biology and the hierarchies of life common names are confusing with respect to...

Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 1

Biology and the hierarchies of life Biology and the hierarchies of life

Common names are confusing with

respect to taxonomy


Biology and the hierarchies of life

http://mikami.image.pbase.com/u46/adventuresofstar/small/29443355.HealesvilleBlackBuzzard.jpg www.nps.gov/bicy/bvulture.htm

www.barrywales.co.uk/hawkingcentre/buzzard.htm

www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/projects/buzzard

What is a “buzzard?”



Genus: related organisms

Species: consistently distinguishable from

other organisms


Two species of genus Pinus



Same specific name does not imply same species

…the combination of genus and species is unique

Quercus alba Chionis alba

http://www.guiamarina.com/chile/01%20animals/18%20Aves/Chionis%20alba.htm illinois.state-capitals.com/state_misc/

illinois_tree.jpeg



What constitutes a species?

Lomolino et al. 2006




1. phylogenetic: organisms with at least one

diagnostic characteristic that is present in all

members but absent in other species

Note: MacDonald calls this “phylogenetic” Lomolino et al. 2006




2.biological: can interbreed freely under natural

conditions and are reproductively isolated

• “classical” definition of species

Polargrizz: DNA tests confirm hybrid




3. evolutionary: direct ancestor-descendant

relationship traceable in the fossil record

• based on morphological traits (size, shape)

and so on…



Species can be reclassified over time

Example: brontosaurus => apatosaurus

www.oursci.org



Example: birding lumpers vs. splitters

Northern Oriole, Icterus galbula

www.massaudubon.org

www.hoglezoo.org

Bullock’s Oriole, Icterus bullockii Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula

Species can be reclassified over time



Populations of mountain pine beetle exhibit

variability in important life history traits

Development time southern population

northern

populations

Bentz et al., 2001



Communities

www.environment.act.gov.au/nativeplantsandanimals

Eucalypt woodland in Australia

www.alpine-club.mb.ca

Alpine meadows in Canada



Hicke, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 2005

www.scienceclarified.com/Di-El/Ecosystem.html

Ecosystems



Biomes



Biosphere

(compare with atmosphere, lithosphere, etc.)

people.hofstra.edu/.../conc8en/envisys.html



Bakker 1971



Food webs (not linear chains)



autotrophs = derive

energy with self

heterotrophs = derive

energy from other

organisms




primary consumers

secondary consumers

tertiary consumers




Which are herbivores?

Carnivores?

Omnivores?




Still et al., 2003



Gross Primary

Productivity (GPP):

C fixed by plants

Heterotrophic

Respiration (Rh):

decomposition of litter,

roots, debris

Roughly = to NPP

Net Primary Productivity (NPP) = GPP – Ra

Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) = NPP – Rh

Autotrophic

Respiration (Ra):

C respired by plants

about of GPP

Photosynthesis and energy flow

energy available to ecosystem



How to compute NPP

1. light-use efficiency model

NPP = PAR x fPAR x * x

• PAR: photosynthetically active radiation

• fPAR: fraction of absorbed PAR

• *: maximum light-use efficiency

• : reduces NPP in unfavorable climate conditions

radiation absorbed by

vegetation

conversion to C



NPP estimated from satellite observations

Hicke, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 2005



How to compute NPP

2. biomass difference

NPP = B2 – B1 + L + G

• B1: biomass at time 1

• B2: biomass at time 2

• L: losses associated with mortality

between times 1, 2

• G: losses from herbivory

www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/level1/photo_library/

photo_lib_reserves/stockwood/photo2.htm



Jenkins et al. 2001

Forest NPP estimated from inventories



Chemosynthesis

Energy source: chemical reactions

Locations: Hydrothermal vents, whale

falls 2500 m below ocean surface

Large biomass, numbers of species

Mineral-laden sites

Base of food web: Bacteria oxidize

sulfur from H2S through chemical

reactions instead of using sunlight and

photosynthesis

ocean-ridge.ldeo.columbia.edu/courses/subgeol/hot_springs

© Craig Smith and Mike Degruy



Residence times of energy in food webs

In living plants grasslands: 3 years

forests: 22-25 years

In plant litter

tropics: 3 months

extratropical forests: 100 years

Typically, some of energy from photosynthesis moves to

highest trophic levels in a few weeks



Efficiencies

Bird/mammals 3% of received energy is assimilated

Insects 39%

Fish 10%

Why are birds and mammals relatively inefficient?

biology and the hierarchies of life common names are confusing with respect to...

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