bio - ecology and conservation

the distinct role a species plays in its ecosystem

ex. habitat, nutrition, behaviour

maintains balance in ecosystem (wolves, sharks)

sensitive to environmental change; monitors change (moss, frogs)

enhances habitat for others (beaver, elephant)

survive in broad niche — can eat anything, reproduce at anytime, live in extreme temperatures (cockroach)

survive in specific niche — certain nutrition, produce at certain times, wary of environments (salamander)

protected on natural reserves or natural parks; stay in their natural environment

removed from their natural environment

captive breeding, botanical gardens, seed banks

edge effect, fragmentation, “island” size

changes in the ecosystem on the edge of a reserve or park

often natural reserves/parks become fragmented into smaller parts, usually by roads

consequences: isolation, increased edge effect, decrease in gene pools, impact migration routes, decreased space

larger reserves/parks are ecologically better than smaller ones because: more habitats, decreased edge effect, allows more migration, more resources

monitor ecosystem health using indicator species

measuring biodiversity through evenness and richness

most scarce resource in relation to an organism’s needs; puts a limit on population size

where the species thrives

where the species can survive

where the species cannot live

a line across a habitat that helps explore relationships between organisms and an abiotic factor

potential mode of existence within its tolerance range with no external pressures.

represents the actual mode of existence in which the species is really found

two species cannot coexist together indefinitely in the same habitat if their niches are identical

predictable changes in an ecosystem caused by living organisms over time from a simple pioneer community

starts the reformation of an ecosystem

colonization from a lifeless environment (glacier retreating, volcano)

occurs when there has been an ecosystem that has recently been disturbed (forest fire, flood)

refers to the rate of biomass generation in an ecosystem

amount of energy available to consume after respiration by plants

net production = gross production - respiration (kJm^-2yr^-1)

competition between different species

competition between same species

hunting vs hunted

consumes plants only

takes resources from a host

benefits both parties

benefits one party, neither benefits nor harms the other party

the ratio of food mass provided to body mass output

(mass of food consumed)/(body mass gain)

a species that has a variable body temperature according to the surrounding environment

a species that maintains a regulated body temperature through physiological mechanisms

diagrams used to model how biomass, litter, and soil interconnect to recycle nutrients for the environment

1. not all biomass is eaten in one trophic level and is broken down by decomposers

2. some of the biomass is indigestible and egested

3. some of the biomass exits the body as urine

4. energy is lost through cellular respiration

the total mass of living organisms, mainly plant tissue per unit area (rainforest)

the total amount ’organic’ matter, including humus and leaf litter (temperate forest)

the mineral (inorganic) and organic nutrients that are found in the soil (desert)

a species that is native to an area

a species that moves to an area in which it previously did not occur.

biological, mechanical, chemical

introducing a natural predator to limit its spread

physically removing the species or creating barriers so the invasive species cannot spread

using pesticides/chemicals to destroy the species

living organisms, in one trophic level, accumulate toxins in their body when they consume food. the fat-soluble chemicals build up in tissues because they are not easily excreted.

the increasing concentration of toxins in an organism as you move up trophic levels. it results from ingesting many plants or animals in lower trophic levels that contain toxins in their tissues.

small (0.33 – 1 mm in size) plastic that is being assimilated into ocean organisms by ingestion or filter feeding.

large (over 200 mm in size) plastic materials that can be found littering the streets, lakes, oceans found floating in naturally rotating ocean currents called gyres

a large system of rotating ocean currents

the result of human activity, or anthropogenic causes

• overexploitation

• habitat loss

• invasive or alien species outcompeting native species.

• habitat degradation due to pollution

• climate change