Ecology Basics: Interactions and Environments

Study Notes

Ecology

The term "ecology" comes from the Greek words "eco" (house) and "logy" (study), referring to the study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment.
Environment consists of two parts: biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (non-living environment).

Population, Species, and Community

A population is a group of organisms of the same species that live together in the same area at the same time.
A species is a group of similar organisms.
A community is a natural association that consists of all the populations of different species that live and interact together within an area at the same time.

Ecosystem

An ecosystem includes all the biotic interactions of a community as well as the interactions between organisms and their abiotic environment.
The ultimate goal of ecosystem ecologists is to understand how ecosystems function.

Landscape and Biosphere

A landscape is a region that includes several interacting ecosystems.
The biosphere is the layer of Earth that contains all living organisms.

Flow of Energy through Ecosystems

Energy is the capacity or ability to do work, and it exists in two forms: potential energy (stored energy) and kinetic energy (energy in motion).
Organisms require energy to grow, move, reproduce, and maintain and repair damaged tissues.

Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is the study of energy and its transformations.
The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, although it can change from one form to another.
The second law of thermodynamics states that when energy is converted from one form to another, some of it is degraded into heat, a less usable form that disperses into the environment.

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Photosynthesis is a biological process that captures light energy and transforms it into the chemical energy of organic molecules.
In photosynthesis, plants absorb the radiant energy of the sun and convert it into the chemical energy contained in the bonds of sugar molecules.
Cellular respiration is the process by which an animal transforms some of the chemical energy stored in the plant into the mechanical energy of muscle contraction.

Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers

Producers are organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis, such as plants and algae.
Consumers are organisms that consume other organisms as a source of food energy and bodybuilding materials, and can be classified as primary, secondary, tertiary, or other consumers.
Decomposers are organisms that break down dead organic matter, such as detritus feeders.
Examples of primary consumers include grasshoppers, deer, moose, and rabbits, while examples of secondary and tertiary consumers include lions, spiders, and lizards.

Description

Learn about the fundamental concepts of ecology, including the interactions among organisms, the biotic and abiotic environment, populations, species, and communities. Explore how these factors shape ecosystems and influence the balance of nature.