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

Explore the basics of ecology, including the relationships between living organisms and their environment, levels of organization, and ecological concepts.