Chapter 6Chapter 6Ecosystems and Ecological Ecosystems and Ecological

CommunitiesCommunities

Case Study: The Acorn ConnectionCase Study: The Acorn Connection

Western Fence Lizard

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Courtesy of the American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF).

Adult Ticks and nymphs

The acorn study shows:The acorn study shows:

Environmental Unity!Environmental Unity!– Living things:Living things:

are affected by are affected by non-living thingsnon-living things affectaffect non-living things non-living things are connected by complex are connected by complex relationships, which constantly changerelationships, which constantly change

– Humans affect these relationshipsHumans affect these relationships

The EcosystemThe Ecosystem

Critical to understand this concept Critical to understand this concept for good natural resource for good natural resource managementmanagement– Yellowstone Natl. ParkYellowstone Natl. Park– Fisheries…Fisheries…

Must know how everything is Must know how everything is interconnectedinterconnected

Need to know an ecosystem’s Need to know an ecosystem’s characteristicscharacteristics– Its structure: biotic and abiotic Its structure: biotic and abiotic

componentscomponents– Processes: cycling of elements and Processes: cycling of elements and

energy flowenergy flow– Change: how is it changing over time?Change: how is it changing over time?

Energy FlowEnergy FlowFood webs and food chainsFood webs and food chains

Complexity and Interconnectedness

Keystone Species: Otters

Mmmmm!! Love these sea urchins!

By Frank Wattenberg

Now that’s my kind of otter!

Keystone SpeciesKeystone Species

Any species which has a large effect Any species which has a large effect on its community or ecosystemon its community or ecosystem

Otters are an exampleOtters are an example So are humans…BIG TIME!!!!So are humans…BIG TIME!!!! Lets look at some more examples as Lets look at some more examples as

hwk:hwk:

Case Study AssignmentsCase Study Assignments

Read each of three articles and Read each of three articles and answer the assigned topics:answer the assigned topics:

The BuffaloThe Buffalo Prairie DogsPrairie Dogs Yellowstone WolvesYellowstone Wolves Salmon (pg 113: Answer Qs on pg)Salmon (pg 113: Answer Qs on pg)