2017 ECOLOGY (B&C) KAREN LANCOUR - PowerPoint Presentation

1. 2017 ECOLOGY (B&C)KAREN LANCOURNational Bio Rules Committee Chairmankarenlancour@charter.net

2. Ecology Events Ecology – principles of ecology related to terrestrial environments – 2 year rotation by biomes ( 1- tundra & forests & 2-deserts & grasslands) Water Quality – principles of ecology related to aquatic environments – 2 year rotation by aquatic biomes (1-freshwater & 2- marine & estuary) Green Generation (Environmental Science) – man’s impact on ecology and possible solutions – 2 year rotation by problem issues (1-Aquatic, Air, Climate & 2-Terrestrial, Population Growth)

3. Event Rules – 2017 DISCLAIMER This presentation was prepared using draft rules.  There may be some changes in the final copy of the rules.  The rules which will be in your Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the official rules.

4. Event Rules – 2017 BE SURE TO CHECK THE 2017 EVENT RULES FOR EVENT PARAMETERS AND TOPICS FOR EACH COMPETITION LEVEL

5. TRAINING MATERIALS Training Power Point – content overviewTraining Handouts – content information Sample Tournament – sample problems with key Event Supervisor Guide – prep tips, setup needs, and scoring tipsInternet Resources & Training Materials – on the Science Olympiad website at www.soinc.org under Event InformationA Biology-Earth Science CD, an Ecology CD as well as the Division B and Division C Test Packets are available from SO store at www.soinc.org

6. EVENT COMPONENTS Ecology Content – 2017PART 1-Principles of Ecology (about 1/3)PART 2- Terrestrial Ecosystem - Tundra, Taiga and Forests of North America (about 1/3)PART 3- Human Impact on Ecosystems (about 1/3)Process skills in data, graph and diagram analysis Event parameters – check the event parameters in the rules for resources allowed.

7. PART I: General Principles of Ecology ECOLOGY – how organisms interact with one another and with their environment ENVIRONMENT – living and non-living components ABIOTIC – non-living component or physical factors as soil, rainfall, sunlight, temperaturesBIOTIC – living component are other organisms.

8. ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATIONINDIVIDUAL – individual organismsPOPULATION – organisms of same species in same area (biotic factors)COMMUNITY – several populations in same area (biotic factors) ECOSYSTEM – community plus abiotic factors BIOSPHERE – all ecosystems on earth

9. ECOLOGY OF INDIVIDUALSHomeostasis – delicate balance Components Physiological Ecology Temperature and Water BalanceLight and Biological CyclesPhysiological Ecology and Conservation

10. ECOLOGY OF POPULATIONSProperties of populationsPatterns of distribution and densityIntra-specific competitionPopulation dynamicsGrowth and regulationAltering population growthHuman impact

11. Growth Curves

12. Human Population

13. Survival CurvesSurvivorship is the percentage of remaining survivors of a population over time; usually shown graphically.     Type I survivorship curve: most individuals live out their life span and die of old age (e.g., humans).     Type II survivorship curve: individuals die at a constant rate (e.g., birds, rodents, and perennial plants).      Type III survivorship curve: most individuals die early in life (e.g., fishes, invertebrates, and plants).

14. ECOLOGY OF COMMUNITIES Closed vs. Open communitiesClosed – sharp boundariesOpen – Lack boundaries Species abundance and diversityTrophic Structure of CommunitiesFood chainsFood webTrophic pyramid

15. INTERACTIONS AMONG SPECIESInteractionsInterspecific competitionPredationExploitationSymbiosis

16. Types of Species Interactions Neutral – two species do not interact Mutualism – both benefit Commensalism – one benefits, other neutral Parasitism – one benefits, one harmed but not killed Predation – one benefits, other killed

