Sustainable Ecosystems - Weebly

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Sustainable Ecosystems

o Important Definitions

o The Spheres of the Earth

o Energy Flow and

Biogeochemical Cycles

o Ecological Footprint

o Food Webs and Pyramids

o Major Ecosystems

(Biomes)

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o Ecosystem Services

o Biodiversity

o Native and Invasive

Species

o Pollution

o Engineered Ecosystems

o The study of living organisms in the natural environment

o How they interact with one another o How they interact with their non-living

environment

Community + Abiotic environment, interacting

Ecosystem Community All the populations of the different species living and

interacting in the same ecosystem

A group of organisms that can breed to produce fully

fertile offspring

Species

Great White Pelicans

Population A group of organism of

the same species which live in the same habitat at

the same time where they can freely interbreed

The black-veined white butterfly

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Habitat The characteristics of the type of environment where

an organism normally lives. (e.g. a stoney stream, a deciduous temperate

woodland,)

• All creatures have the tools they need to get the

things they need from their specific environment.

• Such tools are called adaptations.

Adaptations

The Spheres of the Earth

Bio= life

Atmos = vapour

Litho = stone

Hydro = water

Sphere = ball

What ecosystems are present here at Bosco?

How can we improve our ‘green space’?

How can we make Bosco a Green School?

PHOTOSYNTHESIS /CELLULAR RESPIRATION

THE WATER CYCLE

THE CARBON CYCLE

THE NITROGEN CYCLE

THE PHOSPHORUS CYCLE

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We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

Native American Proverb

Canada consumes far more energy, materials, foods and services per capita that the majority of the world population.

Industrial society has made natural and human resource depletion a common daily practice, which will leave an impact for centuries to come.

http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/

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FOOD CHAINS and FOOD WEBS

• Food Chains.notebook

• Food Chains Activity (handout)

LET’s THINK….. • If we were a space crew bound for Neptune,

and we had the ability to grow wheat and corn on our spacecraft, which scenario would allow for us to survive the longest:

a) Eating the wheat and corn

b) Feeding the wheat and corn to chickens, and then eating the chickens

c) Feeding the wheat and corn to chickens, then eating the chicken’s eggs

FOOD CHAINS

Are designed to show

the direction that

energy flows from

producers to top

carnivores, in a

simplified single

pathway.

ENERGY IN FOOD CHAINS

Producer Primary consumer 2o consumer 10% 10%

90% 90%

energy used to live

energy passed to consumer

10% Rule: only 10% of the energy in an organism is passed on to the next trophic level

1000 units

100 units 10 units

1 unit 100 units

10 units

FOOD WEBS & TROPHIC LEVELS

1. TROPHIC LEVEL - the place in a food chain that an organism feeds

a. FIRST TROPHIC LEVEL - producers or autotrophs that feed themselves

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b. SECOND TROPHIC LEVEL - herbivores or primary [1o] consumers that eat producers

c. THIRD TROPHIC LEVEL – carnivores or

secondary [2o] consumers that eat herbivores

*Any organisms found at the second trophic level or

higher are considered to be heterotrophs i.e. they

do not produce their own food d. FOURTH TROPHIC LEVEL – carnivore or tertiary [3o] consumers that eat other carnivores

2. FOOD WEB - a series of interconnected food chains

HAWK

WEASEL

BOBCAT

MOUSE

GRASSHOPPER

FROG

SEEDS GRASS

VOLE

FALLEN LEAVES

We will use this simpler food web to answer a series of questions

HAWK

WEASEL

BOBCAT

MOUSE

GRASSHOPPER

FROG

SEEDS GRASS

VOLE

FALLEN LEAVES

Identify an autotroph

Identify a primary consumer

produces its own food

eats a producer

HAWK

WEASEL

BOBCAT

MOUSE

GRASSHOPPER

FROG

SEEDS GRASS

VOLE

FALLEN LEAVES

Identify a secondary consumer

a carnivore that eats herbivores

producer

1o consumer

2o consumer

Identify a tertiary consumer

a carnivore that eats other carnivores

3o consumer

1o Consumer

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Identify an organism at the fourth trophic level [show how it is at this level]

