SciOly Green Generation Notes 14-15

Ecology, Water, Air, Climate Change and Legislation

ECOLOGY:
Species: groups of organisms that resemble each other in appearance, behavior, chemistry, and genetic makeup.
Population: a group of interacting individuals of the same species that occupy a specific area at the same time
Community: the populations of all the different species occupying an area
Ecosystem: a community interacting with one another and the nonliving environment around them
Biome: large regions that have a distinct climate and unique life populating it
Climate: long term patterns in weather
Ecotone: a transitional zone between two ecosystems which contains species from both ecosystems, and a few
unique species also
Range of Tolerance: the range of conditions that a population can withstand
Tolerance Limit: the point at which no member of a population could survive
Limiting Factor: any factor that limits the growth of a population
Producers/Autotrophs: make their own foods from compounds in the environment
Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O + solar energy C6H12O6 + 6O2: used by most producers
Chemosynthesis: 12H2S + 6CO2 + thermal energy C6H12O6 + 6H2O + 12S: used where sunlight is not
available e.g. hydrothermal vents
Consumers/Heterotrophs: get energy by consuming other organisms or their wastes/remains
Herbivores/Primary Consumers: feed directly on producers
Carnivores: higher level consumers that eat other consumers
Omnivores: eat both producers and consumers
Scavengers: eat dead organisms
Detritivores: general term for detritus feeders and decomposers
Detritus Feeders: animals that extract nutrients from plant litter and animal dung
Decomposers: bacteria and fungi that consume and break down organic matter
Aerobic Respiration: C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy: used by most organisms
Anaerobic Respiration: used where oxygen is not present
Food Chain: a string of organisms where each consumes the previous one
Food Web: the interconnected food chains of an ecosystem
Ecological Efficiency: percentage of useable energy transferred to the next trophic level as biomass; anywhere
from 5% to 20%, but typically 10%

Indicator Species: species that serve as an early warning that an ecosystem is being damaged
Keystone Species: a species integral to the health of the ecosystem
Intraspecific Competition: members of the same species compete for resources
Interspecific Competition: members of different species compete for resources
Interference Competition: one species limits anothers access to a resource
Exploitation Competition: one species uses up all of the resources before the other one can
Symbiosis: long term relationship between species
Parasitism: parasite feeds on host
Mutualism: both organisms benefit
Commensalism: one organism benefits but the other is unaffected
Primary Succession: gradual establishment of an ecosystem on lifeless ground where there is no soil: 1) bare
rock 2) lichens and mosses 3) small grasses 4) shrubs and small plants 5) small trees 6) large trees
Pioneer Species: first species (usually lichens and mosses) to populate bare rock
Secondary Succession: reestablishment of an ecosystem that was destroyed where there is soil: 1) bare soil 2)
small grasses 3) shrubs 4) small trees 5) large trees
Biotic Potential: populations capacity for growth
Intrinsic Rate of Increase: rate at which a population would grow if resources were infinite
Environmental Resistance: factors limiting growth of population
Carrying Capacity: number of individuals that can be sustained by ecosystem
Minimum Viable Population: minimum number of individuals needed to support a healthy breeding population
Logistic Growth: exponential growth: population is small, decrease in growth: approaching carrying capacity;
pt. of max growth = infl. pt. of graph
R-Selected Species: put most of their energy into reproduction; many small offspring, reach reproductive age
quickly, short lived, give no parental care; correspond with type 3/early loss survivorship curves
K-Selected Species: put little energy into reproduction; reproduce late in life, give birth to few large offspring,
nurture young; correspond with type 1/late loss survivorship curves

BASIC MARINE ECOLOGY:

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP): rate at which an ecosystems organisms convert sunlight into energy
Net Primary Productivity (NPP): energy from producers available for primary consumers
Euphotic Zone: marine life zone where there is enough light for photosynthesis to occur
Bathyal Zone: dimly lit middle zone with no photosynthesizing producers
Abyssal Zone: dark, cold lower zone
Coastal Zone: nutrient rich shallow water that extends from shore to the continental shelf

Estuary: a partially enclosed area where freshwater and seawater mix

Coastal Wetland: areas of land covered with water all or part of the year
Intertidal Zone: zone between high and low tides
Barrier Islands: long, thin offshore islands that run parallel to the shore
Freshwater: less than 1% salt by concentration
Lentic: standing bodies of freshwater
Lotic: flowing bodies of freshwater
Littoral Zone: the gently sloping sides of a lake which contains marine plants
Limnetic Zone: sunlit surface water of lake where photosynthesis can occur
Profundal Zone: deep water too dark for photosynthesis
Benthic Zone: bottom of lake
Oligotrophic: a lake poor in nutrients
Eutrophic Lake: a lake rich in nutrients
Mesotrophic: a lake with an average amount of nutrients
Epilimnion: upper layer of warm water rich in oxygen
Thermocline: transition layer
Hypolimnion: lower layer of cold water poor in oxygen
Overturn: in spring and fall, all lake water gets mixed
AIR ISSUES:
Natural Pollutants: 1) dust and other particulate matter from windblown soil 2) sulfur oxides and particulate
matter from volcanism 3) carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulates from forest fires 4) hydrocarbons and
pollen from live plants 5) methane and hydrogen sulfide from decaying plants 6) salt particulates from sea
Classes of Air Pollutants: 1) carbon oxides 2) sulfur oxides 3) nitrogen oxides 4) volatile organic compounds 5)
suspended particulate matter 6) photochemical oxidants 7) radioactive substances 8) hazardous air pollutants
Primary Pollutants: released into environment in hazardous form e.g. CO, CO2, SO2, NO, NO2, hydrocarbons,
particulates
Secondary Pollutants: react with one another or with the air to form new pollutants e.g. SO3, HNO3, H2SO4,
H2O2, O3, peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs)
Photochemical Smog: mixture of primary and secondary pollutants formed under the influence of sunlight
PCS Reaction: N2 + O2 2NO; 2NO + O2 2NO2 (known as brown-air smog); 3NO2 + H2O 2HNO3 +
NO; NO2 + uv radiation NO + O; hydrocarbons + O2 + NO2 PANs
Photochemical Oxidants: NO2, O3 and PANs that are very reactive oxidizers
Industrial/Gray-Air Smog Reaction: C + O2 CO2; 2C + O2 2CO; S + O2 SO2; 2SO2 + O2 2SO3; SO3
+ H2O H2SO4; 2NH3 + H2SO4 (NH4)2SO4