17. Predator - Prey Relationship

18. Food Chain Producer1st order Consumer or Herbivore2nd order Consumer or 1st order Carnivore3rd order Consumer or 2nd order Carnivore4th order Consumer or 3rd order CarnivoreDecomposers – consume dead and decaying matter

19. Food Web

20. ECOLOGY OF ECOSYSTEMSEnergy Flow Energy Flow PyramidsBio-mass PyramidsCommunity Succession and StabilityNutrient Recycling – nutrient cycles

21. Energy vs NutrientNutrients – cyclic (Biogeochemical Cycles) Energy flow – one way

22. Ecologic Pyramids Ecological pyramid - a graph representing trophic level numbers within an ecosystem. The primary producer level is at the base of the pyramid with the consumer levels above. Numbers pyramid - compares the number of individuals in each trophic level. Biomass pyramid - compares the total dry weight of the organisms in each trophic level. Energy pyramid - compares the total amount of energy available in each trophic level. This energy is usually measured in kilocalories.

23. Numbers Pyramid

24. Biomass & Energy Flow Pyramids

25. Biogeochemical Cycles Hydrologic Cycle Phosphorus CycleNitrogen CycleCarbon Cycle

26. Hydrologic (Water) Cycle

27. Phosphorus Cycle

28. Nitrogen Cycle

29. Carbon Cycle

30. Biosphere Types of Ecological SpheresBiosphereLithosphereHydrosphereAtmosphereBiogeochemical Cycles Disruption of BiosphereSpecie Extinction & Biosphere Destruction

31. ECOSYSTEM STABILITY Ecosystem stability and the response of ecosystems to disturbance are of crucial importance Biological diversity acts to stabilize ecosystem functioning in the face of environmental fluctuation. Variation among species in their response to such fluctuation is an essential requirement for ecosystem stabilityClimate change and other human-driven (anthropogenic) environmental changes will continue to cause biodiversity loss in the coming decades

32. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

33. ADAPTATION

34. TYPES OF ADAPTATIONSStructural, Physiological and Behavioralhelp species to survive in their environment. Most organisms have combinations of all three types

35. Extinction There are natural causesMan’s activities have accelerated extinctionrates.

36. Part 2: ECOLOGY OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS 2017 – Terrestrial Ecosystems of NATundra Taiga (Boreal Forest or Coniferous Forest)Deciduous Forests 2018 – Terrestrial Ecosystems of NAGrasslands Deserts

37. Terrestrial EcosystemsLatitude vs. Altitude

38. Ecosystems: Temperature and Climate for Terrestrial Biomes

39. Adaptations of Plants & AnimalsNot intended to be a taxonomic event Emphasis on adaptations of common plants and animals to each biomeCommon members of food chains and food webs of each biome Limiting factors for each biome

40. TUNDRA OF NORTH AMERICAAbout one fifth of the land surface of the earth is tundra. Located next to icy zones in the arctic encircling North Pole down to Taiga. (Arctic Tundra) Located at the top of mountains above the tree line ( Alpine Tundra)

41. TUNDRA OF NORTH AMERICA Simple vegetation structure Limitation of drainage Energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material Large population oscillations

42. TUNDRA – Abiotic Factors Angle of incidence for incoming solar radiation is low and twilight lasts many hours Temperature - extremely cold - from -30oC to -40oC in winter; average winter temperature of - 34 degrees C ( -30 degrees F). Highest summer temperature is only about 10o C Annual precipitation (mostly as snow) is 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) which is desert-likeWinds - often reach speeds of 30 to 60 miles (48 to 97 km/hr)Sunlight - During the winter there are only a few hours or less of sunlight in the summer, there is sunlight almost 24 hours a day. Ground surface - spongy, uneven as a result of freezing and thawingPermafrost - Plains of tundra are covered with snow, ice and frozen soil most of the year Growing Season - Short season of growth and reproduction - from 50 to 60 days

43. Tundra Energy Pyramid

44. TUNDRA of North America

45. Plants of the Tundra About 1,700 kinds of plantsTiny flowering plants (4 inches or less in height)grasseslichens – crustose and foliose sedgeswillows

