What is Ecology?

Origin of the word “ecology” Greek origin oikos = household 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 components in the environment… plants animals microorganisms, etc.

To study Ecology involves… Non-living (abiotic) Climatology Hydrology Oceanography Geology Physics Chemistry Living (biotic) Taxonomy Physiology Population studies Animal behavior

Ecology… views each locale as an integrated whole of interdependent parts that function as a unit. tundra caribou

The interdependent parts are…

nutrients in the soil and water Abiotic factors climate nutrients in the soil and water Producers green plants Tundra

Consumers Decomposers herbivores and carnivores some animals fungi and bacteria

ECOLOGY: Levels of Organization - a hierarchy of organization in the environment

Levels of organization - Terms Biosphere Surface of the earth Composed of many biomes Ecosystem Biomes are composed of many ecosystems Large or small as we decide Burlington City Park, Lake Mackintosh, your yard, a shrub, etc.

Levels of organization - Terms Habitat – physical location of community Organism – simplest level of organization (an individual)

Levels of organization - Terms Population – one species living in one place at one time (a collection of individuals) Community – all of the populations that live in that area (a collection of populations)

Ecology is an integrated and dynamic study of the environment. SO… Ecology is an integrated and dynamic study of the environment.