Lecture 1: Intro To Ecology Flashcards
Ecology
The science of how organisms interact with each other and their environments
Biotic
Living components of an ecosystem
Abiotic
Non-living components of an ecosystem
What approaches does modern ecology use?
- Observational approaches
- Experiments
- Data analysis and statistical modelling
- Community engagement and diverse knowledge systems
What do ecologists examine?
Distribution and abundance
The importance of ecology in the world
- Climate change
- Mass extinction
- Biodiversity loss
Types of problems addressed by ecology
- Conservation and biodiversity
- Environmental issues
- Wildlife and resource management
- Pest control
- Human health
Levels of ecological study
- Organismal
- Population
- Community
- Ecosystem
- Landscape/Seascape
- Global
Climate
The long term prevailing weather condition in a given area
What determines climate?
- Input of solar radiation
- Earth’s movement in space
- Large bodies of water
- Mountain ranges
- Greenhouse gases
What does the input of solar radiation do?
Solar radiation drives air and water circulation and precipitation
What are the major climate modifiers?
Large bodies of water and mountains
Biomes
Major zones of life named for climatic features and predominant vegetation
Disturbance
Event that removes individuals from a population
How do populations and biomes move because of climate change?
Away from the equator and towards the poles (to stay in their climatic niche)
