Ecology lecture 9 succession warming Flashcards
greenhouse gases
water vapor (H2O) carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4 nitrous oxide N2O-fermintation, OZONE, chloroflurocarbons [image: guy driving car on cold day, breathing out, farting, banana ferminting, fertialzer back, and spray self with aerosale (chloroflourocarbons).
natural greenhouse effect
natural warming effect of troposphere. This effect releases heat in atomposhere near earth’s surface. Greenhouse gases (above + ozone) and other gases in lower atmopshere (troposphere) absorb some of infared radiation heat radiated by earths surface. Molecules vibrate and transform absorbed energy into longer wavelenght infared radiation in troposphere. IF atomosphere concentrations of green house gases increase and other natural processes do not remove the, AVG TEMP of lower atmosphere will increase (compare to global warming: warming of earths lower atmosphere (troposphere) b/c increase in concentrations of one or more greenhouse gases. Can result in climate change that last for decades to thousands of years.
Global Warming
The increase in Earth’s average surface temperature resulting from an accelerated warming of the earths lower atmosphere (troposphere) due to increases n the concentration of one or more greenhouse gases primarily CO2 from burning fossil fuels (HUMAN INDUCED). –It can result in climate change that can last for decases to thousands of years. (we are adding to much CO2). transpiration energy industry
climate change
broader term that refers to long-term changes in climate, including average temperature and precipitation, primarily due to rising CO2 levels from consumption of fossil fuels.
•earths temp increased some areas an avg 11 degrees Farenheit-
consequences of earth warming (PART I)
- Polar ice caps melting-valances; increase sea level due extra water (flood locations at sea level)
- Increase violent storms due air over ocean warming to higher extend-warm air arrives more energy , creates more violent storms
- Desertification: drying out certain regions when dry air masses cross over certain regions
consequences of earth warming (PART II)
- Increase forest fires - due warmer drier conditions
- Disruption in our ability grow agriculture crops in present locations
- increase in tropical diseases moving to what used to be temperate areas
- disruption ecosystems, as orgs can’t adjust to rising temps–esp orgs with narrow tolerance range or not mobile.
climate
physical properties of large area (preciptitation /temperature) as measured over long period of time. affected by temp and prices. These 2 factors are influenced by latitude topography elevation ocean
CO2 carbon dioxide sources
transportation: in cars,
energy: electricity production
products: factories
burning of forests (deforestation)
Methane (CH4)
-Agriculture: farm animals,
-Dams -build up vegitation rot
Landfills: consumption of stuff INTO landfills
decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.
nitrous oxide (N2O)
nitrous oxide (N2O)
Agricutlure: fertilizers
combustion fossil fuels
ecological succession
gradual change in plant and animal communities in an area (over time) following disturbance or the creation of a new substrate. Often the replaced communities are more complex.
subtrate
surface on which a plant or animal lives. A substrate can include biotic or abiotic materials and animals. For example, encrusting algae that lives on a rock (its substrate) can be itself a substrate for another animal that lives on top of the algae.
Primary ecological succession
ecological succession that involves the breakdown of an unusable resource; succession in an area where there was no life previously. [ no soil in a terrestrial ecosystem OR no bottom sediment in an aquatic ecosystem.
Exp Primary sucession
bare rock exposed by retreating glacier, newly cooled lave and abandoned highway or parking lot, newly created shallow pond. Takes 100-1,000 years for need build up fertile soil or aquatic sediments provide nutrients needed establish plant communities.
secondary ecological succession
ecological succession where an existing community has been disturbed, destroyed, or cleared leaving the soil OR bottom sediment intact. -more common-
exp secondary ecological succession
abandoned farmland (old field), burned or cut forests, heavily polluted streams, and land that flooded. Can begin weeks (vegs germinate). Seeds in soil and/or imported wind or droppings birds/animals.
Aquatic - eutrophication
the gradual filling in of a lake basin with plant nutrients and sediments.
Terrestrial
eg. succession at Glacier Bay, old field succession, intertidal succession
Eutrophication Bonus
Eutrophication is characterized by excessive plant and algal growth due to the increased availability of one or more limiting growth factors needed for photosynthesis , such as sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrient fertilizers. Eutrophication occurs naturally over centuries as lakes age and are filled in with sediments. However, human activities have accelerated the rate and extent of eutrophication through both point-source discharges and non-point loadings of limiting nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, into aquatic ecosystems (i.e., cultural eutrophication), with dramatic consequences for drinking water sources, fisheries, and recreational water bodies
Degradative succession
succession of organisms that exploit a dead resource (finite and ephemeral) such as dead log, carcass, cow patty
role of disturbances in ecosystems - intermediate disturbance hypothesis
an intermediate amount of disturbances is actually optimal for maintaining species diversity. [highest diversity will occur at levels of moderate disturbance]
Ecological disturbance,
an event or force, of abiotic or biotic origin, that brings about mortality to organisms and changes in their spatial patterning in the ecosystems they inhabit. Disturbance plays a significant role in shaping the structure of individual populations and the character of whole ecosystems.NOTE: the first conceptual disturbance-related model in modern ecology was ecological succession, an idea emphasizing the progressive changes in ecosystem structure that follow a disturbance.
old field
Old field is a term used in ecology to describe lands formerly cultivated or grazed but later abandoned. The dominant flora include grasses, heaths and herbaceous plants, with encroaching woody vegetation. It represents an intermediate stage found in ecological succession in an ecosystem advancing towards its climax community.
species richness
variety of species, measured by number of different species contained in a community
