Ecology and Environmental Science Vocabulary

PEE Ecology

  • Definition: Scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environments.

Key Components of Ecology

  • Biotic Factors: Living components of the environment (e.g., animals, plants).
  • Abiotic Factors: Nonliving components of the environment (e.g., water, climate).

Levels of Environmental Interaction

  • Organism: Individual living entity.
  • Population: Group of individuals of the same species in a geographic area.
  • Community: Assemblage of populations living together.
  • Ecosystem: Interaction between biotic and abiotic factors.
  • Biosphere: All regions of Earth that support life, from atmosphere to ocean depths.

Ecological Terms

  • Niche: Role a species plays in a community (its job).
  • Habitat: Place where an organism lives (its address).

Feeding Relationships

  1. Producers -> Consumers
  2. Predator -> Prey
  3. Parasite -> Host
    • Consumers (Heterotrophs): Cannot produce their own food; rely on other organisms.
    • Autotrophs: Produce their own food (e.g., plants through photosynthesis).

Types of Consumers

  • Herbivores: Eat plants (Primary consumers, prey).
  • Carnivores: Eat meat (Predators hunt prey).
  • Scavengers: Feed on dead animals (carrion).
  • Omnivores: Eat both plants and animals.
  • Decomposers: Break down dead matter into simpler molecules.

Symbiotic Relationships

  1. Commensalism: One species benefits; the other is unaffected (e.g., orchids growing on trees).
    • Epiphytes: Plants that grow on other plants but don't harm them.
  2. Parasitism: One species benefits at the expense of another (e.g., fleas on dogs).
  3. Mutualism: Both species benefit (e.g., cleaning birds and shrimps).

Marine Ecosystem

  • Definition: Aquatic environments with high salt levels.
  • Importance:
    • Ecological Services: Climate moderation, CO2 absorption, biodiversity, habitats.
    • Economic Services: Food, pharmaceuticals, coastal transport.

Categories of Marine Ecosystems

  • Coastal Ecosystem: (Estuaries, salt marshes, mangrove swamps).
  • Coral Reefs: Diverse habitats; threatened by human activity.
  • Ocean Coastal Ecosystem: Rich in nutrients, supports marine life.
    • Estuaries: Mixing of freshwater and saltwater, habitats for diverse species.

Characteristics of Estuaries

  • Water Type: Brackish (mixture of freshwater and saltwater).
  • Functions: Wildlife habitat, water purification, storm buffering.

Salt Marshes & Mangroves

  • Salt Marshes: Dominated by grass; location for diverse species.
  • Mangroves: Characterized by salt-tolerant species; special root adaptations for oxygen intake.
    • Types: Red mangroves (prop roots), black mangroves (horizontal roots), white mangroves (specialized roots).

Coral Reefs

  • Importance: Biodiversity, protection against storms, medical resources (drugs).
  • Destruction Causes: Land development, dynamite fishing, climate change.

Introduction to Environmental Science

  • Definition: Study of interactions between living and non-living environments.
  • Types of Surroundings:
    • Living: Animals, plants.
    • Non-living: Rocks, soil, water.
    • Built Environment: Human infrastructures.

Natural Resources

  • Renewable Resources: Can replenish quickly (e.g., water, timber).
  • Non-renewable Resources: Finite supply (e.g., fossil fuels).

Key Concepts in Population and Sustainability

  • Thomas Malthus: Suggested population control to prevent scarcity.
  • Tragedy of the Commons: Unregulated use leads to depletion of resources.

Sustainability and Ethics

  • Sustainability: Using resources for present needs without compromising future generations.
  • Environmental Ethics: Study of moral relationships between humans and non-human entities.

Ethical Perspectives

  1. Anthropocentrism: Humans have intrinsic value; other entities evaluated on usefulness.
  2. Biocentrism: All living things have value; opposing harmful developments.
  3. Ecocentrism: Value in entire ecosystems, promoting holistic conservation strategies.

Terrestrial Ecosystems

  • Natural Ecosystems: Function autonomously without human interference.
  • Artificial Ecosystems: Maintained by human activity (e.g., agricultural lands).

Types of Terrestrial Ecosystems

  • Biogeographic Realms:
    1. Palearctic
    2. Nearctic
    3. Neotropical
    4. Afrotropic
    5. Indomalaya
    6. Australasia

Biomes Overview

  1. Tundra: Cold, low vegetation; short growth periods.
  2. Taiga: Largest biome, coniferous forests.
  3. Temperate Forest: Mixed forests, diverse fauna.
  4. Grassland: Dominated by grasses, with sporadic wildlife.
  5. Savanna: Open spaces with mixed tree and grassland.
  6. Desert: Low precipitation, specialized flora.
  7. Tropical Rainforest: High rain, rich diversity.