APES notes
Keystone: influence greater than relative abundance
ex: predator keeps herbivore pop down, preserves rare grass
Biomes:
terrestrial, freshwater, marine
latitude, humidity, elevation-terrestrial
freshwater: rivers, wetlands and basins (deeper than what they serve)
marine:
neritic -close to shelf
benthic-deep, sloping away from con shelf
pelagic-open sea
abyssal-very deep
hadal-trenches
food webs:
connections of energy from producer to consumer
trophic pyramid (see plankton to ahi, bioaccumulation)
primary producers: autotrophs-photosynthetic plants, chemotrophic (sulfur)-inorganic sources (also foundation species)
heterotrophs-get energy from organic sources:
herbivores, carnivores, scavengers
lots of energy lost between trophic levels (thermodynamics) rule of 10%
ecosystems-
abiotic environment
producers-autotrophs, e.g. plants
consumers-heterotrophs, e.g. herbivores, canrivores
decomposers-detritovores
photosynthesis-
CO2, water, light into organic compounds (e.g. sugars)
photoautotrophs-plants
carbon fixation (redox rx) reduction is CO2 to CHO
chlorophyll, carotenes and xanthophylls
cellular respiration-
conversion of energy to ATP (phosphate bonds)
glucose, amino acids and fatty acids with O2 as an oxidizer (accepts electrons) OIL RIG
aerobic and anaerobic metabolysis (aerobic is 19x more efficient)
TCA cycle, mitochondria
biodiversity-
variation of life forms within a biome or ecosystem
genetic
species
ecosystem
creates stability and robustness in ecosystems
biogeochemical cycles (nutrient cycles)
how an element or molecule travels through biotic (living things) and abiotic (earth, air, water) parts of earth
reservoirs may differ: N2 in air, P in soil
closed system: C N O P
open system: energy, e.g. photosynthesis
cycles:
carbon
nitrogen
oxygen
phosphorus
water
also mercury and atrazine (herbicide)
GM crops
genetic engineering vs. selective breeding or mutation breeding
concerns: ecological, economic (LDC) and IP rights (see Monsanto)
uses restriction enzymes to ID and isolate genes
inserted using gene gun (plasmid) or agrobacterium
GMO
insertion or deletion of genes
recombinant DNA, transgenic organisms
if no DNA from other species, cisgenic (cis vs trans)
lentiviruses-can transfer genes to animal cells
Genentech-Berkeley 1978, created human insulin from E. Coli (vs. cow or pig insulin)
pesticides-
biological, chemical, antimicrobial, disinfectant
pests: pathogens, insects, weeds, mullosks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes and microbes
any food competitor or spoiler, also disease vectors
herbicides-glyphosate (roundup)
insecticides-HCl, carbamates, pyrethrins, etc.
green fungicides-paldoxins
EPA regulates
banned: carcinogenic, mutagenic or bioaccumulators
see also NRDC
pesticide laws-
Federal insecticide act-1910
Federal insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide act (FIFRA)-1947 then 1972, 1988
1947-ag dept
1972-EPA
3 categories: antimicrobials, biopesticides, conventional
forest management-
silviculture, protection and regulation (Pennsylvania = Penn’s woods)
conservation and economic concerns
watershed management included
see also FSC 1993, forest stewardship council (certifies wood harvests)
applied ecology-
conservation biology, ecology, habitat management
invasive species management
rangeland management
restoration ecology
land management-
habitat conservation
sustainable ag
urban planning
sustainable ag-
environmental stewardship
farm profitability
farming communities
e.g. ability to produce food indefinitely, without causing damage to ecosystem health
see also erosion, irrigation/salinization, crop rotation
see also landraces, e.g. prairie grasses
mining laws-
SMCRA surface mining control and reclamation act (1977)
1. regulates active coal mines
2. reclamation of abandoned mines
dept of interior admin
response to strip mining (1930+)
SMCRA
regulation:
1. standards of performance
2. permitting
3. bonding
4. inspection/enforcement
5. land restrictions
compare to 1945 strip mining practices
Fisheries laws-
monitor and protect fisheries resources
overfishing conference 1936
1957: Beverton and Holt did study on fish dynamics
goals:
1. max sustainable biomass yield
2. max sust. econ yield
3. secure employment
4. secure protein supply
5. income from export
6. bio and economic yield
UNCLOS-UN convention on law of the sea
EEZ-exclusive economic zones
12 mi = coastal sovereignty
200 mi = fishing restrictions
2004-UN made stricter laws on fisheries mgt.
1995 code of conduct for responsible fisheries
quotas, taxation, enforcement (USCG)
tragedy of the commons-
1968 Science article-Garrett Hardin
individual benefit, common damage
strict management of global common goods
see also overgrazing, pollution, privatization
"a fundamental extension of morality"
Rachel Carson: Silent Spring 1962
DDT weakening shells of birds
“biocides” bioaccumulation (single animal)
ozone depletion-
stratospheric ozone depletion
4% since 1970
ozone hole over antarctica
catalytic destruction of ozone by chlorine and bromine
halogen compounds CFCs (freons) and bromofluorocarbons (halons)
ODS ozone depleting substances
ozone blocks UVB 270-315 nm
Montreal protocol 1987 banned CFCs
O + O3 --> 2O2 (transparent)
Cl + O3 -->ClO + O2
ClO + O3 -->Cl + 2O2
effects:
1. ++ carcinomas
2. melanomas
3. cataracts
4. ++ tropospheric ozone (toxic)
5. kills cyanobacteria (rice nitrogen fixers)
————Laws————————————————————
1963 CAA Clean air act
1970: NEPA National environmental policy act
EIS environmental impact statement
EPA environmental protection agency
1972 CWA clean water act
1973 ESA endangered species act
1973 CITES convention on international trade in endangered species
1974 SDWA safe drinking water act
1976 RCRA resource conservation and recovery act (cradle to grave act)
1980 CERCLA comprehensive environmental response compensation and reliability act (superfund)
1987 Montreal protocol: ozone depletion, CFCs banned
1997 Kyoto protocol: climate change, GHG
Case studies
species———
loss of amphibians
zebra mussels
passenger pigeon extinction
DDT
kudzu invasion
grey wolves in yellowstone
california condor
water——
lake erie dead
st. james bay, canada
gulf of mexico dead zone
aral sea
three gorges dam
california aqueduct
human——
china one child policy
easter island
events——
bhopal
chernobyl
cuyahoga river
deepwater horizon
fukushima
exxon valdez
hurricane katrina
kissimmee river
london fog
love canal
santa barbara oil spill
three mile island
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