Week 1.2 Sampling and Precision Notes PDF

Week 1.2 Tuesday, 5 November 2024 2:05 pm Sampling and Precision Notes Introduction to Sampling in Ecology ○ Sampling is essential for studying population size, distribution, and interactions. ○ Historically, sampling relied on null hypothesis testing (assuming no effect) and...

Week 1.2 Tuesday, 5 November 2024 2:05 pm Sampling and Precision Notes Introduction to Sampling in Ecology ○ Sampling is essential for studying population size, distribution, and interactions. ○ Historically, sampling relied on null hypothesis testing (assuming no effect) and with evidence. ○ Today, ecology embraces multiple hypothesis testing to evaluate complex syste Rules for Ecological Science (Charlie Krebs) 1. Learn from past successes and failures, but stay open to new ideas. 2. Develop multiple hypotheses that clarify what should or should not happen und conditions. 3. Seek generality in findings but be cautious of oversimplifications. 4. Consider policy implications to ensure research has a broader societal impact. Approaches in Ecology ○ Descriptive: Observing and documenting phenomena (natural history), consume ○ Functional: Investigating immediate causes of ecological processes (e.g., nutrien system operates ○ Evolutionary: Examining ultimate causes shaped by historical and evolutionary f species interactions like plant-pollinator), why natural selection favours a particu Challenges in Ecological Studies ○ Complexity: Many interrelated factors and varying scales (individual, population, ○ Hierarchy: Recognizing the influence of individual behaviors, historical context, a changes. ○ Apparent vs. Actual Problems: Distinguishing true interactions from perceived as Contemporary Issues in Ecology ○ Biodiversity loss is exacerbated by synergistic impacts of habitat loss, resource e invasive species, and climate change. ○ Minimum Viable Population: Threshold below which populations may enter an vortex, beyond recovery. Importance of Ecological Thinking in Society ○ Ecological knowledge influences conservation, resource management, and socie ○ Understanding the 6th Mass Extinction and climate impacts requires ecological ○ Educating decision-makers in corporate, government, and public sectors to incor ecological perspectives can improve outcomes. Synergies of Impacts ○ Resource use (direct harvest/overexploitation) ○ Habitat fragmentation ○ Non-native species introductions ○ Spreading pathogens  challenging this ems in parallel. der certain e natural world nt cycling), how a forces (e.g., ular outcome , ecosystem). and geological ssociations. extraction, extinction etal values. insight. rporate  ecological perspectives can improve outcomes. Synergies of Impacts ○ Resource use (direct harvest/overexploitation) ○ Habitat fragmentation ○ Non-native species introductions ○ Spreading pathogens ○ Changing global climate ○ If all happen at same time get an amplified effect, if synergies are large, more th impact, populations reducing down to below minimal viable population size Invasive species ○ Looked at what would happen if we eradicate invasive species § Show substantial positive outcomes in terms of biodiversity loss and adapt mitigation of climate change impacts by removing or largely removing the impacts from that system Climate change ○ Scenarios based on different policies and actions § If start adding targets, adding pledges and optimistic scenario then we get § Predict and protect § See long term momentum affects Population ecology ○ Broadly used in ecology § Single versus multiple populations - with and without gene flow and demo influence from other populations Technological Advances in Ecology ○ Use of EcoTech tools (e.g., camera traps, audio loggers) for large-scale monitorin ○ Remote sensing and AI (e.g., machine learning for pattern recognition) allow for efficient data collection. ○ These innovations are expanding ecological research and are highly valued skills ecologists. han double the tation and e invasive species t it down ographic ng. r scalable and s for future