Lecture 1.ecology

Lec.1 what is ecology

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Origin of the word “Ecology”

What is ecology study?

What ecology studying involves?

Ecology definitions

How ecology was born? (Recent history)

Role of ecology in our lives in cities

Types of Ecology

Ecology levels of organization

Lec.1 what is ecology 2

The word ECOLOGY was invented by the German scientist Ernst Haeckel in 1869.

It derived from Greek origins

OIKOS = household, home or a place to live

LOGOS = the study of…

Study of the “house/environment” in which we live.


Non-living components in the environment…

light water wind nutrients in soil heat solar radiation atmosphere, etc.

AND…


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Living organisms…Plants

humans

Animals

Micro-organisms in soil, etc.


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For non-living (abiotic)

Climatology

Hydrologyزانستى ئاوى زەوى

Oceanography زانستى زەرياكان

(ئۆقيانوسەكان)

Physics

Chemistry

Geology

soil analysis, etc.


For living (biotic)

animal

behavior ڕەفتارى

گيانەوەر

Taxonomyپۆلێنناسى

Physiology كارئەندام

زانى

mathematics

(population studies)

etc.

Lec.1 what is ecology 7Tundra Caribou

Ecology can be defined as the study of relationships between

organisms and their environments. Although it includes the study of

environmental problems such as pollution. The science of ecology

mainly involves research on the natural world from many

viewpoints, using many techniques.

“….the study of the adaptations of organisms to their environment” (Emlen 1973).

“….the study of the structure and function of nature” (Odum 1971).

The investigation of the total relationships of the animals both to its inorganic and its organic environment….”


The science of ecology was born from the expansive curiosity of

the biologists of the late 19th century, who wished to understand

the distribution, abundance(large quantity) and interactions of

the earth's organisms.


Why do we have so many species? And why not more? they asked,

and what causes them to be distributed as they are? What are the

characteristics of a biological community that cause it to recover

in a particular way after a disturbance?

Since humans have been students of ecology as long as we have

existed as species. Then, our survival has depended upon how

well we could observe variations in the environment and predict

the response of organisms to those variations .

Modern ecology relies comprehensively on experiments, both in

laboratory and in field settings. These techniques have proved

useful in testing ecological theories, and in arriving at practical

decisions concerning the management of natural resources.


The many specialties within ecology, such as marine, vegetation,

and statistical ecology, provide us with information to better

understand the world around us. This info also can help us

improve our environment, manage our natural resources, and

protect human health.


An understanding of ecology is essential for the survival of the human

species. Our populations are increasing rapidly, all around the world, and

we are in grave danger of outstripping the earth’s ability to supply the

resources that we need for our long-term survival.


Furthermore, social, economic and political factors often influence the

short-term distribution of resources needed by a specific human

population. An understanding of ecological principles can help us

understand the global and regional consequences of competition among

organisms (mainly human) for the scarce natural resources that support

us.

A. ORGANISMAL ECOLOGY - the study of individual organisms'

behavior, physiology, morphology, etc. in response to

environmental challenges.

B. POPULATION ECOLOGY - the study of factors that affect and

change the size and genetic composition of populations of

organisms.

C. COMMUNITY ECOLOGY - the study of how community structure

and organization are changed by interactions among living

organisms


D. ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY - the study of entire ecosystems, including

the responses and changes in the community in response to the

abiotic components of the ecosystem. This field is concerned with

such large-scale topics as energy and nutrient cycling.

D. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY – study of the exchanges of energy,

materials, organisms and other products of between ecosystems.

E. GLOBAL ECOLOGY - the study of the effects of regional change in

energy and matter exchange on the function and distribution of

organisms across the biosphere.


- a hierarchy of organization

in the environment


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Biosphere Surface of the earth

Composed of many ecosystems

Ecosystem Large or small as we decide

Lake, forest, ocean…etc


Population – one species live in one place at one time

Community – All populations (diff. species) that live in a particular area.


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Habitat – physical location of community

Organism – simplest level of organization


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Environment

Lecture 1.ecology