Lecture 1 Flashcards
What is ecology?
Ecology is the science of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
What components does ecology include?
Ecology includes both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.
What do animals and plants support?
Animals and plants support all human life.
Why are ecosystems essential?
Ecosystems are essential for human survival.
What methods are used in modern ecology?
Observational studies, experiments, data analysis, statistical modelling, remote sensing, drones, and camera traps
These methods enable ecologists to gather data and analyze ecological phenomena.
What types of questions does ecology seek to answer?
‘Why’ and ‘how’ questions
This focus on causal relationships differentiates ecology from natural history.
What do ecologists often examine regarding distribution?
Limits to distribution and changing distributions
Understanding distribution is crucial for studying species and ecosystem dynamics.
What types of knowledge are important in ecology?
Indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge
These knowledge systems provide valuable insights into local ecosystems and sustainable practices.
What do ecologists study regarding populations?
Abundance, including changes in abundance and whether populations are growing or shrinking
Why is ecology important?
For understanding and addressing issues like climate change, mass extinction, and biodiversity loss
What problems does ecology address?
Conservation, biodiversity, and environmental issues
What do ecologists evaluate?
The effectiveness of conservation and management strategies
What issues does ecology address?
Effectiveness of marine protected areas
This includes assessing how well these areas conserve marine biodiversity.
What do ecologists investigate regarding climate change?
Effects on biodiversity
Understanding how climate change impacts various species and ecosystems.
How is ecology applied in wildlife management?
Used in resource management strategies
This includes ensuring sustainable populations of wildlife.
What management strategies do ecologists evaluate?
Effectiveness of management strategies, including overfishing
Identifying when fish populations are being depleted to unsustainable levels.
In which area does ecology contribute to agriculture?
Pest control and reducing crop losses
Developing strategies to manage pest populations effectively.
What do ecologists try to understand about insects?
Why some insects get out of control
Investigating the factors that lead to pest outbreaks.
What does ecology address regarding diseases?
How diseases spread through animals (zoonotic disease)
Zoonotic diseases are those that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
What do ecologists study in relation to diseases?
Animal vectors for diseases and the role of climate on pathogen spread
Vectors are organisms that transmit pathogens from one host to another.
What are the levels of ecological study?
- Organism
- Population
- Community
- Ecosystem
- Landscape/seascape
- Global ecology (the biosphere)
Each level represents a different scale of ecological research and understanding.