HAWK

WEASEL

BOBCAT

MOUSE

GRASSHOPPER

FROG

SEEDS GRASS

VOLE

FALLEN LEAVES

HAWK

WEASEL

BOBCAT

MOUSE

GRASSHOPPER

FROG

SEEDS GRASS

VOLE

FALLEN LEAVES

Identify a decomposer something that eats dead things

Identify an omnivore something that eats both plants & animals

HAWK

WEASEL

BOBCAT

MOUSE

GRASSHOPPER

FROG

SEEDS GRASS

VOLE

FALLEN LEAVES

Explain, what would be the effect on grasshoppers if fewer leaves

fewer fallen leaves means less food for voles

voles now eat more grass

voles eat more grass

less grass for grasshoppers to eat

fewer grasshoppers as they leave area as less food

Over a longer time

less food means some voles leave

fewer voles means less food for bobcat

bobcats now eat more frogs

fewer frogs means weasels eat more grasshoppers fewer grasshoppers

HAWK

WEASEL

BOBCAT

MOUSE

GRASSHOPPER

FROG

SEEDS GRASS

VOLE

FALLEN LEAVES

Explain what would be the effect on bobcats if fewer grasshoppers

Fewer grasshoppers means less grass & seeds being eaten and less food for frog, weasels & mice

Less food for frogs means frogs leave

If fewer frogs, less food for bobcats fewer bobcats

Over a longer time

If more grass, more food for voles

If more voles, more food for bobcats more bobcats

HAWK

WEASEL

BOBCAT

MOUSE

GRASSHOPPER

FROG

SEEDS GRASS

VOLE

FALLEN LEAVES

Explain what would be the effect on hawk if fewer bobcats.

Fewer bobcats means more voles and frogs

more frogs means more grasshoppers eaten

Fewer grasshoppers means less food for mice & weasels [although weasels can eat frogs]

Over a longer time

More voles eat more grass

Less grass for grasshoppers & mice

Fewer grasshoppers & mice, less food for hawks fewer hawks Overall, less food for hawks fewer hawks

HAWK

WEASEL

BOBCAT

MOUSE

GRASSHOPPER

FROG

SEEDS GRASS

VOLE

FALLEN LEAVES

Explain what would be the effect on voles if fewer hawks

Fewer hawks means more weasels and more mice

More mice & weasels eat more grasshoppers

So now fewer grasshoppers so they eat less grass

Now more grass, so more food for voles more voles

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Reflection Questions

1) What are the benefits (if any) of eating lower on the food chain? Consider personal, environmental, economical, etc.

2) What are the roles of scavengers, parasites, and decomposers within food chains? What if they were

removed from our ecosystems?

3) Where do humans fit in most food chains?

4) What would be the effect of removing one of the links within a food chain (an organism became extinct)?

5) What is the affect of polluting our abiotic environment?

Biomes – Areas with Similar Ecosystems

Deciduous Forest

Deciduous Forests

-Have trees that lose their leaves

-Summers are hot and humid,

and winters are cold.

-The rainfall averages between 75-150

cm a year. Canada- Southern Ontario

-World - Eastern North America and

Europe.

Tundra

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Tundra

-No trees

-Shrubs, hardy grasses, mosses, lichens

-The tundra has a low average temperature, permafrost

-The rainfall averages between 75-150 cm a year.

-Canada- North of Hudson Bay

-World -It extends across North America, Europe, and Siberia.

Boreal Forest

Boreal Forest

-Trees with needles (Fir and Spruce)

-There are cold winters with deep snow.

The growing season is about 120 days.

During this period of time, the ground

thaws completely.

-Precipitation is usually between 50 and

100cm per year. Many ponds and bogs.

-Canada- Northern Ontario

-World -North America, Europe and Asia

and forms the largest biome on Earth.

Termperate Coniferous Forest

Temperate Coniferous Forest

-Trees with needles (different then

Boreal)

-The climate consists of long winters

with heavy snows and short, dry

summers with cool temperatures.

