Lab Practical- Final

Ecology

the study of the interactions of organisms with their environment

7 Levels of Ecological Organization

1. organism 2. population 3. community 4. ecosystem 5. landscape 6. biome 7. biosphere

Population

all individuals of the same species in a given area

Community

all individuals of all species in an area

Ecosystem

all individuals of all species in a given area plus abiotic factors

Landscape

multiple adjacent ecosystems that may interact

Biome

all ecosystems of the same type in the world

Biosphere

all ecosystems on the planet

Dichotomous key

an identification guide to the species in a particular taxonomic group for a particular region

List the 7 ecosystems of SoCal

1. Coastal Strand 2. Coastal Salt Marsh 3. Oak Savannah 4. Riparian Woodland 5. Southern Live Oak Woodland 6. Coastal Sage Scrub 7. Chaparral

Coastal Strand location

sandy areas by the sea

Coastal Salt Marsh location

low-lying areas near the ocean; usually where freshwater meets the ocean

Oak Savannah location

usually next to large prairies near rolling hills

Riparian Woodland location

usually in a narrow band immediately adjacent to a freshwater source

Southern Live Oak Woodland location

in canyons such as Topanga and Malibu Canyons

Coastal Sage Scrub location

hillsides at lower elevations and near the ocean

Chaparral location

inland and higher elevation hillsides and ridges throughout our area

Coastal Strand abiotic conditions

high levels of salt, little shade, lots of sun

Coastal Strand plant adaptations

large vacuole in each plant cell; allows storage of extra salt

Coastal Salt Marsh abiotic conditions

high levels of salt, varying levels of water

Coastal Salt Marsh plant adaptations

large vacuole in each plant cell; allow storage of extra salt

Oak Savannah abiotic conditions

low precipitation, poor soil, frequent wildfires

Oak Savannah plant adaptations

pubescent leaves; retain moisture

Riparian Woodland abiotic conditions

dominated by trees; little sun exposure

Riparian Woodland plant adaptations

relatively large leaves; maximize sun absorption flexible/compound leaves; allows contact of sunlight from many directions

Southern Live Oak Woodland abiotic conditions

shaded by surrounding hills; limited sunlight increased moisture from rainfall that runs down nearby hills and collects in low-lying areas

Southern Live Oak Woodland plant adaptations

tall trees to catch sunlight from low elevation

Coastal Sage Scrub abiotic conditions

moisture from periodic rain/coastal fogs relatively dry excessive evaporation and sun exposure

Coastal Sage Scrub plant adaptations

pubescent leaves; retain moisture

Chaparral abiotic conditions

hot/dry summers, little rain, frequent fire

Chaparral plant adaptations

small/wavy/nearly vertically attached leaves; reduce sun exposure light in color; reflect sunlight tough/thick/folded/pubescent leaves; reduce evaporation by wind

List the 5 plants with compound leaves

1. Bladderpod 2. California walnut 3. Poison oak 4. Deerweed 5. Elderberry

What is the single non-native plant we studied?

Wild mustard

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Saltbush Family Chenopodiaceae Coastal Strand, Coastal Salt Marsh

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Pickleweed Family Chenopodiaceae Coastal Salt Marsh

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Bladderpod Family Cleomaceae Coastal Salt Marsh, Coastal Sage Scrub

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Dodder Family Convolvulaceae Coastal Salt Marsh, Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Salt grass Family Poaceae Coastal Salt Marsh

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Valley oak Family Fagaceae Oak Savannah

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Wild mustard Family Brassicaceae Oak Savannah

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Willow Family Salicaceae Riparian Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Black cottonwood Family Salicaceae Riparian Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

White alder Family Betulaceae Riparian Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Elderberry Family Adoxaceae Riparian Woodland, Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Mule fat Family Asteraceae Riparian Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

California sycamore Family Platanaceae Riparian Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

California bay Family Lauraceae Riparian Woodland, Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Coast live oak Family Fagaceae Riparian Woodland, Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Wild cucumber Family Cucurbitaceae Riparian Woodland, Southern Live Oak Woodland, Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Mistletoe Family Viscaceae Riparian Woodland, Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Coffeeberry Family Rhamnaceae Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Poison oak Family Anacardiaceae Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Toyon Family Rosaceae Southern Live Oak Woodland, Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

California walnut Family Juglandaceae Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Golden currant Family Grossulariaceae Southern Live Oak Woodland

