Concepts in Natural Resources Concepts in Natural Resources

Concepts in Natural Resources

Concepts in Natural Resources Concepts we will discuss n Renewable Resource n Nonrenewable Resource n Environment n

Concepts in Natural Resources Concepts we will discuss (continued) n Ecology n Ecosystem n Biome n

Concepts in Natural Resources Concepts we will discuss (continued) n Preservation vs. Conservation n Carrying Capacity n Food Chains n

Concepts in Natural Resources Renewable Resource n Resources that can be replaced by human efforts n Can be Renewable forever depending on the management of the resource n Example: Forests and Forest Products n

Concepts in Natural Resources Non-Renewable Resources n Limited resources that cannot be replaced once they are gone n Careful use and extend the length of their availability n Example: Petroleum and Petroleum products n

Concepts in Natural Resources Environment n All of the physical surroundings of a species n

Concepts in Natural Resources Ecology n Study of the complex relationships among living things and their environment n

Concepts in Natural Resources Ecosystem n Any partially self-contained environmental and living thing n Example: A lake, a large valley, or a forest n

Concepts in Natural Resources Biome n A major land area characterized by dominant plant life forms n Established by altitude and rainfall n

Concepts in Natural Resources Biomes (continued)

Concepts in Natural Resources n n n Preservation An attempt to prevent the use of a natural resource Aim is to “preserve” or keep it intact as it is or was n n n Conservation An attempt to use a natural resource in a way to minimize water Aim is to maintain the resource in as good of condition as possible

Concepts in Natural Resources Carrying Capacity n The ability of an ecosystem to provide food and shelter for a given population. n

Concepts in Natural Resources Food Web n A group of plants and/ or animals n related to each other by the fact that one feeds or depends for food on the next n

Concepts in Natural Resources Food Web (continued) n n Pyramidal in shape Many producers Fewer Consumers Fewer still predators

Concepts of Natural Resources Food Web (continued)

Concepts of Natural Resources Producers • Also known as autotrophs • Make their own food Consumers • Also known as hetertrophs • Organisms that feed on other species

Concepts of Natural Resources n Food Chains (Continued) t Carnivores • First-order Carnivores – Carnivores that feed on herbivores • Second-order Carnivores – Carnivores that feed on first order carnivores

Concepts in Natural Resources n Food Chains (continued) u Omnivores t “All eaters” t These critters are both herbivores and carnivores

Concepts of Natural Resources n Food Chains (continued) u Predators t Carnivores that feed on live animals t Examples: Owls

Concepts in Natural Resources n Food Chains (continued) u Prey t Animals that are eaten by predators t Examples: Mice

Concepts in Natural Resources n Food Chains (continued) u Scavengers t Critters that feed on dead organisms t Both plants and animals t Examples: snails, crayfish, crow

Concepts in Natural Resources n Food Chains (continued) u Saprophytes t Fungi that feed on dead organisms t Examples: Fungi, bacteria

Concepts in Natural Resources n Food Chains (continued) u Decomposer t Break down and feed on non-living organic matter t Examples: Yeasts, molds