Welcome to Ecology 101

Premise of course:

Ecosystems approach
a. Physical attributes
b. Energy flow
c. Productivity

Readings:
Required:

The Diversity of Life, Edward O. Wilson
 

Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold

Ecology: A Bridge Between Science and Society,
Eugene P. Odum

Recommended:

Science Times

Science

Nature

Grading

1. Midterm: 50%

2. Final: 50%

Examination format:

Multiple choice, true/false, short answer, essay

Schedule:
September
Introduction  
Basic Principles I - Evolution of Ecosystems
Basic Principles II – Species and the Niche Concept Basic Principles III – Energy Flow and Trophic Levels ` Biogeochemical Cycles I
October
Biogeochemical Cycles II
Rivers
MIDTERM EXAMINATION
Lakes
Estuaries and Wetlands
November
The Oceans
Coral Reefs
Rain forests
December
Hardwood and Boreal Forests
FINAL EXAMINATION

Websites:
Required:
www.http://ci.columbia.edu/ci/eseminars/1111s_detail.html
www.http://streamecology.org
www.http://IES.org (Institute for Ecosystems Study)

Recommended:

www.medicalecology.org

www.http://NASA.gov
, then go to Earthwatch
www.http://NOAA.gov

Is That All There Is?

Slide 8

The Diversity Of Life

Slide 10

“Drifting Apart”

Slide 12

Life Without The Sun’s Help

Extremophiles Rule!

GAIA Hypothesis

Slide 16

Some General Ecological Principles

Ecosystem Ecology

Describing Ecosystems

1. Identify a definable geographic region (e.g. grassland prairie)
2. Identify all plants and animals within that region (i.e., the  biodiversity index)
3. Study how these disparate groups form associations of food chains and food webs (i.e. form ecosystems).
4. Study the flow of energy through these associations (i.e., measure productivity)

Levels of Complexity

Slide 21

Slide 22

Slide 23

Slide 24

Slide 25

Slide 26

Slide 27

Slide 28

"Why is this man sleeping"

Slide 30

Slide 31

Slide 32

Slide 33

Lymphocyte

Nuclear Envelope

Chromosomal DNA

We have come a  long way in just 20 years

What Is A Species?*

How Many Species of Dogs And Cats Are There?

One!

Two Species Or One?

Study: Human DNA Neanderthal-Free
By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News


Cro-Magnon vs. Neanderthal


May 12, 2003 — Neanderthals did not contribute to the gene pool of modern humans, according to a recent study that compared the DNA of two ancient Cro-Magnons with that of four Neanderthals.

While Neanderthals and early humans coexisted in Europe for a few thousand years 40,000 years ago, the findings suggest they did not interbreed, an action that would have made Neanderthals a direct ancestor of modern humans.

The study also supports the "Out of Africa" theory. According to this view, modern humans evolved in East Africa and then spread into Europe and Asia through the Middle East.

Speciation Drives the System