Ecology Maryland Master Gardeners University of Maryland Extension

Ecology Maryland Master Gardeners University of Maryland Extension

Ecology – the study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

Scale Global Landscape Ecosystem Community Population

Global Processes

Climate change and sea level rise Photo by Sylvan Kaufman 2006 flood at Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely, MD

Terrestrial Biomes Image from www. somers. k 12. ny. us

Maryland’s Physiographic Regions

Watershed Image from www. dnr. state. md. us

Land Use in Maryland Map from www. geog. umd. edu

Connections in the Landscape

Community and Habitat • Community – The assemblage of all the species in a given area • Habitat – The physical space providing the environment and resources needed by a population to survive and reproduce. Great blue heron on a wood duck house Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

Niche • Niche – all of the specific environmental conditions and resources required for it to maintain a viable population. Beans, swiss chard and alyssum Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

Creating microclimates • Microclimate – climactic variation on a scale of a few miles to a few inches üSlope üAspect üElevation üVegetation üFallen logs üBoulders üBurrows üWater üGround color Photos by Sylvan Kaufman

Water

Energy and Nutrients Photosynthesis Carbon dioxide + water → sugar + oxygen Monarch caterpillar on butterfly milkweed Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

Physiology • How organisms carry out physical or chemical functions in the environment

Functional Groups rabbits

Grouping by Interaction Pollinators Mycorrhizae Dispersers Parasite Photos by Sylvan Kaufman and from www. wikipedia. org

Native Pollinators Photo by Sylvan Kaufman; other photos www. wikipedia. org

Succession Photos by Sylvan Kaufman

Disturbances Photo from NASA Photo from bugwood. org

What is a species? Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, red squirrel Sciurus caroliniensis, Eastern grey squirrel Sciurus niger cinereus, Delmarva fox squirrel Photos from wikipedia. org

Evolution Image from biologyonline. org

Natural Selection • Variation in traits among individuals in a population • Characteristics are heritable - have genetic basis • Ancestors leave different numbers of descendants based on interactions between the traits of the individual and its environment.

Genes Image from exploringnature. org

Gene flow Seeds Pollen Rhizomes Photos by Sylvan Kaufman

Populations and Life History Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

Plant Breeding Photos from wikipedia. org

Straight species, cultivars, hybrids Echinacea purpurea E. purpurea ‘Magnus’ Echinacea ‘Art’s Pride’ E. purpurea x E. paradoxa Echinacea paradoxa Photos from Missouri Botanical Garden Plant. Finder

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) Ad for Roundup Ready corn for Phillipines from Pioneer. com

Rare Plants Pink coreopsis, Coreopsis rosea Photo by Sylvan Kaufman

Ecosystems • Energy • Water • Biogeochemical – C and N

Energy flow through ecosystems

Food Webs Image from exploringnature. org

Carbon Cycle Image from physicalgeography. net

Human influences on C Cycle Image from www. cmdl. noaa. gov

Consequences for Gardeners • Initially more rapid plant growth until other resources (water, nutrients) limit growth • Greater production of ragweed pollen • Greater toxicity in some plants like poison ivy • Shifts in plant ranges

The Hydrological Cycle Image from physicalgeography. net

Effects of Development on Water Cycle • Increased surface area runoff (10 – 20% rural, 6070% urban) • • Decreased groundwater recharge Increased use of groundwater More rainfall reaches the ground provision of man-made drainage systems (e. g. , storm sewers, channels, detention ponds).

The Nitrogen Cycle Image from physicalgeography. net

Terms used in the N Cycle • Nitrogen fixation – conversion of gaseous N (N 2) to solid forms of N (NH 3) through biological processes (bacteria), lightning, and chemical processes • Ammonification – conversion by bacteria of N from decaying organisms into ammonia (NH 3) • Nitrification – conversion by bacteria of ammonia (NH 3) to nitrites (NO 2) and nitrates (NO 3) • Denitrification – conversion of nitrate (NO 3) to gaseous N (N 2) by anaerobic bacteria

Human influences on N Cycle • Increase in fixed N through production and application of chemical fertilizers and growing leguminous crops (e. g. soybeans) • Nitrogen enrichment of soils from atmospheric N deposition, application of fertilizer, manure • Increases in nitrate flow in streams and nitrous oxide losses to atmosphere through land clearing, deforestation • Eutrophication (over-fertilization) of lakes • Animal husbandry releases ammonium to atmosphere • Release of nitrous oxides from oil and coal combustion contributes to acid rain

Footprintnetwork. org

Biodiversity The Highline in NYC converts an old elevated railway to a native plant garden and walkway Photo by Sylvan Kaufman