Ecology Overview

Ecology

Definition: Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms (biotic factors) and their environment (abiotic factors).

Levels of Organization:

1. Organism: Individual living thing, such as an animal, plant, or microorganism.
2. Population: Group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.
3. Community: Group of different species living in a specific area.
4. Ecosystem: Community and its physical environment (abiotic factors).
5. Biosphere: All ecosystems on Earth.

Ecosystem Components:

• Abiotic factors: Non-living components, such as light, temperature, water, and soil.
• Biotic factors: Living components, such as producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Energy Flow:

• Producers (autotrophs): Convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
• Consumers (heterotrophs): Obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
• Decomposers (detritivores): Break down dead organic matter into simple nutrients.

Ecological Interactions:

• Predation: One organism kills and consumes another.
• Competition: Organisms compete for the same resource.
• Symbiosis: Close, long-term relationships between different species.
  • Mutualism: Both species benefit.
  • Commensalism: One species benefits, the other is unaffected.
  • Parasitism: One species benefits, the other is harmed.

Ecological Concepts:

• Habitat: The natural environment in which an organism lives.
• Niche: The specific role an organism plays in its environment.
• Adaptation: Specialized traits that help organisms survive and reproduce in their environment.
• Succession: The process of change in an ecosystem over time.

Human Impact on Ecosystems:

• Pollution: Release of harmful substances into the environment.
• Climate Change: Global warming and associated changes in climate patterns.
• Habitat Destruction: Destruction or degradation of natural habitats.
• Conservation: Efforts to preserve and protect ecosystems and biodiversity.

Ecology Definition

• Ecology is the study of relationships between living organisms (biotic factors) and their environment (abiotic factors).

Levels of Organization

• Organism: Individual living thing, such as an animal, plant, or microorganism.
• Population: Group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.
• Community: Group of different species living in a specific area.
• Ecosystem: Community and its physical environment (abiotic factors).
• Biosphere: All ecosystems on Earth.

Ecosystem Components

• Abiotic Factors: Non-living components, such as light, temperature, water, and soil.
• Biotic Factors: Living components, such as producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Energy Flow

• Producers (Autotrophs): Convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
• Consumers (Heterotrophs): Obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
• Decomposers (Detritivores): Break down dead organic matter into simple nutrients.

Ecological Interactions

• Predation: One organism kills and consumes another.
• Competition: Organisms compete for the same resource.
• Symbiosis: Close, long-term relationships between different species.
  • Mutualism: Both species benefit.
  • Commensalism: One species benefits, the other is unaffected.
  • Parasitism: One species benefits, the other is harmed.

Ecological Concepts

• Habitat: The natural environment in which an organism lives.
• Niche: The specific role an organism plays in its environment.
• Adaptation: Specialized traits that help organisms survive and reproduce in their environment.
• Succession: The process of change in an ecosystem over time.

Human Impact on Ecosystems

• Pollution: Release of harmful substances into the environment.
• Climate Change: Global warming and associated changes in climate patterns.
• Habitat Destruction: Destruction or degradation of natural habitats.
• Conservation: Efforts to preserve and protect ecosystems and biodiversity.

Learn about the study of relationships between living organisms and their environment, including levels of organization from individual organisms to ecosystems.