Watershed Structure and Function Related to Ecological Assessment

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http//www.msu.edu/rjstev/EIPP_Intro_2001.htm
http//www.msu.edu/rjstev/Eco_Health_pt1_2001.htm
http//www.msu.edu/rjstev/Eco_Health_pt2_2001.htm
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What are Ecosystems and Why Do We Need to
Protect Them?
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Points of Emphasis

• Ecological Systems are Complex, but Logical
• Ecosystems are Dynamic, yet Homeostatic
• Ecological Responses to Humans Varies with
  Duration of Stress
• Values of Ecosystems

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What is an Ecosystem?

• Group of interacting organisms and the physical
  and chemical elements in a defined area.

Temp
Consumers (Animals)
Sun
Producers (Plants)
Decomposers (Bact.)
Moisture
Abiotic Chemicals (CO2, H2O, O2, NH3)
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What is an Ecosystem?

• Group of interacting organisms and the physical
  and chemical elements in a defined area.

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Watershed Hydrology Sourcesheds
Routes of Resources and Contamination
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Allochthonous Input
Grazers
Algae
Predators
Light
CPOM/ FPOM
Shredders Collectors
Plants
Nutrients
Bact. Fungi
Aquatic Ecosystems
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Allochthonous Input
Material Cycling
Grazers
Algae
Predators
CPOM/ FPOM
Shredders Collectors
Plants
Nutrients
Bact. Fungi
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Allochthonous Input
Energy Cycling
Grazers
Algae
Predators
Light
CPOM/ FPOM
Shredders Collectors
Plants
Bact. Fungi
Heat Energy
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Allochthonous Input
Energy Cycling Balance
GPP R
Grazers
Algae
Predators
Light
CPOM/ FPOM
GPP
Shredders Collectors
Plants
Bact. Fungi
Heat Energy Respiration (R)
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Allochthonous Input
Grazers
Algae
Predators
Light
CPOM/ FPOM
Shredders Collectors
Plants
Nutrients
Bact. Fungi
12
Allochthonous Input
Algae
Grazers
Predators
Light
CPOM/ FPOM
Shredders Collectors
Plants
Nutrients
Bact. Fungi
13
Allochthonous Input
Grazers
Algae
Predators
Light
CPOM/ FPOM
Shredders Collectors
Plants
Nutrients
Bact. Fungi
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Allochthonous Input
O2
Algae
Grazers
Light
Predators
CPOM/ FPOM
Plants
Shredders Collectors
Nutrients
Bact. Fungi
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Bioconcentration of Contaminants(Residues of DDT
(ppm) in various trophic levels of an estuary
food web)
Fish-eating Birds (3.15-75.5)
Fish (0.17-2.07)
Shrimp (0.16)
Mud Snail (0.26)
Clam (0.42)
Insects (0.23-0.3)
Organic Debris (0.3-13.0)
Marsh Plants (0.33-2.8)
Cladophora (0.03)
Plankton (0.04)
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Interactions among Organisms and Their Environment

• Abiotic Factors (Limiting factors)
• Climate
• Temperature
• Rainfall
• Day Length
• Seasons
• Geology
• Soils Water Chemistry
• Hydrology
• Soil Moisture
• Resources
• Light
• Nutrients
• Physical Disturbance

• Biotic Interactions
• Trophic Interactions (i.e. predator/prey)
• Competition
• Intraspecific
• Interspecific
• Disease/Parasitism
• Mutualistic Interactions

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Abiotic Regulation (non-resource) of Populations
(Species)
Range of Tolerance
Metabolism (e.g. growth, reproduction)
Zone of stress
Zone of stress
Comp. Level
Environmental Gradient (e.g. Temp)
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Resource Regulation of Populations
Range of Tolerance
Zone of stress
Metabolism (e.g. growth, reproduction)
Comp. Level
Resource Gradient (Light, N, P, Prey)
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Carrying Capacity (CC) of Populations
CC
Population Abundance
Time (d, wks, mon, yrs)
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Carrying Capacity (CC) of Populations
CC
Population Abundance
Time (d, wks, mon, yrs)
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Interactions Among Land,Streams, Lakes, and
Wetlands
Land
Lakes
Wetlands
Streams
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Habitat Functions

• Storage and Transformation
• (Water, Nutrients, Sediments)
• Settling or Biological Uptake and Retention
• Transport (Water, Nutrients, Sediments, Biota)
• Habitat for Spawning/Breeding
• Habitat for Development of Young
• Habitat for Adults
• Productivity
• Support of Diversity
• Homeostasis from Interactions

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Natural Regulatory Factors Ecoregions
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Natural Sources of Variability

• Species Membership
• Competition
• Predation
• Mutualism
• Production
• Primary Production
• Secondary Production
• Nutrient and Energy Cycling
• Soil fertility
• Fisheries productivity

• Primary Factors
• Climate (Temp/Rain)
• Geology
• Secondary Factors
• Hydrologic Variability
• Soils
• Temperature
• Water Chemistry
• Light