BIO1201 Lecture 20

Introduction to Basic Concept of Ecology

Calvin R. Bernard
Overview
• Ecology - Definition
• Why study ecology?
• Important terms in ecology
• Levels of study in ecology
• Ecology as a systems study
Ecology
The scientific study of the distribution, abundance
and dynamics of organisms, their interactions
with other organisms and with their physical
environment.

British Ecological Society

Why study ecology?
Ecological terms - Species
• A group of organisms with shared genes
capable of sexual reproduction to produce
fertile offspring.
– Native – Naturally occurring
– Alien – Introduced by human influence
– Invasive – Alien which tends to displace natives
Ecological terms - Population
• Members of one species living in a defined
area but in separate territories.
– A quantitative measure
– Colonies are related – a group of organism living
closely together
• Reduced territoriality
• A subset of a population
Ecological terms - Community
• Populations of species living in a defined area
(habitat/ecosystem) and interacting in various
ways.
– May be defined based on taxon, habitat or
ecosystem
Ecological terms - Habitat
• The area in an ecosystem defines by physical
and chemical characteristics suitable for
supporting the life of a species.
– Micro-habitats - small areas within the habitat
Ecological terms – Ecological Niche
• The functional position of an organism within
the ecosystem.
• The sum total of all the resources used by, and
the biotic and abiotic conditions suffered by, a
species. – British Ecological society
Ecological terms - Ecosystem
• A biological community interacting in the
abiotic components of its habitat.
– Note that the habitat sets the physical parameters
of the system
Ecological terms - Biome
• A collection of interacting ecosystems defined
on broad biophysical characteristics.
– Tundra
– Forests
Ecological terms - Biosphere
• The collection of all biomes
– The zone of life
– Earth
Ecological terms – Ecological interactions
• The range of ways in which individuals (same
and different species), colonies and
populations interact with each other
– Predation
– Competition
– Parasitism
– Mutualism
– Commensalism
Levels of study in Ecology
• In practice ecological studies occur at one of
four levels
– Organism
– Populations
– Communities
– Ecosystems
• The division between levels is not sharp
Ecology as systems study
• Ecology is the study of eco-SYSTEMS
• Systems consist of two things
– Components – the ‘tangible’ or ‘physical’
– Processes – the means by which components
interact
• Systems are defined by boundaries
Eco-system components
Eco-system Processes
Eco-system boundaries
• Ecosystem boundaries are set based on
biophysical limits but are not solid/absolute.
 BIO1201 Lecture 21

Structure and function of ecosystem

Calvin R. Bernard
 Ecosystem structure
• All ecosystems have structure – both macro
and micro
Ecosystem structure
• All components of the ecosystem interact with
others. They change and are changed by each
other.
– Even the ‘inert’ gases
• The structure of the ecosystem is determined by
the ways in which its components interact
– True from atomic level to biological communities and
macro physical components
Ecosystem structure - Organism
Ecosystem structure –
Population/Community
Ecosystem structure - Trophic
Ecological term – Ecological Succession
• The progressive replacement of one dominant type
of species or community by another in an
ecosystem until a stable climax community is
established. ~ Biology Online
• Predictable and orderly changes in the composition or
structure of an ecological community. ~ Science Daily
Ecosystem function
• The fundamental function of an ecosystem is the
support of life
– Biological diversity (Genes-Species-Ecosystems)
– Ecological stability
• Dependent on diversity
– Low diversity + High dominance = Low stability + High productivity
– High diversity + Low dominance = High stability + Low productivity
Categories of Ecosystem function
• Regulating Functions
– Maintenance of essential ecological processes and life support
systems.
• Supporting Functions
– Providing habitat (suitable living space) for wild plant and animal
species at local and regional scales.
• Provisioning Functions
– Provision of natural resources.
• Cultural Functions
– Providing life fulfilment opportunities and cognitive
development through exposure to life processes and natural
systems.