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Questions and Answers
What is the effect of nutrient-rich soil on plant health?
What is the effect of nutrient-rich soil on plant health?
What happens when there is an abundance of prey in an ecosystem?
What happens when there is an abundance of prey in an ecosystem?
Which of the following describes a negative feedback loop in relation to predator-prey dynamics?
Which of the following describes a negative feedback loop in relation to predator-prey dynamics?
What role do bacteria play in maintaining healthy soil?
What role do bacteria play in maintaining healthy soil?
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What is the expected outcome of a positive feedback loop between plants and bacteria?
What is the expected outcome of a positive feedback loop between plants and bacteria?
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What is ecology primarily concerned with?
What is ecology primarily concerned with?
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Which of the following describes abiotic factors in an ecosystem?
Which of the following describes abiotic factors in an ecosystem?
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What is a feedback loop in ecological terms?
What is a feedback loop in ecological terms?
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What is the purpose of a negative feedback loop?
What is the purpose of a negative feedback loop?
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Which statement correctly describes a positive feedback loop?
Which statement correctly describes a positive feedback loop?
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How does human activity affect ecological systems?
How does human activity affect ecological systems?
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What does the term 'sustainability' refer to in the context of ecology?
What does the term 'sustainability' refer to in the context of ecology?
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What factor differentiates biomes from each other?
What factor differentiates biomes from each other?
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Study Notes
SC253: Ecology and Environmental Problems
- Course date: September 16, 2024
- Course topics covered: Ecology basics, feedback loops, in-class activity on feedback loops
What is Ecology?
- Ecology is the study of how organisms (animals, plants, microbes) interact with each other and their environment
- Environment includes:
- Biotic: living things (e.g., plants, animals, microbes)
- Abiotic: non-living things (e.g., water, sunlight, temperature)
Ecosystem Organization
- Biome is the largest
- Ecosystem encompasses multiple communities
- Community includes groups of different populations
- Population consists of similar species
- Organism is an individual
Biomes
- Key examples:
- Tropical rainforest
- Temperate forest
- Boreal forest
- Desert
- Savanna
- Grassland
- Marine
- Freshwater
- Tundra
Biomes in the World
- Biomes are characterized by climate, rainfall, and temperature
- Distinct biomes due to varied environmental conditions
- Mapping of primary biomes shows global distribution
Factors Influencing Biomes
- Annual precipitation and average temperature influence biome type
- Relationship between precipitation and temperature in determining biome types
Landscape Mosaics
- Mini-ecosystems within larger ecosystems
- Multiple microhabitats exist within a single landscape
Feedback Loops
- A feedback loop occurs when the output of a system influences the input to the same system, creating a cyclical process.
- Action: Initial trigger or action.
- Effect: Result of the action.
- Output: The effect feeds back into the input side as a factor altering the action.
Negative Feedback Loop
- Counteracts a disturbance or change
- Returns the system to equilibrium
- Example: body temperature regulation (shivering)
- Body temperature drops — Brain triggers physiological responses — Shivering commences — Temperature returns to normal
Positive Feedback Loop
- Adds to a disturbance or change
- Moves the system further from equilibrium
- Example: runaway warming or cooling
- Temperature drops significantly — Shivering and changes in circulation do not restore normal levels — Metabolic rate decreases – body temperature continues to decrease
Positive Feedback Example in Ecosystems
- Example:
- Nutrient-rich soil facilitates more plant growth, promoting the abundance of the organic matter— organic matter decomposes—resulting in nutrient rich soil.
Ecosystem Impacts and Human Activity
- Human actions affect ecological interactions
- Human activities disrupt the environment and ecosystems
Why the differences in outcomes?
- Systems may return to equilibrium via negative feedback loops
- Positive feedback loops can lead to system collapse if stress limits are exceeded
In-class Activity
- Draw two feedback loops: positive and negative
- Do not have to be factual or ecological; focus on cause and effect relationships
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Description
Test your knowledge on the basics of ecology and environmental problems. This quiz covers ecosystem organization, biomes, and their characteristics. Perfect for students enrolled in SC253, this assessment will gauge your understanding of crucial ecological concepts.
