Plant Ecology An introduction

Ecology as a Science  Study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment  Of the interactions of organisms with one another  Of the patterns and causes of the abundance and distribution of organisms

Ecology as a Science  We’ll use the perspective of terrestrial plants  Basic ecology - ecological principles  Applied ecology - application of principles to practical problems  Not about advocacy, activism, or “warm fuzzies”

Ecology as a Science  Ecology is only one way of knowing about the world  Based on the weight of credible, repeatable evidence  Hard facts (how many species, how does it function) versus aesthetics, opinions (Is it beautiful?)

1.1 The scientific method Patterns Processes Theories

Table 1.1

Diversity of Ecological Evidence 1) Observations (descriptive data) Careful monitoring within the natural environment to detect patterns

1.3 Repeated observations can reveal information not apparent from one or a few observations (1) Lake Mendota, WI

1.3 Repeated observations can reveal information not apparent from one or a few observations (2)

1.3 Repeated observations can reveal information not apparent from one or a few observations (3)

Diversity of Ecological Evidence 2) Field experiments Manipulative experiments in the field to establish cause of observed patterns

1.2 Large-scale manipulative experiments at the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area (Part 1)

1.2 Large-scale manipulative experiments at the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area (Part 2)

Diversity of Ecological Evidence 3) Laboratory experiments Controlled conditions Simplified system Address specific questions

Diversity of Ecological Evidence 4) Mathematical modeling Computer-aided

1.4 Ecologists study patterns and processes across a wide range of scales in space and time Scale important because of heterogeneity of habitats

1.5 The environment in a microhabitat can differ from conditions in the surrounding area Microclimate

1.6 H.M.S. Beagle sailed from England December 27, 1831, on a five-year mission Beginnings of plant ecology as the study of natural history

Founder of the field of Plant Ecology - J. Eugenius Warming  Plant ecology emerges in mid- to late-1800s  Plant communities (synecology)  Species,individual adaptation (autecology)

Further advances in mid-1900s  Functional ecology, physiological ecology, plant population biology  Recent rise of landscape ecology, conservation ecology

Why do we care?  Conservation, preservation, restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem functions  Food supply - agroecology