Ecology and Populations Flashcards

Ecology Overview

• Ecology studies interactions between living organisms and their environments.
• Distinct from environmentalism, which focuses on advocacy, policy, and action for the environment.

Components of Environment

• Abiotic Components: Non-living elements like temperature, moisture, and nutrients.
• Biotic Components: Living entities that influence ecosystems, including competitors, predators, mutualists, and commensalism.

Types of Ecology

• Organismal Ecology: Examines individual organism interactions through morphology, physiology, and behavior.
• Population Ecology: Investigates population dynamics, including growth and decline over time relating to environmental factors.
• Community Ecology: Studies interactions among species in a shared environment, focusing on species competition.
• Ecosystem Ecology: Looks at resource management and interactions of chemical, physical, and biological components within ecosystems.
• Landscape Ecology: Focuses on the spatial arrangement and how human development impacts environments on a larger scale.

Factors Affecting Distribution

• Dispersal: The movement limitations of organisms (e.g., seeds).
• Behavior: Habitat choice influencing presence in an area.
• Biotic Factors: Including predation, competition, and disease impacts.
• Abiotic Factors: Chemical (salinity, pH) and physical (temperature, light) influences.
• Biogeography: The science studying historical and present species distributions.

Biomes Classification

• Biome Definition: Characterized by climate, plant communities, and soil organisms.
• Aquatic Biomes:
  • Marine: 3% salt content, crucial for biodiversity.
  • Freshwater: 1% salt, vital for many species.
  • Streams/Rivers: Flowing water connecting terrestrial environments.
  • Wetlands: Transitional areas between land and water.
  • Estuaries: Brackish water zones where fresh and saltwater meet.
  • Seas/Oceans and Lakes also part of aquatic biomes.
• Terrestrial Biomes:
  • Tropical Forests: Rich biodiversity with multiple canopy layers.
  • Savannas: Grasslands with scattered trees.
  • Deserts: Low rainfall, adapted flora and fauna.
  • Chaparral: Fire-prone ecosystems with dry summers and wet winters.
  • Temperate Grasslands: Subject to seasonal droughts and fire.
  • Temperate Deciduous Forests: Seasonal dormancy in trees.
  • Coniferous Forests: Adaptations to cold, featuring gymnosperms.
  • Tundra: Cold desert characterized by permafrost.

Climate Components

• Climate elements include temperature, water, wind, and light, which shape ecological environments.

Environmentalism vs. Ecology

• Ecologists focus on scientific research about ecosystems, while environmentalists advocate for natural resource protection and address ecological crises.

Importance of Species Distribution Studies

• Understanding distribution aids in assessing species diversity and how human activities alter ecosystems over time.

Estimating Population Size

• Life Tables: Monitor a cohort's longevity and changes.
• Mark-Recapture Method: Involves tagging individuals to estimate population density through recapture data.