Fundamentals of Ecology Class Meetings
February 2013 (wks.5-6-7)

Global Ecology II. - Ecosystems, Nutrients &  Energy

Announcements:
Tuesday -

• Lab reports due tomorrow in lab
• Lab hand-out in O: drive - guidelines for our next lab inquiry activity (Lab activity 3, Pt. 1)
• LAB - background reading: Smith ch. 20 (& skim ch. 3)
• Background reading for Thurs. class also in O: drive ("Fish as Fertilizer")
• The Southern Ocean’s Role in Carbon Exchange During the Last Deglaciation
  Andrea Burke1,2* and Laura F. Robinson2,3
  Science 3 February 2012:
  Vol. 335 no. 6068 pp. 557-5961
  DOI: 10.1126/science.1208163
• Role of deep oceans as carbon sink

Outline of Major Topics:

WEEK 5 - Tuesday:

• Turn in 1 copy of your conceptual model from the Beedlow paper; keep the other one out for discussion & to add notes 

• Global Ecology: Ecosystems
  • Nutrients & the Carbon Cycle - Introduction
    • Understand the nature of biogeochemical cycles
      • Sources vs. Sinks (or "Pools")
      • Compartments
      • Sequestration

       

    • Understanding the impacts of carbon fertilization on forest productivity
      • Beedlow et al. article
    • Read Beedlow et al. article on the carbon cycle and forest growth. 

      On paper, draw a simple conceptual model of a forest ecosystem, using arrows to indicate carbon flow. Include all processes you can think of that influence carbon flow.
       Bring two copies to class – 1 to turn in, 1 to use in class for discussion. 

      
      Be prepared to address the following questions in class:

      1. Where does the majority of biomass gained by plants as they grow come from?

      2. What are the different pathways a carbon atom can take once it is inside a plant?

      3. Predict how increasing atmospheric CO₂ would change carbon abundance in various pools on your ecosystem model.

      4. Will increased CO₂ affect forest productivity? How/why?

      5. Why is atmospheric CO₂ an "environmental paradox?"

       

     

    Examples of Group Forest Carbon Cycle Diagrams
        with Nitrogen cycle added, & with details of carbon sequestration (e.g. in soil)
        Example 1
        Example 2

HOMEWORK for Thursday:

• Use readings in Smith to learn the basics of the nitrogen cycle
• Read Background for Pacific Salmon case study, in O: drive - "Fish as Fertilizer"

Powerpoint slides for Ecosystem Ecology posted on Dr. Dott's O: drive

WEEK 5 - Thursday:

• Nutrient Cycling: the Nitrogen Cycle; "Fish as Fertilizer" case study, looking for presence of Marine Derived Nutrients (MDNs)

WEEK 6 - Tuesday:

• Nutrient Cycling & Aquatic Food Webs
• Homework for Thursday: read, study figures, address questions, for parts 3&4 of Salmon Case Study (in O: drive)

Thursday:

• Nutrient Exchange between aquatic & terrestrial food webs
• Groups:
  • 2 different beneficial feedbacks of salmon carcasses to success of young salmon (2 pathways)
  • conceptual map summarizing both of these feedbacks AND the movement of nutrients from ocean into components of stream & riparian ecosystem

WEEK 7 - Tuesday:

• Summarize concept maps for class
  • Sample Outstanding Concept Map Diagrams from groups
• NEW TOPIC: Energy Flow through Ecosystems/Food Webs