ECOLOGY : AN INTRODUCTION

Objectives
Define the ecological terms
Know the components and their interactions of
ecosystem
Understand the organizational level of life
and its principle
 What is Ecology?
Ecology – science dealing with the interrelationships
of living organisms to their environment.
Comes from Greek word
-“oikos” meaning home, -”logos” means study
coined by Ernst Haeckel who is known as the father
of Ecology
Study of interactions
 What is an Environmental Biology?
Environment refers to the surrounding of the
ecosystem

Biology refers study of living organisms

Environmental Biology pertains to the study of living

organisms as they are affected by the environment
and vice versa.
 BIOTIC ABIOTIC

Climatic Physiographic
Producers Decomposers •Light
•Topography
•(Autotrophs) •(Saprotrophs) •Temperature
Plants Consumers •Soil (edaphic)
•Bacteria
•(Heterotrophs)•Fungi •Moisture

•Herbivores •Wind

•Carnivores •Fire

•
What do you mean by the Organization of
Life?
What is the Scope of Biological
Organization ?
Cell and its
Organelles
Tissues
Organs
Systems
Individual Organism
Scope of Ecological Organization
Organism – an individual
belonging to a certain species
Populations- group of
individuals belonging to the
same species.
Community- group of several
populations
Ecosystem- group of major Ecosystem

communities
Biosphere- consisting of
several ecosystems
Components of Ecological Organization cont…

Population – group of individuals belonging to

same species and live in one place at one time
Community – All populations (diff. species) that
live in a particular area.
Components of Ecological Organization cont…
Ecosystem
Terrestrial or aquatic habitats consisting of the three
major communities
Biosphere
Thin living layer of the earth
Composed of many ecosystems
One of the sinks and phases of the earth together with
the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere
Principles in the Levels of Organization
There is interdependence
among the members of the
organizational level
Increasing complexities from
one level to another
There are an emergent
properties in every levels of
organization
Types of Interaction
1. Biotic affecting biotic
e.g. pollination
2. Biotic affecting abiotic
e.g. decomposition
3. Abiotic affecting biotic
e.g. hibernation
4. Abiotic affecting abiotic
e.g. soil erosion
Student Activity ½ x.w x 2 Students
Identify the type of interactions in the following
processes:
1. Respiration
2. Photosynthesis
3. deforestation
4. Red Tide
5. Global warming
Branches of Ecology
Ecology

Species Ecosystem Theoretical Applied

Ecology Ecology Ecology Ecology

Human Ecology Lake Ecology Synecology Landscape Eco

Insect Ecology Forest Ecology Autecology Restoration Eco
Principles of Ecology
1. Principle of Interrelatedness
a. Everything is connected to something
else.
b. Everything
2. Principle has a purpose
of Ecological backlash
a. Everything we do, creates an effect
that are often unpredictable.
3. Principle of limits and tolerance
a. Consumption must not exceed
production and vice versa
4. Principle of complexity and diversity
a. There is unity and beauty in diversity
Student Activity: write in ½ x. w. x 2
Students

Enumerate three environmental

problems that can be the
consequence of violating the
ecological principles. Explain your
answer.