Introduction to Ecology

ecology

Coined by Haeckel (1869)

Comes from the Greek words:

logos

oikos

Ecosystem

the biotic community and its abiotic components, functioning as a system

Ecology is the study of

Interactions between organisms and their environments

Relationships among organisms and their interaction with the environment

Patterns and drivers of the abundance and distribution of organisms

Subfields within Ecology

Functional (physiological) ecology

• Population ecology

• Community ecology

• Ecosystem ecology

• Landscape ecology

• Conservation and Restoration ecology

• Global/Biogeochemical ecology

Habitat Destruction/Alteration

Sea floor trawling, land clearance,

agriculture, waterfront development

can change the aquatic community

and significantly impact fish

distribution, abundance, and

diversity

Direct Exploitation

the cause of many extinctions & dramatic decline

hunting

Invasive Species

Introduced species are moved by humans from their native location.

Some become invasive, spreading naturally and outcompeting native species.

Causing ecological and economic harm

Sublethal pesticides

Compromised Immune Systems

◎ Behavioral Effects

◎ Endocrine Disruptors

◎ Negative impacts on their food source

Pollution examples

lake merritt, fish killed in oakland

Global Climate Change

A significant threat to species

○ Dramatic decreases in population sizes

○ Significant impacts on the distribution of species

○ Significant changes in timing of events (phenology)

◎ Projected to cause extinction of 15 - 37% of species in biodiversity rich regions by 2050

Fish and Climate

Increased temperature and precipitation changes influence habitat availability, water quality/stratification, and phenology

◎ Predicted impacts: changes in metabolism, respiration and other physiological factors, range shifts, earlier blooms and migrations, food chain alteration