Lecture 1 - Introduction to Ecology

Who coined the term "oekologie" and in what year?

Ernst Haeckel in 1869

"oikos"

Household, home, or place to live

Who defined this?
The scientific study of the processes regulating the distribution and abundance of organisms, their interactions, and the transport and transformation of energy and matter in the biosphere.

Krebs (1972)

Who elevated ecology to one of the 3 natural divisions of biology and in what year?

Burdon-Sanderson in 1890s

What are the three natural divisions of biology according to Burdon-Sanderson?

Physiology, Morphology, and Ecology

Who defined this and year?
The scientific study of the distribution and abundance of organisms.

Andrewartha in 1961

Who defined this and year?
The structure and function of nature.

Odum in 1963

What are some early needs that led to the development of ecology?

control pests, human disease

Ecology is a multidisciplinary science. List the 7 disciplines.

1. Hydrology

2. Atmospheric Sciences

3. Geology

4. Behavior

5. Biochemistry

6. Physiology

7. Genetics

2 classification of ecology based on study area

Autecology and Synecology.

What does Autecology study? also called?

The study of an individual organism/species in relation to its environment and to other species.

Also called Species Ecology.

What does Synecology study? also called?

The study of a community of organisms, their composition, behavior, and relationship with the environment.

Also called Ecology of Communities.

What are the 3 subdivisions of Synecology?

• Population ecology

• Community ecology

• Ecosystem ecology

What is the economy of nature in ecology?

The investigation of the total relations of an animal to its organic and inorganic environment, including relationships with other animals and plants.

What are the 4 additional dimensions of ecology besides biological relationships?

• Social

• Political

• Economic

• Technological dimensions

What 3 aspects of natural systems does ecology study?

• Evolutionary development of organisms

• Biological productivity

• Energy flow

Why are mathematical models developed in ecological studies?

To relate interactions of parameters and predict effects.

5 key reasons for studying ecology

• Curiosity

• Responsibility

• Nature as a guide

• Sustainability

• Understanding complex problems

What is the goal of ecology?

To understand the principles of operation of natural systems and predict their responses to change.

Ecology vs Environmentalism

• Ecology is a science that studies the effects of organisms on the environment and vice versa.

• Environmentalism is a social and political movement focused on environmental quality.

2 Classification of Ecology (Based on Environment or Habitat)

• Aquatic Ecology

• Terrestrial Ecology

2 Subdivisions of Aquatic Ecology

• Marine Water Ecology

• Freshwater Ecology

Examples of Marine Water Ecology (3)

• ocean

• deep sea

• estuary

2 Types of Freshwater Ecology

• Lotic (running water)

• Lentic (standing water)

Examples of Lotic and Lentic

• lotic: rivers, streams, spring

• lentic: ponds, lakes

3 Subdivisions of Terrestrial Ecology

• Grassland

• Forest

• Desert

8 Classification of Ecology (Based on Advancement in the Field)

• Productive

• Population

• Community

• Ecosystem

• Microbial

• Radiation

• Pollution

• Space

Levels of Organization in Ecology

Organism → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biome → Biosphere

Biome (define and example)

a specific ecosystem dictated by climate (e.g., tundra, taiga).

What ecological level studies population dynamics and evolution?

Population Level

What ecological level focuses on energy flux and nutrient cycling?

Ecosystem Level

What is studied at the biosphere level?

Global ecological processes.

What are the three main focus areas in studying ecology?

• Energy flows (How organisms obtain energy)

• Nutrients (Nutrient availability and global nutrient cycles)

• Populations and communities (Growth, competition, diversity metrics)

What does the organism approach in ecology focus on?

Adaptations, modifications of structure and function that suit the organism for life in its environment.

What does the population approach study?

The number of individuals and their variations in time and space.

What factors influence population dynamics?

• The physical environment

• Evolutionary processes

• Interactions with other populations

What 2 factors affect the diversity and relative abundance of different kinds of organisms living together?

• Population interactions (promoting and limiting coexistence)

• Feeding relationships (responsible for energy and material fluxes)

What is the main focus of the ecosystem approach?

The movement of energy and materials.

What 2 major influences affect energy and material movement?

• Organisms (both large and small)

• Climate and other physical factors

What four factors are affected by the global circulation of matter and energy?

• Distributions of organisms

• Changes in populations

• Composition of communities

• Productivity of ecosystems

What does ecophysiology examine?

How physiological functions of organisms influence their interactions with the environment.

What does ecomechanics use to study organism interactions?

Physics and engineering principles.

What does behavioral ecology focus on?

how behavior affects adaptation

What does systems ecology study?

The development, organization, and function of ecological systems from a holistic perspective.

What is the focus of evolutionary ecology?

The evolutionary histories of species and their interactions.

What does political ecology connect?

Politics and economy to problems of environmental control and ecological change.

Who first proposed the concept of an ecosystem, and in what year?

A.G. Tansley in 1935

How did A.G. Tansley define an ecosystem?

As a system resulting from the interaction of all living and non-living factors of the environment.

2 main components of an ecosystem

• Biological community (living organisms in a locale)

• Physical and chemical factors (abiotic environment)

Give 4 examples of ecosystems.

• Pond

• Forest

• Estuary

• Grassland