Lecture 1:Introduction to ecological concepts Flashcards
Introduction
What is Ecology?
It is the study of connections in nature
Who first used the word Ecology?
German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1869
Breakdown ecology
Eco-Oikos- House
Logy-Logos- Study of
What is one key thing Ecologists Focus on?
Interactions among all different systems
What influences abundance and distribution of organisms?
Interactions
Name 4 basic properties of life
Reproduce
Respire
React to stimuli
Grow
What is an organism?
Sentient chemical machines made of organic compounds. CHO
Name four fundamental levels of organization of interactions
- Individual organism
- Population
3.Community - Ecosystem
Where do ecological processes and functions vary?
At the ecological level they operate eg population
What does ecology study at the organism level?
How they affect and are affected by their environment eg adaptations
Define population.
a group of individuals of the same species that occupy a given area
What does population ecology study?
population growth and how and why a population changes over time
Define community.
interacting populations of different species within some defined geographical area.
What does community ecology study?
the composition and organization of ecological communities and community development
Define autecology
study of the interaction between organisms/population and their environments
Define synecology
studies community ecology especially links btwn organisms.
Define biome
a distinct ecological community of plants and animals defined in a particular climate
So, to begin ecosystems, look at a system. What do you remember?
dynamic interactions in a defined area by interconnected components
What is an ecosystem?
a system made up of all the living and non-living components interacting in a physically defined space.
Ecosystems are self…?
organizing and regulating
Ecosystem ecology deals with?
cycling of matter and energy within a community and with its environment.
All of earth’s ecosystems form?
biosphere
The biosphere is?
Portion of the earth where organisms exist and interact
What makes up an organism’s environment
Everything, biotic and biotic, that surrounds it.
Any factor, biotic or abiotic, that influences an organism is called?
An Eco-factor or environmental factor
Abiotic eco-factors include?
1.pH
2.Temperature
3.Humidity
4.Light
And now Biotic factors include?
1.Prey
2.Predators
3.Parasites
4. Competition
Basically any way organisms interact with each other
Life on earth depends on three inter-connected factors which are?
- Linear flow of energy. (due to entropy)
- Circular flow of matter. (in closed system)
- Gravity. (keeps all matter on earth)