46. TUNDRA – Plant AdaptationsMany of the plants are perennials so they can store food from season to season Must adapt to strong winds and disturbances in soil Plants are short and group togetherForm little cushions or mats close to the ground where ground is warmer than the air Carry out photosynthesis at low temperatures and low light intensities Adapt to short growing seasons by reproducing by asexually rather than sexually

47. Tundra Food Web

48. Animals of the TUNDRAPrimary consumers (Herbivores) – lemmings, insects, musk oxen, reindeerSecondary consumers ( Carnivores) – snow owls, arctic foxes, polar bears Migratory birds: ravens, snow buntings, falcons, loons, sandpipers, terns, snow birds, and various species of gullsInsects: mosquitoes, flies, moths, grasshoppers, blackflies and arctic bumble bees Fish: cod, flatfish, salmon, and troutReptiles and amphibians are few or absent

49. TUNDRA: Animal AdaptationsMust adapt to extremely cold winters Breed and raise their young very quickly during the short summersMany as birds migrate south in the winter Many of those that stay - hibernate during the winter Constant immigration and emigration – Population constantly oscillates

50. Environmental Importanceof the TUNDRA Filters millions of liters of water Stores large amounts of carbonPermafrost layer doesn’t normally thaw out, so the organic matter stored in them is effectively trapped foreverGlobal warming lowers the thaw depth, and the peat and organic matter begins decaying inputting of CO2 to the atmosphere

51. TUNDRA: Role in Earth’s Climate global warming is happening at twice the rate of more temperate regions of the earthaffects the release or retention of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methanemethane is 20 times more efficient at trapping warmth than carbon dioxidesoil nutrients, plant type, and plant biomass will be affected by changes in soil moisture and can modify the amount and types of greenhouse gasesthe climate balance could tip not just in the Arctic, but throughout the world

52. TAIGA OF NORTH AMERICA2nd largest forest in the worldRing Artic between Artic and Deciduous Forest – 50 to 60 degrees North Latitude Upper elevations of Mountains

53. Taiga or Boreal (Evergreen) forests of North America

54. Taiga – Abiotic Factors Angle of incidence for incoming solar radiation is low and twilight lasts many hours Seasons- short, moist and moderately warm summers & long, cold, dry winters. Temperature: -65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit Variable precipitation: 6-40 in (15-100 cm). Soils – thin because they were scraped by glaciers and very acid because of decomposition of pine needles Absence of earth-churning invertebrates as earthworms so soil is hard and compact Fire a major factor in maintaining biome

55. Environmental Importanceof the Taiga Filters millions of liters of water Stores large amounts of carbonProduces oxygenRebuilds soils and restores nutrients Bogs and marshes provides habitats for large numbers of species from fish to birds

56. Taiga - Food web

57. Taiga: Types of Plants Conifers are major producer Most common types – spruce, balsam fir and pine Others – hemlock, cedar, redwood, junipersLatitude and altitude influences speciesBerry-producing shrubs important to birds, mammals and people Some types of fungi, lichens, and mosses

58. Taiga: Plant Adaptations Trees have upside down cone shape so snow slides off the branches Branches are flexible to hold great amounts of snow and not breakTrees grow thin and close together to protect them from cold and wind Needles are waxy for protection from freezing temperatures and prevent them from drying out Needles are present year round and deep green to absorb the maximum warmth from the sun Thick bark which does not easily burn and protects inner layers from heat and cones protect the seeds

59. Taiga: Types of Animals Insects – millions of insects in the summerbirds – up to 3 billion insect-eating birds breed each year in Taiga – over 200 speciesSeed-eaters like finches and sparrows as well as omnivorous birds as crows stay all yearCrossbill has specialized bill for prying open cones and nuthatch can break the cones open Herbivores as small mammals, snowshoe rabbits, red squirrels, voles and lemmingPredators feeding on small mammals as owls, wolves, lynx, bobcats, minks, wolverines, weasels, mink, otters, martens, fishers Deer, elk and mooseLargest predators as grizzlies, lynx, and mountain lions will also feed on weakened or young deer, elk or moose

