Ecology: Lecture 1 Flashcards
What is Ecology? What components does it observe?
Ecology is the science of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment.
- It includes both abiotic and biotic components.
Why is Ecology important and why is it relevant?
Animals and plants support all human life on earth, and we would be extinct without ecosystems.
- Ecology helps ensure that our ecosystems are sustainable.
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic?
Abiotic refers to non-living parts of an ecosystem, and includes climate, environment, nutrients that are cycled through ecosystems and required by organisms.
Biotic refers to living organisms in our ecosystems - plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc.
What supports our ecosystems?
Our ecosystem are what support fisheries, farms, food security. We derive economic benefits from these things, and ecosystems create the conditions for life.
What type of interactions do ecologists observe?
- competition within or across species: mutualism, food issues, etc.
- How populations are shaped by environmental factors (temp, clim)
Why is it important that ecosystems are sustainable?
We need to ensure that our ecosystems are sustainable as we want to continue to be supported and limit the loss of biodiversity.
Approaches of modern ecology?
- Observational studies
- Experiments
- Data Analysis and statistical modelling of patterns
- Remote sensing, drones, camera traps
Observational studies?
Creating a “natural history” and not manipulating/changing anything.
- observing species interactions with each other or within own population
Experiments?
Manipulate environmental factors to gauge how they will adapt. They might introduce new species, limit food, change climate, or change temperature, etc.
- This is done to understand the reason for the patterns we observe
Data analysis and statistical modelling of patterns?
Make daily maps of surface temp to see how it impacts the distribution of fish/whales, etc. Observe how it is linked to biodiversity.
- Census helps us model large-scale patterns to further understanding.
Remote sensing, drone, camera traps?
Observe data on a large scale then relate back to the observation. Use this data to map, take samples, take photos, etc.
- Determine what kind of animals in certain areas.
What do the later approaches distinguish ecology from?
The last three distinguish ecology from natural history. Ecology wants to answer the question of why and how these distributions occur.
Ecology: why plants and animals are found where they are, how that happens, the mechanisms that make this happen, how it evolved, and how it might change.
Fishing example with AIS?
AIS is required for large ships to have to keep track of them. Ecologists can use this map to observe global fishing outputs or “where things are going on”
- Tells us the distribution of fish, where it might be more intense or less.
Traditional ecological knowledge?
- Ecology is a modern science, but techniques and ideas have existed long before that
- Data can be collected by non-scientists, broadening the scope of their reach
- Indigenous knowledge has been increasingly integrated into ecological studies.
What do ecologists often study: distributions?
- Limits to distribution (why isn’t everything everywhere)
- Changing distributions and why
What do ecologists often study: abundance?
- Changes in abundance (can we predict extinction, why does it occur)
- Are populations growing or shrinking?
The importance of ecology in our world?
Climate change: affects food availability, animals, humans, ecosystems, life itself
Mass extinction: disease can become more prevalent, occurs when changes do.
Biodiversity loss: cannot maintain economic stability, natural habitats lost, biodiversity makes earth unique
Ecological issues: conservation and biodiversity?
Evaluate effectiveness of conservation strategies.
Do marine protected areas work?
- are populations increasing
- how much time spent in area
- is it working/effective
Ecological issues: Environmental issues?
Evaluate the consequences of human activities
What is the effect of climate change on biodiversity?
- effect on reefs
- effect on species living there
- effect on humans living there
Ecological issues: Wildlife & resource management?
Evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies.
When does fishing become overfishing?
- avoid economic collapse
- livelihoods
- economics/employment
Ecological issues: Pest Control?
Strategies for reducing crop losses
Why do some insects get out of control?
- how to change this
- use natural predators to fix this
- reduce crop from insect/pest
Ecological issues: human health?
How are diseases spread through animals (zoonotic disease)
What are the most important animal vectors for disease?
What is the role of climate?
And how will climate change affect pathogen spread?
How are changing distributions affecting disease risks in human beings.
Levels of study: Organism
How do organisms adapt to their environment?
- Interactions with same species
- Adaptations and their effects
Levels of study: Population
Within the same species
- Same area