Lecture 1 Biology: What ecology is and why it matters

Question 1

What did Lynn Margulis do?

Answer 1

Published the radical idea “Endosymbiotic theory of the origin of Mitochondria” in 1967

Question 2

Define Ecology

Answer 2

Study of biodiversity - how organisms interact with each other and their environment (Both biotic and abiotic)

“oikos” means home to life in greek

Abiotic and biotic environment changes the distribution, structure and function of ecosystem.

Question 3

Distribution and abundance as a phenomena we want to understand

Answer 3

-Distribution of abundance is affect by the abiotic and biotic environment

(Something like what Malthus said : population cant grow faster than the resources available to them)

Question 4

Population, community and ecosystem

Answer 4

Population: One specie living in one area at one point in time (Like Zebras)

Community: All species living together in one place in one time. (Ex: plants, all animals)

Ecosystem: All species + non-living environment (the entire area including the wind)

Question 5

Factors limiting a species range

Answer 5

Dispersal

Abiotic Conditions: 1. Nutrients
2. Abiotic
conditions

Species Interactions: Competition
Predation
Mutualism

Question 6

The sixth extinction:

Answer 6

-Caused by human beings

-previous one was million years ago by the dinosaurs

• Almost 32% of the vertebrate species decreased in population size or range.

Question 7

What did Malthus say or do?

Answer 7

Wrote an essay arguing on the principle that population can’t grow faster than the resources that support them.