Introduction to Ecology and the BiosphereThe Scope of Ecology

Overview: The Scope of Ecology•Ecology•The word “Ecology” was first coined in 1866 by the German biologist Ernest Haeckel•Haeckel saw the living world as a household with an economy in which each organism had a part.

July 22, 2012 Footer text here2

Overview: The Scope of Ecology•Ecology•Greek word “oikos” means home•Same root word as economy

•Greek word “logos” •means study of wisdom

•“oikos logos”– to study the wisdom of the home

•Ecology – the study of the household of nature

July 22, 2012 Footer text here3

Overview: The Scope of Ecology•Ecology •The scientific study of the interactions between organisms and between organisms and the environment•A complex and critical area of biology•There are 3 key words in the definition:•Scientific•Environment• Interactions

July 22, 2012 Footer text here4

Overview: Ecology is Scientific•The scientific nature of ecology involves using

observations and experiments to test hypothetical explanations of ecological phenomena

July 22, 2012 Footer text here5

Overview: Ecology is Scientific•At all levels – small to great

•Laboratory

•Field

•Natural trajectory

•Natural snapshot

July 22, 2012 Footer text here6

Overview: Ecology is Scientific•Mathematical models•Used to simulate large-scale experiments that are impossible to conduct in the field; however, the basic information on which the models are based must be obtained through fieldwork.•Statistical programs

July 22, 2012 Footer text here7

Overview: Ecology is Scientific• It is a multidisciplinary field examining

questions from all areas of biology •Zoology•Botany•Genetics•Evolution•Microbiology•Physiology•Ethology

July 22, 2012 Footer text here8

Overview: Ecology is Scientific• As well as many physical and social sciences•Geology•Geography•Economics

•Climatology•Chemistry• Law/politics

•Astronomy•Physics•Mathematics•Archeology•Anthropology

July 22, 2012 Footer text here9

Overview: Ecology is Scientific•Most importantly;

ecology is a branch of evolutionary theory•Must understand Natural Selection•Must understand Fitness

July 22, 2012 Footer text here10

Ecology studies the Environment•The environment of an organism includes both biotic and

abiotic components.• Biotic components - include all other organisms that are a part of any

individual organism’s environment

• Abiotic components – are the nonliving chemical and physical factors (e.g., temperature, light, water, nutrients) to which and organism is exposed

July 22, 2012 Footer text here11

Ecology studies Interactions•The interactions

between organisms and their environments include:• how the environment affects an organism• how an organism can change the environment.

July 22, 2012 Footer text here12

Ecology studies Interactions•How can the environment affect an organism?•Shelter•Flooding•Temperature

•Ex: The distribution of organisms is limited by their tolerance of abiotic conditions

• Plants in desert

July 22, 2012 Footer text here13

Ecology studies Interactions•How can an organism affect or change the

environment?•Hmmm?•Example #1: Photosynthetic bacteria began to use

sunlight for energy about three billion years ago•Oxygen, a by-product of photosynthesis, accumulated and

resulted in an aerobic atmosphere

•Example #2: The shading of the forest floor by trees•Plants require sunlight to survive•The shading by the trees sometimes makes the floor unsuitable

for their offspring to survive.

July 22, 2012 Footer text here14

Overview: The Scope of Ecology•Ecology – the study of the household of nature•Interactions occur across a hierarchy of scales•From organismal level to global level• Ecologists then specialize at these different levels.

•Hierarchy of Life Review•Organism•Population•Community•Ecosystem•Biome•Biosphere

July 22, 2012 Footer text here15

Overview: The Scope of Ecology•Organismal Ecology•Studies an organism's structure (morphology, anatomy) physiology (function), evolution and behavior. •Organism – any individual

living thing

•How do abiotic factors limit distribution?

July 22, 2012 Footer text here16

Overview: The Scope of Ecology•Population Ecology•Studies the factors that affect population size, density, distribution, and age structure. •Population – all the individuals

of the same species in a defined area.

•How many nesting Blue Footed Boobies will nest in one area?

July 22, 2012 Footer text here17

Overview: The Scope of Ecology•Community Ecology•Studies how interactions between different species affect community structure and organization•These interactions determine the distribution of

organisms and their abundance•Examples of interactions:• Predation – an interaction between species in which one eats the other

(predator/prey)• Competition – an interaction between individuals or species in which

one competes with the other for resources

•Community – all of the populations in a defined area

•What happens when wolves are over hunted?July 22, 2012 Footer text here18

Overview: The Scope of Ecology•Ecosystem Ecology•Studies energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and the environment.•Ecosystem – all of the biotic and abiotic factors in a

defined area.•The combination of the community (biotic) and the physical

(abiotic) environmental factors.

•Biomes - A large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region.

•Why does it snow more around the Great Lakes?

July 22, 2012 Footer text here19

Overview: The Scope of Ecology•Landscape/Seascape Ecology•Studies factors controlling exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystems.•Landscape/Seascape – mosaic of

connected ecosystems.

•How do roads, pipelines or fences might form barriers to movement of shy or less agile animals.

July 22, 2012 Footer text here20

Overview: The Scope of Ecology•Global (Biosphere) Ecology•Studies how regional exchange of energy and materials influences the functioning and distribution of organisms. •Biosphere - All of the areas where organisms can be found on or

around earth.• Geosphere

• Atmosphere

• Hydrosphere

•Made up of all of the ecosystems and landscapes

• If a logging project starts at one end of a river, how may the runoff effect the whole river, ecosystems far down stream, and the ocean at the end of the river?

July 22, 2012 Footer text here21

July 22, 2012 Footer text here22

Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere52.1: Biological Research and Environmental Decisions

Biological Research and Environmental Decisions•Ecology at its core is a basic (discovery) science•Basic science – science for the sake of learning•An evolution of Natural History•The observation of organisms in nature and the

systematic recording of these findings.

•Modern ecology includes observation and experimentation. •Use of experimental design and statistical inferences

made from forming hypotheses, manipulating variables in the environment and observing the outcome.

July 22, 2012 Footer text here24

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology•Evolution •The process of organisms adapting to their environment over many generation through the process of natural selection.•This time frame is known as evolutionary time

•Natural Selection•Differential survival and reproduction among individuals due to environmental selection pressures •Survival of the fittest•This time frame is known as ecological time•Minute to minute interactions between organisms and the environment

July 22, 2012 Footer text here25

Interactions:• Go hand in hand –

short-term (ecological time) interactions of organisms with their environments could have long term (evolutionary time) effects through natural selection.

Interactions:•Ecological time•Behavior•Learning•Acclimatization

•Evolutionary time•Adaptation

Ecology and Environmental Issues•Ecology•Science•Provides evidence and scientific understanding (reasoning)

needed to help conserve and sustain life.

•Environmentalism•Advocating for the protection of nature

• Important to make distinction between science and advocacy!!!•Ecologists educate legislature and the public – how society uses

this knowledge is beyond the realm of science.

July 22, 2012 Footer text here28

Ecology and Environmental Issues•Rachel Carson•The original environmentalist! •1907-1964•Wrote Silent Spring 1962•Recognized the network of connections among species. •Sparked modern environmental movement

• “The ‘control’ of nature’ is a phrase conceived in arrogance, born of the Neanderthal age of biology and philosophy, when it was supposed that nature exists for the convenience of man”.

July 22, 2012 Footer text here29

Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere52.2: Interactions between organisms and the environment limit the distribution of species

Interactions between organisms and the environment limit the distribution of species

July 22, 2012 Footer text here31