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NR216 Introductory Ecology: Winter, 2011 Lecture #1 January 11 Chapter 1 E&FB

This document summarizes a lecture on introductory ecology. It introduces assignments due for the course including a technical report, midterm, and twig collection. It defines key ecology terms like ecosystem and biotic and abiotic factors. It outlines the history and development of the fields of plant ecology, animal ecology, ecosystem ecology, and environmental science. It also briefly describes the Biosphere 2 experiment.

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John Zephyr Tyska
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43 views

NR216 Introductory Ecology: Winter, 2011 Lecture #1 January 11 Chapter 1 E&FB

This document summarizes a lecture on introductory ecology. It introduces assignments due for the course including a technical report, midterm, and twig collection. It defines key ecology terms like ecosystem and biotic and abiotic factors. It outlines the history and development of the fields of plant ecology, animal ecology, ecosystem ecology, and environmental science. It also briefly describes the Biosphere 2 experiment.

Uploaded by

John Zephyr Tyska
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NR216

Introductory Ecology
Winter, 2011
Lecture #1 January 11
Chapter 1 E&FB
Today’s Class :
 Technical Report # 1 due at beginning of
scheduled lecture February 15
 Midterm in scheduled lecture
February 22
 Twig Collection due at beginning of
scheduled lab March 22, 23 or 24
 E & FB Textbook overview
 What is Ecology?
 Biosphere 2
What is Ecology?
ECOLOGY
 eco = oikos (Greek)
 household
 home
 place to live
ECOSYSTEM

 “Total assemblage
 of living organisms
 along with non-living
environment
 in a particular area.” Kimmins,
Balancing Act, p.28
“The Economics of Nature”
Haekel 1869 more

 the study
 of the interaction of organisms
 with each other
 and with their environment

ECOSYSTEM more
 ENERGY from the sun

 BIOTIC FACTORS :
 plants
 animals
 decomposers
 (fungi, bacteria, some insects))

 ABIOTIC FACTORS :
 atmosphere (gases, weather, wind)
 soil (nutrients, water, substrate)
+ PROCESSES
 living & dying
 photosynthesis,
 nutrient cycles & decomposition
 water cycle
 disturbances
 fire, wind, flood, urbanization, insects & disease
 population & community interactions
ECOSYSTEMS ARE DYNAMIC

 Disturbances like
 fire, windthrow, flood & forest harvesting
 Change the stage of development
 seral stage
 Don’t destroy it
 secondary succession
HISTORY :
 Plant ecology 1st
 plant geographers saw world-wide similarities
 Asked – why?

 Climate?
 Led to study of plant communities or
associations (esp. forests)
 In Europe – described different
associations (Humbolt)
 In N.A. looked more at how they
develop, or plant succession (Clements)
PLANT ECOLOGY

Autecology :
 “the study of individual species/organisms
 in relationship to their environment”
 (eg. physiology, response to competition)
 Also called physiological ecology or
ecophysiology
PLANT ECOLOGY

Synecology :
 “The study of plant communities,
 their ecology,
 distribution &
 environmental relationships”
 Basis for ecosystem (eg.forest)
management
Studies combined to help
develop science of ecology
 Classification & Taxonomy more
 morphological patterns

 Plant Geography more


 patterns of plant distribution
+
 Theory of evolution (Charles Darwin book )

 Genetics (Gregor Mendel more )


Animal Ecology

 1920’s
 behavioural ecology
 the science of communities &
populations
Ecosystem Ecology
 initially, strictly terrestrial – biomes
 1942 –
 “The Trophic-Dynamic Aspect of Ecology”
 succession described in terms of energy flow
through a lake ecosystem
 trophic/energy levels
 organic nutrient cycling & feeding levels
 producers & consumers
 Added processes to abiotic & biotic factors
Applied Ecology
 1930’s ~ 1970’s
 Public awareness of environmental problems grew
 Rachel Carson :Silent Spring (1962) more
 Conservation Biology
 maintain biological diversity
 Restoration Ecology
 reclamation & management of disturbed lands
 Landscape Ecology
 ecosystem management
 Added in social component
Ecology

 Is a science with no value judgment

 Add in society’s value judgments about


the environment –

 Leads to acceptable/successful
conservation policies & strategies
(Kimmins, Balancing Act p.28,29)
Environmental Science
 “Investigates questions related to :
 rapidly increasing human population,
 the use and abuse of resources,
 damage caused by pollution &
disturbance,
 and the endangerment & extinction of
species and natural ecosystems.”
(Freedman, Environmental Science :A Canadian Perspective )
Environmental Science
“Study of how we and other species
 interact with one another
 and with the non-living environment (matter and energy).

 It is a physical and social science that integrates knowledge from


a wide range of disciplines, including :
 physics, chemistry, biology (especially ecology),
 geology, geography, resource technology & engineering,
 resource conservation & management,
 demography (the study of human population dynamics),
 economics, politics, sociology, psychology and ethics.

 In other words, it is a study of how the parts of nature and human


societies operate and interact – a study of connections and
interactions.”
(Miller, Sustaining the Earth, 2002)
Environmental Scientist
Scientist who uses information from the
physical sciences and social sciences to :

 1. understand how the earth works

 2. learn how humans interact with the


earth, and

 3. develop solutions to environmental


problems.
Miller, Sustaining the Earth, 2002
Literature Cited

 Freedman, W. 2004. Environmental


Science: A Canadian Perspective 3/e
672 pp. Pearson Education.
ISBN 0-13-139863-6
 Kimmins, J.P. (“Hamish”). 1997.
Balancing Act, 2/e. BC Press.
ISBN 0-7748-0574-9
 Miller, Sustaining the Earth, 2002
Biosphere II

 WEBSITE
 Report on Biosphere 2
 Interview one of participants

 More about Biospheres Video

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