Lecture 1:Introduction to ecological concepts

Question 1

What is Ecology?

Answer 1

It is the study of connections in nature

Question 2

Who first used the word Ecology?

Answer 2

German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1869

Question 3

Breakdown ecology

Answer 3

Eco-Oikos- House
Logy-Logos- Study of

Question 4

What is one key thing Ecologists Focus on?

Answer 4

Interactions among all different systems

Question 5

What influences abundance and distribution of organisms?

Answer 5

Interactions

Question 6

Name 4 basic properties of life

Answer 6

Reproduce
Respire
React to stimuli
Grow

Question 7

What is an organism?

Answer 7

Sentient chemical machines made of organic compounds. CHO

Question 8

Name four fundamental levels of organization of interactions

Answer 8

1. Individual organism
2. Population
   3.Community
3. Ecosystem

Question 9

Where do ecological processes and functions vary?

Answer 9

At the ecological level they operate eg population

Question 10

What does ecology study at the organism level?

Answer 10

How they affect and are affected by their environment eg adaptations

Question 11

Define population.

Answer 11

a group of individuals of the same species that occupy a given area

Question 12

What does population ecology study?

Answer 12

population growth and how and why a population changes over time

Question 13

Define community.

Answer 13

interacting populations of different species within some defined geographical area.

Question 14

What does community ecology study?

Answer 14

the composition and organization of ecological communities and community development

Question 15

Define autecology

Answer 15

study of the interaction between organisms/population and their environments

Question 16

Define synecology

Answer 16

studies community ecology especially links btwn organisms.

Question 17

Define biome

Answer 17

a distinct ecological community of plants and animals defined in a particular climate

Question 18

So, to begin ecosystems, look at a system. What do you remember?

Answer 18

dynamic interactions in a defined area by interconnected components

Question 19

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 19

a system made up of all the living and non-living components interacting in a physically defined space.

Question 20

Ecosystems are self…?

Answer 20

organizing and regulating

Question 21

Ecosystem ecology deals with?

Answer 21

cycling of matter and energy within a community and with its environment.

Question 22

All of earth’s ecosystems form?

Answer 22

biosphere

Question 23

The biosphere is?

Answer 23

Portion of the earth where organisms exist and interact

Question 24

What makes up an organism’s environment

Answer 24

Everything, biotic and biotic, that surrounds it.

Question 25

Any factor, biotic or abiotic, that influences an organism is called?

Answer 25

An Eco-factor or environmental factor

Question 26

Abiotic eco-factors include?

Answer 26

1.pH
2.Temperature
3.Humidity
4.Light

Question 27

And now Biotic factors include?

Answer 27

1.Prey
2.Predators
3.Parasites
4. Competition
Basically any way organisms interact with each other

Question 28

Life on earth depends on three inter-connected factors which are?

Answer 28

1. Linear flow of energy. (due to entropy)
2. Circular flow of matter. (in closed system)
3. Gravity. (keeps all matter on earth)