What is Ecology Origin of the word ecology

What is Ecology?

Origin of the word…”ecology” n n Greek origin OIKOS = household LOGOS = study of… Study of the “house/environment” in which we live.

Ecology is study of interactions between n non-living components in the environment… n n n n light water wind nutrients in soil heat solar radiation atmosphere, etc. AND…

n Living organisms… n n n Plants Animals microorganisms in soil, etc.

To study Ecology involves… n For non-living (abiotic) n n n n Climatology Hydrology Oceanography Physics Chemistry Geology soil analysis, etc. For living (biotic) n animal behavior n Taxonomy n Physiology n mathematics (population studies) n etc. n

Ecology… n views each locale as an integrated whole of interdependent parts that function as a unit. caribou tundra

The interdependent parts are…

n Nonliving n n n Tundra dead organic matter nutrients in the soil and water. Producers n green plants

n Consumers n n Decomposers n Tundra Caribou herbivores and carnivores fungi and bacteria

ECOLOGY: Levels of Organization - a hierarchy of organization in the environment

Levels of organization - Terms n Biosphere n n n Surface of the earth Composed of many ecosystems Ecosystem n Large or small as we decide n Backyard, 110, etc. O’Melveney Park, Hedge along Room

Levels of organization - Terms n Population – one species live in one place at one time n Community – All populations (diff. species) that live in a particular area.

Levels of organization - Terms n Habitat – physical location of community n Organism – simplest level of organization

n n Very complex Can contain 100’s to 1000’s of interacting species.

THEN… Ecology is an integrated and dynamic study of the environment.

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