Evolution, Biological Communities, and Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species InteractionsSpecies Interactions

Biomes: Global Patterns of LifeBiomes: Global Patterns of Life

Population BiologyPopulation Biology

Environmental Science 2Environmental Science 2

Field Trip #1Field Trip #1

Date/time: Saturday, starts @ 9:00 amDate/time: Saturday, starts @ 9:00 am Location: Santa Monica National Location: Santa Monica National

Recreation Area, Leo Carrillo State Park.Recreation Area, Leo Carrillo State Park. Hand-out in class… Info/Map Hand-out in class… Info/Map Logistics: transportation and navigationLogistics: transportation and navigation

• Please be on time and prepared to do some Please be on time and prepared to do some walking… bring multiple types of clothes and walking… bring multiple types of clothes and shoes for unknown conditions.shoes for unknown conditions.

• Picnic (optional)Picnic (optional)

Activity #1Activity #1

Find 5 facts about the Santa Monica Find 5 facts about the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Mountains National Recreation Area and surroundingssurroundings

Fill-out Activity #1 hand-out and turn-in Fill-out Activity #1 hand-out and turn-in when completewhen complete

Use computers (i-net) on campusUse computers (i-net) on campus Website suggestion: Website suggestion: www.nps.gov/samo/www.nps.gov/samo/, ,

also Google Earth. also Google Earth. Plus navigation to fieldtrip location and Plus navigation to fieldtrip location and

maps!maps!

Important DefinitionsImportant Definitions Evolution: gradual changes in species Evolution: gradual changes in species

over time...over time...• Natural Selection – better-fit individuals Natural Selection – better-fit individuals

thrive and pass on traits to next thrive and pass on traits to next generationgeneration

• Adaptation – acquisition of traits Adaptation – acquisition of traits allowing for species survivalallowing for species survival

• Speciation: the development of a new Speciation: the development of a new speciesspecies

• Why? – environmental pressures allow Why? – environmental pressures allow for individual/species change for individual/species change

Some People of InterestSome People of Interest

1.1. Charles DarwinCharles Darwin2.2. Alfred WallaceAlfred Wallace

Both scientists Both scientists published biological published biological research at the research at the same time (mid-same time (mid-1800s), leading to 1800s), leading to the main theory of the main theory of evolution embraced evolution embraced by modern science.by modern science.

Biology BasicsBiology Basics

Habitat: the place or set of Habitat: the place or set of environmental conditions in which an environmental conditions in which an organism livesorganism lives

Niche: the role of a species in a Niche: the role of a species in a biological communitybiological community

Interactions between environment and Interactions between environment and other organismsother organisms• Competition – resources, mates, and more Competition – resources, mates, and more • Predation – eat or be eatenPredation – eat or be eaten• Mutualism – together in harmonyMutualism – together in harmony• Disturbance – poor environmental factorsDisturbance – poor environmental factors

Biology BasicsBiology Basics

Diversity – the number of different Diversity – the number of different species, niches, and/or genetic species, niches, and/or genetic variation in a biological communityvariation in a biological community• Species – A 300, B 25, C 150 per

community Abundance – the total number of Abundance – the total number of

organisms or species in a biological organisms or species in a biological communitycommunity• Species A – 1,000 individuals/community

Biology BasicsBiology Basics

Human InterruptionsHuman Interruptions

Habitat loss from human useHabitat loss from human use Introduced speciesIntroduced species Extraction or eradicationExtraction or eradication Fire, flooding, drought, storms, and Fire, flooding, drought, storms, and

other extreme phenomena caused by other extreme phenomena caused by human negligencehuman negligence• normal changes vs. human-induced normal changes vs. human-induced

changeschanges

Biome IntroductionBiome Introduction

Biome characteristicsBiome characteristics Large terrestrial Large terrestrial

ecosystemecosystem Recognizable Recognizable

assemblage of plants assemblage of plants and animalsand animals

Ecotone – transitional Ecotone – transitional boundary between boundary between adjacent biomesadjacent biomes

Vegetation – Basis for Vegetation – Basis for biome namesbiome names

BiogeographyBiogeography

View Biomes from Environmental View Biomes from Environmental Geography course…Geography course…• Located on website under Physical Located on website under Physical

Geography lectures (ch11)Geography lectures (ch11)• Biome-related slides only (#32-#42)Biome-related slides only (#32-#42)• See website @ See website @

<http://geography-venturacounty.info/index.htm><http://geography-venturacounty.info/index.htm>

Population BiologyPopulation Biology

Population growth, limits, and crashPopulation growth, limits, and crash• carrying capacitycarrying capacity• birth/death ratesbirth/death rates• migratory vs. sedentarymigratory vs. sedentary• genetic diversitygenetic diversity• physical conditionsphysical conditions• humans humans

Conservation BiologyConservation Biology

Biogeography + Environmental ScienceBiogeography + Environmental Science= = Saving Ecosystems, Communities, and SpeciesSaving Ecosystems, Communities, and Species

Island BiogeographyIsland Biogeography• colonization/extinctioncolonization/extinction• barriers & changebarriers & change• speciation/endemismspeciation/endemism• human influences human influences

Conservation in SMNRAConservation in SMNRA

Islands and Mainland - connectionsIslands and Mainland - connections Example – giant coreopsis (plant)Example – giant coreopsis (plant) Q&AQ&A

*Don’t forget to prepare for the *Don’t forget to prepare for the Saturday field trip (mandatory)!Saturday field trip (mandatory)!

Homework (continued)Homework (continued) Finish reading Ch.1 and three chapters of Finish reading Ch.1 and three chapters of

your choice from the following list:your choice from the following list:• Chapter 2Chapter 2• Chapter 3Chapter 3• Chapter 4 Chapter 4 • Chapter 5Chapter 5• Chapter 6Chapter 6

Write a brief summary on each chapter Write a brief summary on each chapter you read, including: you read, including: • chapter number/title, single favorite Case chapter number/title, single favorite Case

Study/Exploring Science subsection among the Study/Exploring Science subsection among the chapters, overall questions and/or comments chapters, overall questions and/or comments