*Ecology*

Ecology is the study of the relationship between living organisms and their environment. In other
words, it is the study of the interactions of biotic (plants and animals) with their abiotic (physical
or non-living) environment. Two aspects of ecology are recognised. These are:

(1) *Autecology*: Autecology deals with the study of an individual organism or a single species
of organism and its environment.

(2) *Synecology*: Synecology is the study of the interrelationships between groups of organisms
or species of organisms living together in an area. For example, plants and animals that occur
together.

*Basic Concept of Ecology*

*Ecosystem* An ecosystem is a natural unit composed of living and non-living components

whose interactions result in a stable, self perpetuating system. Ecosystems are areas
composed of a community of organisms interacting with the biotic and abiotic components of the
environment. Examples of ecosystem range from very small rock, pool, to the very large rivers,
lakes, grasslands, deserts etc. The entire earth could be regarded as a large ecosystem in
which there are several communities, with several levels of interaction. Biotic and abiotic factors
affect organisms in any ecosystem.

*Community*: This is a naturally occurring group of organisms living in a habitat, with each
population interacting with each other.

*Ecological niche* An organism's niche is the sum total of its activities in that ecosystem. In
other words, it describes the position or status of an organism in space and time, it indicates the
habitat in which the organism lives as well as what it does i.e. its entire way of life, its functional
role in the community.

*Population*: This refers to group of organisms of the same species in a defined area at the
same time.

*Species*: organisms are said to belong to the same species if such individuals are capable of
interbreeding and produce viable offsprings.

*Habitat*: The habitat of an organism is the place where it lives. It is the physical portion of the
earth surface such as land, air, river, ocean, or soil. There are a number of habitats in an
ecosystem. These are:

(i) Terrestrial/Land habitat

(ii) Aquatic habitat, which can be:
(a) Fresh water habitats e.g. streams, rivers, ponds and lakes, or
(b) Marine habitats e.g. salt water lakes, estuaries, seas and oceans.
(iii) Arboreal habitat, for organisms living on/in trees.
(iv) Soil (Edaphic) habitat for soil organisms.
(v) Microhabitats- these are specific localised area within the habitats where organisms live e.g.
the underside of a log, a hole in a tree and the underside of a leaf. These localised areas are
characterised by their microclimates.

*Environment*: Environment is the sum total of the biotic and abiotic factors that surround and
affect the survival and development of an organism or population.

*Biosphere or Ecosphere*: The biosphere is the zone of the earth occupied by living organisms.

*Hydrosphere*: This is the liquid or aquatic part of the earth. It covers about 70% of the earth
crust. Examples of hydrosphere are ponds, rivers, oceans and seas.

*Atmosphere*: Atmosphere is the gaseous portion of the earth. It is a layer of gases that
surrounds the earth. It contains about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.03 carbon dioxide and
0.9% rare or inert gases.

*Lithosphere*: The lithosphere is the solid portion of the earth. It is the outermost layer of the
earth crust. It represents about 30% of the earth surface.

*Biome*: Biome is the largest community of organisms. A biome is any naturally occurring group
of different organisms living together and interacting in the same environment.