What is ecology?
Introduction to Ecology
Ecology is the study of an organism's relationship with the environment. There are many different types of relationships in an ecosystem, those of which include both abiotic and biotic factors. Abiotic factors are strictly relationships with non-living components of an ecosystem. This includes soil, erosion, deposition and solar radiation. Biotic factors are strictly relationships with other living species, which can include any one particular organism. The study of biology begins with the biosphere, which is "The global sum of all ecosystems". [1] Within the biosphere there are different biomes. After specific biomes, there are different ecosystems. Ecosystems carry communities, which are "a group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat." [2] From here, there are populations, which ultimately are all organisms of the same species that have the capability of interbreeding [3]. This, then leads to a specified individual. The study of ecology is ultimately essential to human survival, because the information gives us insights about what we can do keep our species alive. Ecology tells us how to properly supplement and take care of natural resources supplied by our environment. Aside from giving scientists insights about future occurrences, the study also offers information regarding the past major occurrences. "Ecology is a science that contributes considerably to our understanding of evolution, including our own evolution as a species. All evolutionary change takes place in response to ecological interactions that operate on the population, community, ecosystem, biome and biosphere levels." [4]
Ecology is the study of an organism's relationship with the environment. There are many different types of relationships in an ecosystem, those of which include both abiotic and biotic factors. Abiotic factors are strictly relationships with non-living components of an ecosystem. This includes soil, erosion, deposition and solar radiation. Biotic factors are strictly relationships with other living species, which can include any one particular organism. The study of biology begins with the biosphere, which is "The global sum of all ecosystems". [1] Within the biosphere there are different biomes. After specific biomes, there are different ecosystems. Ecosystems carry communities, which are "a group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat." [2] From here, there are populations, which ultimately are all organisms of the same species that have the capability of interbreeding [3]. This, then leads to a specified individual. The study of ecology is ultimately essential to human survival, because the information gives us insights about what we can do keep our species alive. Ecology tells us how to properly supplement and take care of natural resources supplied by our environment. Aside from giving scientists insights about future occurrences, the study also offers information regarding the past major occurrences. "Ecology is a science that contributes considerably to our understanding of evolution, including our own evolution as a species. All evolutionary change takes place in response to ecological interactions that operate on the population, community, ecosystem, biome and biosphere levels." [4]
Biomes and Ecosystems
Ecosystems exist only under the presence of different biomes, which are defined by climate. Climate includes precipitation and temperature, and there are many different types of biomes, some of which are aquatic, and others which are terrestrial. Although one specific thins that is constant in all ecosystems are both abiotic and biotic factors. This includes living species and non-living components. Aquatic biomes include coral reefs, estuaries, and freshwater wetlands. Terrestrial biomes include taigas, tundras, savannas, deserts, rain forests and temperate areas. Biomes form on this earth solely because of locations on this earth. For example at the equator, or 0 degrees, there is intense sunlight and an ongoing warm climate. As the intense sunlight affects the large amount of precipitation, this particular biome with intense heat, frequent precipitation and a lot of sunlight is called a tropical rain forest. Species such as toucans or boa constrictors live in this biome mainly because they need that type of climate to survive. Of course, as locations are further from the equator, they become cooler. Although once locations are at the furthest northern or southern areas of the earth, they become much colder and dryer. These biomes are called tundras, and animals such as polar bears and penguins are found here. Within ecosystems and biomes, there are certain habitats that include niches. Niches are ultimately the role of a species in their environment. When two different species inhabit the same niche, there is a lot of competition between the two. This is because each of the species want to have the particular niche to themselves as their own role in the environment. |
Community interactions
Competition
Competition is an interaction between two different organisms that are fighting over one particular resource. This resource can be food, or even a particular space to live. With competition, there is always one organism that wins and another that looses. Ultimately, the two compete for the resource until it is one of their rightful properties. Predation Predation is ultimately when one organism captures and consumes another organism. An example of a predator, or an organism that feds on the other, is the sally lightfoot crab. This is because this species captures it's own prey and eats it, making them a predator of their community. Symbiosis There are three types of symbiosis that organisms preform. The first is called mutualism, which is where two organisms interact and both benefit. An example of mutualism is when oxpeckers land on zebras and eat of parasites and ticks that live on their skin. This benefits the oxpeckers because they receive food, and it also benefits the zebras because they receive pest control. The second type of symbiosis that organisms preform is commensalism. This is when one of the organisms benefits, but the other is not affected at all. An example of this is when orchids grow on trees. They ultimately have a place to live, which benefits them, while the tree is not affected in any particular way. The final type of symbiosis is parasitism. This is when one of the organisms benefit, and the other is harmed. An example of this is leeches and humans, this is because leeches ingest blood as nutrients, while humans loose blood [5]. |
trophic levels and energy flow
Trophic levels are ultimately energy levels of ecosystems. Within the energy levels, ten percent of the energy in one level gets passed on to the next. The primary source of energy in ecosystems is the sun. The sun gives off energy to primary producers, which then passes this energy to primary consumers. From here secondary consumers receive energy, then give it off to the tertiary consumers. As energy is being passed on level by level, the amount of energy decreases. Producers are a majority of the population while tertiary consumers are the least of the population.
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Ecology and the sally lightfoot crab
The Sally lightfoot crab prefers to live on coasts and rocky shores of the ocean. This biome is an aquatic biome called a costal biome. Although, the sally lightfoot crabs also live in tropical, marine and saltwater habitats [5]. Sally lightfoot crabs are secondary consumers that eat algae, phytoplankton, mollusks, eggs, and occasionally other terrestrial non-insect arthropods. They are also victims of predation. They are prey to large birds as well as other aquatic animals. To hide from their predators, they go behind or under rocks.
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