Ecology Fundamentals

Study Notes

Ecology is the scientific study of the relationships between living organisms (biotic factors) and their environment (abiotic factors).
It examines how organisms interact with each other and their environment, and how these interactions affect the distribution, behavior, and abundance of species.

Organism: The individual living thing, such as a plant or animal.
Population: A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific geographic area.
Community: A group of different species living in a specific geographic area.
Ecosystem: A community of living and non-living components interacting in a specific geographic area.
Landscape: A collection of ecosystems in a specific geographic area.
Biosphere: The global sum of all ecosystems on Earth.

Biotic factors:
- Producers (plants, algae): convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
- Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores): obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
- Decomposers (bacteria, fungi): break down dead organic matter into nutrients.
Abiotic factors:
- Light
- Temperature
- Water
- Soil
- pH
- salinity

Energy flow: Energy from the sun is transferred from one trophic level to the next through consumption.
Nutrient cycling: Essential nutrients are recycled through ecosystems, often involving decomposition and uptake by producers.
Species interactions: Mutualism, commensalism, predation, competition, and parasitism shape ecosystem structure and function.
Succession: The process of ecosystem change over time, often in response to disturbance or environmental change.

Species diversity: The variety of species within an ecosystem, which can influence ecosystem resilience and function.
Niche differentiation: The process by which species adapt to occupy specific ecological roles, reducing competition.
Tolerance and resistance: Ecosystems can resist or tolerate disturbances, influencing their ability to recover or change over time.

Ecology is the scientific study of relationships between living organisms and their environment.
It examines interactions between organisms and their environment, affecting species distribution, behavior, and abundance.

An organism is an individual living thing, such as a plant or animal.
A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific geographic area.
A community is a group of different species living in a specific geographic area.
An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living components interacting in a specific geographic area.
A landscape is a collection of ecosystems in a specific geographic area.
The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems on Earth.

Biotic factors include producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Producers, such as plants and algae, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
Consumers, such as herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores, obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead organic matter into nutrients.
Abiotic factors include light, temperature, water, soil, pH, and salinity.

Energy flows from the sun to trophic levels through consumption.
Nutrient cycling recycles essential nutrients through ecosystems, involving decomposition and uptake by producers.
Species interactions, such as mutualism, commensalism, predation, competition, and parasitism, shape ecosystem structure and function.
Succession is the process of ecosystem change over time, often in response to disturbance or environmental change.

Species diversity is the variety of species within an ecosystem, influencing ecosystem resilience and function.
Niche differentiation is the process by which species adapt to occupy specific ecological roles, reducing competition.
Tolerance and resistance are ecosystem properties that influence their ability to recover or change over time in response to disturbances.