-Canada- Western British Columbia

-World – Northwestern U.S.

Grasslands

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Grasslands (Prairies)

-Few trees, lots of grasses and shrubs

-rainfall ranges from 25-75 cm a year, -

- In most places of the grasslands, the

soil is usually rich and deep, making it

the most fertile farmlands on Earth.

-Canada – Manitoba, Saskatchewan,

some of Alberta

-World - North America, Asia, South

America and Africa

Freshwater

Aquatic - Freshwater

-Lakes, streams, rivers

-Freshwater = not saltwater

-Canada – Great Lakes, St. Lawrence

river, any lake, stream and wetlands

-World – Any river, lake, stream,

wetland

Aquatic - Marine

-Oceans (eg., Coral reefs, ocean floor,

intertidal zone)

-Canada – Atlantic and Pacific Ocean

-World – All other oceans

Biodiversity:

What is It? A B

What do you notice?

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A B

What do you notice?

A B

What do you notice?

A B

What do you notice?

What do you think biodiversity

means?

Bio =

Biodiversity

What does “Bio” mean?

Biodiversity

Diversity = Variety

What does “Diversity” mean?

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Biodiversity is the

variety of life on Earth

• Scientists have identified more than 2

million species.

• Tens of millions -- remain unknown

There are 3 components of

biodiversity

1. Diversity of genes Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers are all dogs—but

they're not the same because their genes are different.

Chihuahua Beagle

Rottweilers

Diversity of species

For example, monkeys, dragonflies, and

meadow beauties are all different species.

Saki Monkey Golden Skimmer Meadow Beauty

There are 3 components of

biodiversity Variety of ecosystems

Prairies, Ponds, and tropical rain forests are all

ecosystems. Each one is different, with its own set of

species living in it.

Paines Prairie

Hoh Rain Forest

Florida Sand hill Pond

There are 3 components of

biodiversity

A B

Which has more cultural

diversity?

A B

Which has more

BIODIVERSITY?

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A B

Which has more

BIODIVERSITY?

A B

Which has more

BIODIVERSITY?

What do we get from

biodiversity?

Oxygen

Food

Clean Water

Medicine

Aesthetics

Ideas

Biodiversity happens

because living things

depend on one another to

survive.

From the tiniest algae to the largest animal

on Earth, the Blue Whale

In healthy ecosystems, these

“give and take” relationships

are in EQUILIBRIUM.

…which means they are in

BALANCE

Should we be concerned about

biodiversity and it’s equilibrium?

What we know:

The Earth is losing species at an

alarming rate !

3 species per hour are going extinct

That’s 20,000 extinctions occur each year!

So when species of plants and animals go extinct, many

other species are affected.

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Threats to biodiversity

BIODIVERSITY is in danger when we

throw off an ecosystem’s….

EQUILIBRIUM!

Threats to biodiversity

Habitat destruction

Threats to biodiversity Pollution

Threats to biodiversity

Invasive Species

Threats to biodiversity

Climate Change

Threats to biodiversity

Exploitation

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UNWANTED: INVASIVE

SPECIES

How do these Species Get Introduced?

1. Unintentional Release

Red Pirhana – Pet Aquarium release

1. Unintentional Release

Cultivated plants from ornamental gardens – Purple loosestrife

1. Unintentional Release

Unused bait is dumped into the water by fisherman – rusty crayfish

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Canals

- created to join watersheds -allows organisms to cross Natural barriers e.g. Niagara Falls - Sea Lamprey entered the Great Lakes through the Welland Canal

1. Unintentional Release Animal Vectors: - organisms, larvae, eggs,

or pollen can be attached externally to birds or insects

- Live organism in birds stomach from regurgitating food

2. Intentional Release

Fish Stocking: - Dump Rainbow Trout and Chinook salmon Into the Great Lakes to increase value of fisheries

What has been Introduced? Fish: - Brown Trout into the Great Lakes from Germany - Chinook Salmon in to the Great Lakes

from the Pacific Ocean

Molluscs: - Zebra Mussels – decrease in phytoplankton

Plants: - Purple loosestrife

- Poison Hemlock

- Water Milfoil

Impacts of Exotic Species

Ecological Impacts: Habitats: Invaders may alter habitat by eliminating vegetation or changing water quality.