60. Taiga: Animal Adaptations for long cold winters and hot summers migrate south in winter (birds) go into hibernation during winter store extra fat layers on their bodies for winter change diets from season to seasongrow extra fur on the bottom of their feet to tread on snow easier (lynx and snowshoe rabbit)change fur color and coat thickness from season to seasonlive under snow in winter in snow tunnels (lemmings, mice, shrews, voles)

61. Taiga: Role in Earth’s Climate It stores large quantities of carbon stored as plant material on forest floor (up to 10 feet in some areas)1 cm of plant material can hold 2.5 tons of carbon per acreTaiga acts like a large refrigerator preventing fallen trees, needles and other debris from decomposing Heating up the taiga is causing the following problems:Litter decomposes putting carbon into the atmosphere Increases in forest fires Infestation by bark beetles which is killing the trees Dead trees - tinder to fuel the forest fires and adding more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

62. Forests Trees CanopyFood webSpecial adaptationsPlant and animals Special environmental issues Effect of human populations

63. TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST The average temperature of the forest is about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.The average rainfall here in the forest is 30 to 60 inches a year The deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall with spectacular fall colors and they grow back in spring

64. CLIMATE CHARACTERISTICS Temperature varies from -30° C to 30° C. Precipitation (75-150 cm) is distributed evenly throughout the year. Soil is fertile, enriched with decaying litter. Canopy is moderately dense and allows light to penetrate, resulting in well-developed and richly diversified understory vegetation and stratification of animalsThere are four seasons so animals & plants have special adaptations to these yearly changes

65. Layers of the Temperate Deciduous ForestTree stratum - the tallest layer, 60 -100 feet high, with large oak, maple, beech, chestnut, hickory, elm, basswood, linden, walnut, or sweet gum trees Small tree or sapling layer - short tree species and young trees Shrub layer - shrubs like rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurels, and huckleberries Herb layer - short plants Ground layer - lichens, clubmosses, and true mosses

66. PLANT ADAPTATIONS Flora is characterized by 3-4 tree species per square kilometerTrees are distinguished by broad leaves that are lost annually and include such species as oak, hickory, beech, hemlock, maple, basswood, cottonwood, elm, willow, and spring-flowering herbs In fall with limited sunlight and water, the leaves change color and fallIn spring the buds open and grow new leaves

67. ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS Typical squirrels, rabbits, skunks, birds, deer, mountain lion, bobcat, timber wolf, fox, and black bearSome animals as birds migrate in the winterSome mammals hibernate in winter Others as squirrels, chipmunks, & jays store large food supplies

68. BIODIVERSITY It is the number of different organisms & their relative frequency in an ecosystemLevels of Biodiversity:Genetic diversity – varies in the genetic make-up among individuals within a single speciesSpecies diversity – variety among the species or distinct types of living organisms found in different habitats of the planetEcological diversity – variety of forests, deserts, grasslands, streams, lakes, oceans, wetlands, and other biological communities.

69. SPECIES DIVERSITY LEVELS ALPHA- WITHIN HABITATBETA – BETWEEN COMMINITIES GAMMA – IN A REGION

70. PART 3 – HUMAN IMPACT ON TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS Environmental concerns for tundra, taiga, and deciduous forestsRole of these ecosystems in Earth’s climateMajor Environmental Issues Conservation Biology – goals, environmental threats, actions