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

California sagebrush Family Asteraceae Coastal Sage Scrub

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Bush sunflower Family Asteraceae Coastal Sage Scrub

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Coyote brush Family Asteraceae Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Purple sage Family Lamiaceae Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Black sage Family Lamiaceae Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Laurel sumac Family Anacardiaceae Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Lemonadeberry Family Anacardiaceae Coastal Sage Scrub

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

California buckwheat Family Polygonaceae Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Coastal prickly pear Family Cactaceae Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Chamise Family Rosaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Mountain mahogany Family Rosaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Holly-leaved cherry Family Rosaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Chaparral yucca Family Agavaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Manzanita Family Ericaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Yerba santa Family Boraginaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

California lilac Family Rhamnaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Redberry Family Rhamnaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Deerweed Family Fabaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Sticky monkeyflower Family Phrymaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Tree poppy Family Papaveraceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Woolly blue curls Family Lamiaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Desert brittle bush Family Asteraceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Sugar bush Family Anacardiaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

Scrub oak Family Fagaceae Chaparral

Common Name: ______ Family: _____ Ecosystem(s): _____

California cholla Family Cactaceae Chaparral

Family Adoxaceae

Blue elderberry

Family Agavaceae

Chaparral yucca

Family Anacardiaceae

Laurel sumac Lemonade berry Sugar bush Poison oak

Family Asteraceae

California sagebrush Coyote brush Mule fat Bush sunflower Desert brittlebush

Family Betulaceae

White alder

Family Boraginaceae

Yerba santa

Family Brassicaceae

Wild mustard

Family Cactaceae

California cholla Prickly pear

Family Chenopodiaceae

Salt bush Pickleweed

Family Cleomaceae

Bladderpod

Family Convolvulaceae

Dodder

Family Cucurbitaceae

Wild cucumber

Family Ericaceae

Manzanita

Family Fabaceae

Deerweed

Family Fagaceae

Coast live oak Scrub oak Valley oak

Family Grossulariaceae

Golden currant

Family Juglandaceae

California walnut

Family Lamiaceae

Purple sage Black sage Woolly blue curls

Family Lauraceae

California bay

Family Papaveraceae

Tree poppy

Family Phrymaceae

Sticky monkeyflower

Family Platanaceae

California sycamore

Family Polygonaceae

California buckwheat

Family Rhamnaceae

California lilac Coffeeberry Redberry

Family Rosaceae

Chamise Mountain mahogany Toyon Holly-leaved cherry

Family Salicaceae

Black cottonwood Willow

Family Viscaceae

Mistletoe

Genus Rhus

Lemonade berry Sugar bush

Genus Baccharis

Coyote brush Mule fat

Genus Encelia

Bush sunflower Desert brittlebush

Genus Quercus

Coast live oak Scrub oak Valley oak

Genus Salvia

Purple sage Black sage

Primary vs Higher Level Consumers

primary consumers eat plants, seeds, or fruits while higher level consumers eat the next lower trophic level

Ecological Restoration

an effort by humans to reverse damage that has been done to an ecosystem by humans

List the 5 feeding strategies of birds

1. dabbling 2. surface diving 3. plunge diving 4. shore probing 5. wading

Dabbling

surface swimmers; feed on small food items on/near surface head submerges, posterior end of body is directed upwards toward the surface broad/flattened bills, buoyant, legs right angle to body axis, webbed digits

Surface Diving

surface swimmers (ride lower in the water than dabblers) that dive completely underwater to feed on fish not very buoyant, out of water their bodies are vertically upright legs positioned far back on their body and directed behind them, webbed digits

Plunge Diving

dive completely underwater from the air to feed on fish little swimming needed, more buoyant than surface divers narrow and sharp, hooked, or pouched bill

Shore Probing

walking along water's edge feeding on the wet sand for small invertebrates don't tend to swim, no webbed digits long/narrow bills with a blunt tip

Wading

walk in the water often quite deep but don't swim, feed on fish and large invertebrates long necks, very long legs, no webbed digits sharp/triangular bills

Senescence Risk

if fires don't occur as frequently, species dependent on fire-stimulated regeneration would locally go extinct

Immaturity Risk

if fires occur too frequently, fire dependent species might not reach reproductive maturity and seed banks would not be replenished at time of fire

In the northern hemisphere, _____-facing slopes receive more sunlight. Is there more/less vegetation present?

south, less vegetation present (shrubs)

In the northern hemisphere, _____-facing slopes receive less sunlight. Is there more/less vegetation present?

north, more vegetation present (trees)