Ecology:The scientific study of
interactions among organisms and between organisms and
their environment.
Abiotic Factors
• Nonliving things in an ecosystem
• Ex.: Rocks, water, temperature, sunlight, oxygen, sand, climate
Abiotic factors affect biodiversity
• Temperature: very high or very low temp. limits biodiversity
• Water: amount limits biodiversity
Climate • average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time
• determines kinds of species present
• High biodiversity resists damage better!
• Ecosystem damage can come from – natural disasters– human impact
http://www.marinenz.org.nz/index.php/the_undersea_world/roger_grace_archive/benefits_of_marine_reserves
Terrestrial Biomes
• Tropical - low latitudes, warm, water varies– rain forests - lots of rain– savannas - less rain, long dry season– deserts - little rain, lower biodiversity
– Rainforest Biome
• Temperate - mid-latitudes, temp. varies• grasslands - moderate water, cooler temps than
savannas• forests - plenty of rain, mild climate• deserts - little rain, wide temp. range
• High Latitude– taiga - forests in cold, wet climates– tundra - little rain, mostly frozen
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=taiga&form=QBIR&qs=n&sk=&sc=8-5#focal=21f2731d29856171ea9611a8694e4371&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.johndrew.com%2FAlaska%2520Images%2FTundra%2520Approaching%2520the%2520Alaska%2520Range1.jpg
Aquatic Ecosystems
• Freshwater - lakes, ponds, rivers
• Wetlands - mix of land/water
• Estuary - fresh meets salt water
• Marine - salty water
Ecological Methods
• Observing – what, how many, what are they doing?
• Experimenting – test hypothesis
• Modeling – large problems or long time frames.
Classification of Living ThingsCh. 18, pp.423-426
• Grouping life based on similarities
• Why classify? To study the vast diversity of life and organize information.
Carolus Linneaus
• Swedish, 1750s
• Organized and classified living things into a hierarchical system based on physical characteristics.
Linnaeus’s System
Seven taxonomic categories: Kingdom Animal
Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta
Order Lepidoptera Family Danaidae
Genus Danaus Species plexippus
The system can change as scientists gather new information! (DNA, new discoveries)
• Now we have “Domain” above the Kingdom level
• 3 Domains– Archaea– Bacteria– Eukarya
Now come up with your own mnemonic device to remember the order of taxons from domain to species.
D K P C O F G S
Taxonomy: the classification and naming of organisms.
• Scientific names are universal.
• Binomial nomenclature – two part name.Genus species
• Ex: Homo sapiens, Drosophila melanogaster, Toxicodendron radicans, Peromiscus maniculatus
Monarch butterfly
Danaus plexippus
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=monarch+butterfly&FORM=BIFD#focal=fd1eb6f96d112ce06eaf105fb75a72f3&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fnewarklibrary.files.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F019-monarch_butterfly1.jpg
Insect Project
• To learn the scientific names of some common Kansas insect species
• To use the Linnaen classification system
• To use a dichotomous key to identify insects
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=insect+collection&FORM=BIFD#focal=6b25f4c47dbf85580029f38134a311e2&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fotothing.com%2Fphotos%2F4f6%2F4f6e3dc2ea211f1dcd49a7b4358df815.jpg
Dichotomous Keys
• An identification key that contains pairs of contrasting descriptions.
• After each description, a key either directs the user to another pair of descriptions or identifies an object
http://www.amnh.org/learn/biodiversity_counts/ident_help/Text_Keys/arthropod_keyA.htm
The useful online resources like identification keys for your insect project will be on the T-drive:
Share with Students
Schwarting
Biology
Insects