their environment
Six levels of ECOLOGY (Fig. 52.2)
1. Organismal ecology: interactions of an individual organism with its
environment
2. Population ecology: group of individuals of the same species
3. Community ecology: assemblages of populations of different species
4. Ecosystem ecology: includes all abiotic factors as well
5. Landscape ecology: factors controlling different types of patches
6. Global ecology: regional exchange of energy and materials across the
biosphere
Ecologists vs. environmentalists

Whats the difference? Environmentalist protects the environment and

ecologist studies it

Can an ecologist be an environmentalist? Yes

e.g., Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962 based on data from her
work as a government scientist

Where is home (Oikos)?

No organism is at home anywhere what limits their distribution?

Where is home (Oikos)?

As Fig. 52.17 shows, the semi-aquatic wood turtle is only found in a narrow
latitudinal range in Eastern North America

Is temperature the only factor limiting its range?

1

Three major types of factors may limit the distribution of organisms:

1. Dispersal: Fig. 52.20 (recent cattle egret dispersal throughout the world)
2. Abiotic factors: e.g., temperature as in the case of the semi-aquatic wood turtle
3. Biotic factors: e.g., humans have created large areas throughout the world more
suitable for cattle egrets
Terrestrial Biomes

Although the dominant ecosystem = coniferous forest many terrestrial

biomes found in B.C.

Coastal area: temperate coniferous rainforest

More inland: Ponderosa pine forest dry grassland desert (e.g., Osoyoos
area)

High altitude: like the tundra

Pacific Regional Society of Soil Science field trip to the BC Interior, Sept.
2009
Subalpine forest Manning Park
Ponderosa pine forest BC interior
Canadas pocket desert southern Okanagan valley
On a map biomes are drawn with distinct boundaries, but in nature biomes
grade into one another

Area of intergradation called an ecotone

Many biomes no longer exist in their original forms, e.g., temperate forests in
eastern North America, temperate perennial grasslands

Aquatic Biomes
Occupy the largest part of the biosphere (oceans = 75% of earths surface)

Both marine and freshwater biomes tend to be physically and chemically

stratified

Key layers: photic zone, aphotic zone, benthic zone

Marine Biomes
Most productive zones = intertidal zones and coral reefs (vs. the desert of the
oceanic pelagic biome)
2

Intertidal zone off B.C. and Washington coast one of the highest areas of
species diversity in the world