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Impacts of Exotic Species

Ecological Impacts: Parasites and Disease: Bacteria, viruses, and parasites introduced with exotic species represent a threat to native organisms.

Economic Impacts:

- Canada now spends $5 million a year controlling sea lamprey - $100 million since 1987 from damages by zebra mussels (covering fishing gear, trap nets, pipelines, sailing vessels etc.)

Food Chain Alteration: - feeding activity of exotic species can alter the availability of food resources for native species

Round Gobys – eat eggs and young of indigenous fish

Loss of endemic species: Competition for food and/or space may result in the elimination of related species occupying the same niche. Predation on a native species by exotics is also a problem.

Clubbed Tunicate

- compete for space and food with young native oysters and mussels

Hybridization: Exotic species may reproduce with native populations, resulting in hybrids and the ultimate loss of the native species

Rusty Crayfish – hybridize with native crayfish

SOLUTIONS?

What can we do to stop the spread?

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Water Pollution

“Water pollution is any physical or chemical change

in surface or ground water that can harm living things.”

Chemical

Thermal

Organic Waste

Disease-

Causing

Organisms

Types of Pollutants

Types of Pollutants

Chemical

Pollutants

organic

inorganic

• pesticides & herbicides

• oil & grease

• detergents

• fertilizers

• acid rain

• salts

Such chemicals can kill living organisms, cause

deformities, or they can have toxic / poisonous effects to

a food web via bioamplification.

Thermal

Pollutants

Types of Pollutants

Power plant turbines increase

water temperatures (abnormal)

Mimics warm seasons at wrong

times of year and affects life

cycles of aquatic organisms

More detritus and

decomposition, which leads to

less oxygen and Eutrophication

Adding organic

substances not

normally occurring

e.g., sewage, animal

wastes, decaying

plants, industrial

deposits

Increases amount of

naturally-occurring

substances

Types of Pollutants

Organic

Waste

Disease-Causing

Organisms

Bacteria from

sewage and

animal wastes

e.g., coliform

bacteria – found

inside intestinal

tracts (E. coli)

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Water becomes murky (algal bloom, detritus)

Foul odour (decay and decomposition)

Death of plants and/or animals

Increase in Bacteria

Decrease in Dissolved Oxygen

Determined by a BOD test

Water Pollution Indicators Pollution Testing – Bacterial Count

What types of bacteria are present?

e.g., Coliform bacteria = animal wastes

present

How much bacteria is there?

The Risk: Outbreak!

Typhoid

Cholera

Hepatitis

Dysentery

Biological Oxygen Demand

Amount of dissolved O2 that decomposers

need in order to break down organic matter in a

sample of water over 5 days at 20 °C.

More organisms in an ecosystem mean a higher

demand for oxygen (BOD)

The Risk: Depletion of Dissolved Oxygen

When there are more aquatic organisms and

decomposers, they use up the O2 in the water

Pollution Testing – BOD

Certain solutions change colour to

indicate oxygen is present in the water

What type of fish are there?

e.g., trout = lots of O2 present

e.g., catfish / carp = low levels of O2

How’s the temperature? (cooler water has

more oxygen)

The Risk: Decrease in Biodiversity

Less dissolved oxygen means less

organisms the water can support

Pollution Testing – Dissolved Oxygen

a Point source is where

pollution is directly

occurring and affecting a

specific, single location.

Example: waste disposal

(industry, sewage treatment),

oil tanker leak

Effects are most severe at

the point of entry

Water Pollution Sources Pollution doesn’t just affect the location/ecosystem

where the pollutants occur . . .

Pollution

Effects may

be

experienced

either

downstream

or over time

point source of pollution

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a Nonpoint source is

where pollution begins at

one location and travels to

affect other locations.

Example: runoff from farms

& forests, ground water from

cities & industries

Effects are widespread,

variable, and often repeated

Water Pollution Sources Water Pollution Sources