Ecology Fundamentals

Ecology

• Definition: Study of the relationships between living organisms (biotic factors) and their environment (abiotic factors)
• Levels of Organization:
  • Ecosystem: Community of living and non-living components interacting in a specific environment
  • Community: Group of different species living in a specific area
  • Population: Group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area
  • Organism: Individual living thing
• Ecological Concepts:
  • Energy Flow: Energy transfer from one level to the next in an ecosystem
  • Nutrient Cycling: Reuse of nutrients in an ecosystem
  • Symbiotic Relationships: Interactions between different species (e.g., mutualism, commensalism, parasitism)

Genetics

• Definition: Study of heredity, genes, and genetic variation
• Mendelian Genetics:
  • Laws of Inheritance: Mendel's laws governing the inheritance of traits
  • Genotype: Genetic makeup of an individual
  • Phenotype: Physical expression of a genotype
• DNA Structure and Replication:
  • Double Helix Model: Structure of DNA, with two complementary strands
  • Replication: Process of creating a copy of DNA
• Genetic Variation:
  • Mutation: Change in DNA sequence
  • Genetic Drift: Random change in allele frequency
  • Gene Flow: Movement of genes between populations

Evolution

• Definition: Change in the frequency of alleles in a population over time
• Mechanisms of Evolution:
  • Natural Selection: Process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
  • Genetic Drift: Random change in allele frequency
  • Gene Flow: Movement of genes between populations
  • Mutation: Change in DNA sequence
• Evidence for Evolution:
  • Fossil Record: Sequence of fossilized organisms showing gradual changes
  • Comparative Anatomy: Similarities and differences in body structure between species
  • Molecular Biology: Similarities and differences in DNA and protein sequences between species

Ecology

• Ecology is the study of relationships between living organisms (biotic factors) and their environment (abiotic factors)
• An ecosystem consists of a community of living and non-living components interacting in a specific environment
• A community is a group of different species living in a specific area
• A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area
• An organism is an individual living thing
• Energy flows from one level to the next in an ecosystem
• Nutrients are reused in an ecosystem through nutrient cycling
• Symbiotic relationships exist between different species, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism

Genetics

• Genetics is the study of heredity, genes, and genetic variation
• Mendel's laws of inheritance govern the inheritance of traits
• An individual's genotype is their genetic makeup
• An individual's phenotype is the physical expression of their genotype
• DNA is structured as a double helix with two complementary strands
• DNA replication is the process of creating a copy of DNA
• Mutations are changes in DNA sequence
• Genetic drift is a random change in allele frequency
• Gene flow is the movement of genes between populations

Evolution

• Evolution is the change in the frequency of alleles in a population over time
• Natural selection is the process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
• Genetic drift is a random change in allele frequency
• Gene flow is the movement of genes between populations
• Mutations are changes in DNA sequence
• The fossil record shows a sequence of fossilized organisms with gradual changes
• Comparative anatomy reveals similarities and differences in body structure between species
• Molecular biology reveals similarities and differences in DNA and protein sequences between species