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?
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The Diversity Of Life
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“Drifting Apart”
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Life Without The Sun’s Help
Extremophiles Rule!
GAIA Hypothesis
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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
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"Why is this man sleeping"
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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