Lecture 1: Course introduction; What ecology is and why it matters

Question 1

Definition of ecology (4)

Answer 1

The study of how organism interact with each other and their environment

Distribution of species

Structure and function of ecosystems

Study of biodiversity

Question 2

Is biodiversity equally distributed

Answer 2

Biodiversity is not equally distributed across the tree of life

Question 3

Population

Answer 3

All individuals of the same species at the same place and time

Question 4

Ecological Community

Answer 4

All species living together at one place at one time

Question 5

Ecosystem

Answer 5

All species including the non living

Eg the whole savanna

Question 6

Factors limiting a species range (3)

Answer 6

Climate

Inexhaustible conditions like climate

Exhaustible conditions like food

Question 7

The sixth extinction

Answer 7

Ongoing extinction as a result of human activities

Question 8

Model vs non model organisms?

Answer 8

A model organism (often shortened to model) is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena

Non-model organisms are organisms that have not been selected by the research community for extensive study either for historic reasons, or because they lack the features that make model organisms easy to investigate

Question 9

Why care about species ranges? (5)

Answer 9

Understanding where plants and animals grow because they gave us food

Predict what will happens to biodiversity as climate change persists

Predict how biodiversity will respond to pollution, invasive species and habitat destruction

Microbe ranges help us understand disease risk

Helps us understand why nature is the way it is