71. TUNDRA: Environmental Concerns Large scale extraction industries ( oil, gas, and minerals as uranium) Pollution – chemical waste, mining, hydroelectric developmentExpansion of agriculture/livestock, vehicular traffic, and tourism increase degradationGlobal warming – 1/3 of soil bound carbon is found in this area. Melting of permafrost releases large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere increasing“Greenhouse Affect” as organic matter decays and released carbon dioxide. Erosion is emerging due to permafrost thaw and overgrazing Poaching – hunting and fishing out of season, on protected land, or to endangered species

72. Taiga: Environmental Concerns Pollution Clear cuttingIllegal logging PoachingForest fires – unnatural firesMiningDrilling for oil and natural gas disrupt the forestGlobal warming

73. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS FOR THE DECIDUOUS FOREST Many of the world's great tracts of temperate deciduous forest have experienced significant alteration through logging, conversion to agricultural land and urban development. Human industry within and adjacent to temperate deciduous forests may pollute air and water resourcesSpecies introduced to temperate deciduous forests by humans may become invasive and threaten native ecological systems

74. Deforestation Deforestation – the permanent destruction of indigenous forests and woodlands. Causes include Conversion of forests to agricultural land to feed people Development of cash crops and cattle raising esp. in tropical countries Commercial logging that is not regulated Poor soils in humid tropics do not support agriculture for long so more clearing becomes necessary

75. Results of Deforestation

76. Mining - Environmental Risks

77. MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AFFECTING TERRESTRIAL BIOMEPollution of Air, Water and Land Hazardous Chemicals and Wastes Land Degradation Loss of Biodiversity Ozone Depletion Climate ChangeEnvironmental Factors Loss of natural and cultural resourcesHabitat loss Overexploitation Exotic species and introductions Overpopulation

78. Pollution Harmful materials entering the environmentPoint source pollution – from a clearly identifiable source Nonpoint pollution comes from many different sources.Four main categories – industrial, residential, commercial, and environmental

79. Acid Rain

80. Greenhouse Effect

81. Ozone Depletion

82. Ozone Hole over Antartica Source: NASA

83. Biodiversity Threats

84. Habitat Fragmentation & DestructionHabitat destruction and fragmentation is a process that describes the emergences of discontinuities (fragmentation) or the loss (destruction) of the environment inhabited by an organism. It results in Loss of resident speciesLoss of food sourcesLoss of ecosystem functions provided by the habitat

85. INVASIVE SPECIES PROBLEMSWorld-wide problem Increase in travel and trade open routes In U.S. costs $137 billion dollars per yearApproximately 42% of Threatened or Endangered species are at risk due to non-native, invasive species.Raise havoc in ecosystems and threaten species diversity

86. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY Ecology is the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, the interactions among organisms, and the interactions between organisms and the physical environment. Conservation Biology is the scientific study of nature and of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction and the erosion of biotic interactions. Conservation biologists investigate the impact of humans on Earth's biodiversity and develop practical approaches to prevent the extinction of species and promote the sustainable use of biological resources

87. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

88. Strategies for a Sustainable World advancing technologies to reduce wasteincreasing recycling and reusecreating even safer treatment and disposal optionsdeveloping sources of renewable energysharing the benefits of our learning and innovation

89. MAINTAINING BIODIVERSITY

90. CONTROLLING INVASIVE SPECIES

91. INVASIVE SPECIESControl Methods PreventionEradicating potential invaders soon after invasion Physical (manual & mechanical) Cultural – Ecosystem Management Biological – natural enemies Chemical - pesticides Integrated Pest Management – Uses a combination of methods – OFTEN MOST EFFECTIVE

92. RECLAMATION OF DISTURBED AREAS

93. REINTRODUCTION OF SPECIES ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

94. Nonrenewable vs. Renewable Energy Sources Non-renewable energy sources – fossil fuels as coal, oil and natural gas as well as nuclear fuels – limited supply will run out and have negative environmental impacts Renewable energy sources – sun, wind, waves, heat, hydropower and biomass that can be used again and again and is cleanest energy sources. There are pros and cons for each type of energy