Temperature Inversion: air near surface does not rise and can concentrate pollutants near ground
Subsidence Inversion: warm air mass moves over a region, preventing cooler air from rising
Radiation Inversion: air near ground cools faster than air above it at night
Acid Rain: nitrogen dioxide/NO2 and sulfur dioxide/SO2 react to create nitric and sulfuric acid
Acid Rain Reaction: SO2 + OH HOSO2; HOSO2 + O2 HO2 + SO3; SO3 + H2O H2SO4; NO2 + OH
HNO3
Dry Deposition: acidic substances deposited as particles
Wet Deposition: acidic substances deposited through rain, fog, snow and cloud vapor with PH less than 5.6
Buffers: react with acidic substances to keep PH stable
Effects of Acid on Aquatic Ecosystems: 1) as PH approaches 5, less desirable species of moss and plankton
invade, fish begin to disappear 2) below PH of 5, fish populations begin to disappear, bottom is covered by
undecayed material and mosses dominate nearshore areas 3) below PH of 4.5, water is devoid of fish 4)
aluminum ions from soil is washed into lakes, where they asphyxiate the fish by stimulating excessive mucus
formation which clogs their gills 5) some aquatic organisms can transform inorganic mercury into
methylmercury which can collect in the tissues of fish
Acid Shock: sudden runoff of highly acidic water and aluminum ions can wipe out an aquatic ecosystem with
few natural buffers
Effects of Acid on Plants and Soil: 1) leaches essential plant nutrients such as calcium and magnesium salts
from soil 2) releases aluminum ions and heavy metal ions 3) promotes growth of acid loving mosses that drown
plant roots, deaerate the soil and kill symbiotic fungi 4) weaken plants so they become more susceptible to other
damage
Indoor Air Pollutants: chloroform, para-dichlorobenzene, tetrachloroethylene, formaldehyde, benzo- pyrene, radon-222, styrene, methylene chloride, tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, asbestos, nitrogen oxides, 1,
1, 1-trichloroethane
Types of Industrial Air Filters: baghouse filter, electrostatic precipitatior, cyclone separator, wet scrubber
Human-Produced Greenhouse Gases: carbon dioxide/CO2, methane/CH4, nitrous oxide/N2O, CFCs
Warming Potential: CO2 = 1, CH4 = 24, N2O = 360, CFCs = 1,500-7,000
Most Potent Greenhouse Gas: CF3SF5; warming potential = 18,000
Most Common CFCs: CFC-11/trichlorofluoromethane/CCl3F, CFC-12/dichlorofluoromethane/CCl2F2
CFC Reaction: CCl3F + uv radiation Cl + CCl2F; Cl + O3 ClO + O2; ClO + O Cl + O2 [steps 2 and 3
are repeated many times, as the most common CFCs last for 75-111 years and can convert 100,000 molecules of
O3 into O2]
Ozone Depleting Compounds/ODCs: halons/HBFCs, methyl bromide/CH3Br, carbon tetrachloride/CCl4, methyl
chloroform/1, 1, 1-trichloroethane/C2H3Cl3, hydrogen chloride/HCl

Water Issues:
Types of Water Pollutants: 1) infectious agents, 2) oxygen-demanding wastes 3) inorganic chemicals 4) organic
chemicals 5) plant nutrients 6) sediment 8) radioactive materials 9) thermal pollution

Thermal Shock: sudden change in temperature wipes out aquatic ecosystem

Cultural Eutrophication: lake becomes more nutrient rich due to human activities
Primary Sewage Treatment: mechanical process that uses filters
Secondary Sewage Treatment: aerobic bacteria clean out biodegradable wastes
Advanced Sewage Treatment: advanced physical and chemical processes used after primary/secondary
Dead Zones: caused by excess phosphorus and nitrogen that causes eutrophication; excess phosphorus can be
removed by aluminum sulfate
Infiltration Gallery: alternative to diversion dam; perforated pipes are placed in streambed and water is pumped
out into a collection area; does not impact stream dynamics, does not hurt fish and is not eyesore; easily gets
clogged
Screened Pipe Intake: alternative or used in conjunction with diversion dam; can control water levels; fish can
get entrained
Seasonal Dams: alternative to diversion dams; allow fish to pass when not in use; structures can still impede
fish
Bioremediation: uses natural organisms to break down toxic substances
In Situ/Ex Situ: treat material in site/ take material to be treated elsewhere
Soil Vapor Extraction: vacuums induce air flow through the soil, picking up contaminants in the vapor
Solidification and Stabilization: cement prevents contaminants in the soil from spreading