What is Ecology?

Origin of the wordecology

Greek origin OIKOS = house LOGOS = study of

Study of the house/environment in which we live.

Ecology is study of interactions between

non-living components in the environment

light water wind nutrients in soil heat solar radiation atmosphere, etc.

AND

Living organisms

Plants Animals microorganisms in soil, etc.

To study Ecology involves

For non-living (abiotic)

For living (biotic)

Climatology Hydrology Oceanography Physics Chemistry Geology soil analysis, etc.

animal behavior Taxonomy Physiology mathematics (population studies) etc.

Ecology

views each locale as an integrated whole of interdependent parts that function as a unit.

caribou tundra

The interdependent parts are

Nonliving

dead organic matter nutrients in the soil and water.

green plants

Tundra

Producers

Consumers

herbivores and carnivores fungi and bacteria

Decomposers

Tundra

Caribou

ECOLOGY: Levels of Organization

- a hierarchy of organization in the environment

Levels of organization - Terms

Biosphere

Surface of the earth Composed of many ecosystems Large or small as we decide

Ecosystem

Backyard, OMelveney Park, Hedge along Room 110, etc.

Levels of organization - Terms

Population one species live in one place at one time Community All populations (diff. species) that live in a particular area.

Levels of organization - Terms

Habitat physical location of community Organism simplest level of organization

Very complex Can contain 100s to 1000s of interacting species.

THEN
Ecology is an integrated and dynamic study of the environment.

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