About region and biosphere Landscapes is a part of geographical regions subject to large- scale and long-term regional processes These regional processes are subject to geographic ecology. Geographic ecology in turn leads us to the largest spatial scale and highest level of ecological organization-the biosphere(the portions of the earth that support life, including the land, waters and atmosphere)
Landscapes is a part of geographical regions subject to largescale and long-term regional processes. These regional processes are subject to geographic ecology. Geographic ecology in turn leads us to the largest spatial scale and highest level of ecological organization—the biosphere(the portions of the earth that support life, including the land, waters and atmosphere). About region and biosphere
Community What factors influence Biosphere the number of large What role does concentration of atmos pheric Co2 play in grassland? he regulation of global temperature? Interactions R Do predators influence How has geologic history there zebras feed in influenced regional diversity the landscape? within certain groups of organisms? Population Landscape What factors control How do vegetated corridors zebra populations? affect the rate of movement by mammals among isolated forest fragments? Individuals Ecosystem How do zebra How does fire affect regulate their internal nutrient availability in water balance? grassland ecosystems? Figure. Levels of ecological organization and examples of the ds of questions asked by ecologist working at each level
What role does concentration of atmospheric CO2 play in the regulation of global temperature? Biosphere How has geologic history influenced regional diversity within certain groups of organisms? Region Landscape How do vegetated corridors affect the rate of movement by mammals among isolated forest fragments? Ecosystem How does fire affect nutrient availability in grassland ecosystems? Community What factors influence the number of large mammal species living together in African grassland? Do predators influence where zebras feed in the landscape? Interactions What factors control zebra populations? Population Individuals How do zebras regulate their internal water balance? Figure . Levels of ecological organization and examples of the kinds of questions asked by ecologist working at each level
Some examples
Some examples
Example 1: The Ecology of Forest birds Using Field Studies to Test Theory From the observation of Black throated Robert MacArthur (1995) The warblers fed mainly by buds at top of tree New needles and buds of upper branches New needles and buds gleaning insects from the bark and foliage of trees They might be able to coexist and Bay-breasted Yellow-rump not compete with each other if they fed on the insects living in different zones within trees Old needles and bare are or lichen-covered lower and lichen-covered trunk and middle branches middle branches MacArthur subdivided trees into vertical and horizontal zones Figure3. Warbler(鸣鸟或莺一可唱歌) carefully recorded the amount of feeding zones shown in beige. The several time warblers spent feeding in each warbler species that coexist in the forests and found the situation was correct of northeastern north america feed in distinctive zones within forest trees
Figure 3. Warbler(鸣鸟或莺—可唱歌) feeding zones shown in beige. The several warbler species that coexist in the forests of northeastern North America feed in distinctive zones within forest trees The warblers fed mainly by gleaning insects from the bark and foliage of trees. They might be able to coexist and not compete with each other if they fed on the insects living in different zones within trees. MacArthur subdivided trees into vertical and horizontal zones, carefully recorded the amount of time warblers spent feeding in each and found the situation was correct From the observation of Robert MacArthur (1995) Example 1:The Ecology of Forest birds Using Field Studies to Test Theory
Example 2: Forest Canopy Research-nutrient budgets Nalini nadkarni's research in the treetop uncovered one of those factors: a significant store of nutrients in the rain forest canopy Epiphytes What are Epiphytes(附生植物)? o Plants such as many orchids and ferns that live on the branches and trunks of other plants Figure 4. Exploring the rain They are not parasitic-they do not derive forest canopy(树冠). What nalini their nutrient from the plant they grow on nadkarni discovered helped solve an ecological puzzle o As they grow on the branches of a tree they began to trap organic matter, which Some ecological puzzles How can the prodigious life of rain eventually forms a mat, providing a complex forests be maintained on its structure that supports a diverse community nutrient-poor soils? of plants and animals. Soils in rain forests are poor in nutrients because of the leaching by heavy rain
Figure 4. Exploring the rain forest canopy(树冠). What Nalini nadkarni discovered helped solve an ecological puzzle Nalini nadkarni’s research in the treetop uncovered one of those factors: a significant store of nutrients in the rain forest canopy-Epiphytes Some ecological puzzles How can the prodigious life of rain forests be maintained on its nutrient-poor soils? Soils in rain forests are poor in nutrients because of the leaching by heavy rain. Plants such as many orchids and ferns that live on the branches and trunks of other plants. They are not parasitic-they do not derive their nutrient from the plant they grow on. As they grow on the branches of a tree they began to trap organic matter, which eventually forms a mat, providing a complex structure that supports a diverse community of plants and animals. What are Epiphytes（附生植物）? Example 2:Forest Canopy Research-nutrient budgets