Ecology and Organism Adaptations

Ecology

• The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
• Four levels of biological organization: organisms, populations, communities, and biomes.

Organism and its Environment

• Physiological Ecology - Study of adaptations for survival and reproduction in specific environments.
• Abiotic Factors:
  • Temperature
    • Earth's rotation and tilt cause variations in temperature and seasons.
    • Major biomes like deserts, rainforests, and tundras are formed due to these variations.
    • Stenothermal: Organisms tolerant of narrow temperature ranges.
  • Water
    • Essential for life.
    • Desert organisms have adaptations to conserve water.
    • Water quality (pH, chemical composition, salinity) is critical for aquatic organisms.
    • Euryhaline: Organisms tolerant of a wide range of salinity.
    • Stenohaline: Organisms tolerant of a narrow range of salinity.
  • Light
    • Essential for photosynthesis in plants.
    • Small forest plants are adapted to low light conditions.
    • Photoperiodism (timing of flowering) is influenced by sunlight.
    • Animals use variations in light intensity for foraging, reproduction, and migration.
    • Sunlight is the ultimate source of energy on land.
    • Deep ocean environments are devoid of sunlight, with minimal energy available.
    • The spectral quality (UV spectrum) of solar radiation impacts life.
  • Soil
    • Properties are influenced by climate.
    • Supports plant growth and provides a habitat for many organisms.

Habitat

• Regional and local variations within a biome create different habitats.
• Life exists in diverse and extreme habitats, including deserts, rainforests, deep-sea trenches, and high mountain tops.
• Our intestines provide a habitat for numerous microbes.

Niche

• An organism's unique role and position in its environment.
• Every organism tolerates specific conditions and utilizes specific resources.