Chapter 01: Introduction Flashcards
Who coined the word “ecology”?
Ernst Haeckel
ecology (n.)
the study of the interaction of organisms with each other and their environment
What are the three tenets of ecology?
1] Ecology is grounded in natural history, 2] the organism is the fundamental unit of ecology, and 3] an understanding of evolution is essential
What is the fundamental unit of ecology?
An organism
What is the hierarchy of ecological systems?
Organism -> population -> community -> ecosystem -> biosphere
What is the basic unit of evolution (in ecological hierarchy)?
A population
population (n.)
a group of many organisms of the same kind living together (e.g., a group of finches)
community (n.)
a group of populations of many different kinds (e.g., finches and wolves and plants together)
ecosystem (n.)
an area defined by biotic factors (communities present) and abiotic factors (energy flux, nutrients, climate)
niche (n.)
the range of conditions a organism can tolerate and the way of life it pursues; its role in the ecosystem
Thomas Malthus is known for:
noting that most organisms produce more offspring than needed to replace parents; inspiring Darwin’s work
Rachel Carson is known for:
publishing ‘Silent Spring’ (1961); familiarized public with ecology
1st Law of Thermodynamics (n.)
Energy can be transferred, but cannot be created or destroyed
2nd Law of Thermodynamics (n.)
The entropy of an isolated system will increase over time (if it is not at equilibrium)
evolution (n.)
the change in allele frequencies over time
