Understanding the Environment Flashcards
Ecology
The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another AND to their physical surroundings
Organismal Ecology
Interactions between individuals and their environment
- Physiological ecology
- Behaviors ecology
Population Ecology
Dynamics of a group of individuals of a single species
- Population genetics, demography
Community Ecology
Interactions among groups of coexisting species
Ecosystem ecology
Interactions between ecological communities and their abiotic environment
Ecosphere or Biosphere
sum of all Earth’s ecosystems
*Species
The basic unit of classification and taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity
- Most often defined as an organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. *very problematic for MANY biologists
Population
A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time
Selection acts on […]
[individuals]
Populations […]
[evolve]
Community
An interacting group of various species in a common location
Ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms (biotic) and their physical environment (abiotic)
Biome
A major, and distinct, biogeographical community that has developed in response to a shared, regional climate/environment
Biosphere
The world-wide sum of all ecosystems
“zone of life on Earth”
Why do we need to understand the environment?
- Ecology examines the distribution and abundance of organisms in relation to abiotic and biotic interactions
- Evolution is impacted by these interactions
- Environmental classifications (e.g. biomes) provide and opportunity to understand ecological processes in different kinds of communities and ecosystems, and to understand how organisms with different ancestors evolve in response to similar environments
