Levels Of Study & Symbiosis
Ernst Haeckel: “[Ecology is]…the total relations of [an organism] both to its inorganic and its organic environment.”
Within the discipline of ecology, researchers work at four specific levels, sometimes discretely and sometimes with overlap. These levels are organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere. Organism: One single living thing. Ex. A groundhog Population: A group of individuals of the same species that live, interact, and interbreed in a particular geographic area at the same time. Community: The assemblage of interacting populations of different species within a particular geographic area. Ex. Groundhogs, deer, foxes, birds, grasses, insects etc. Ecosystem: The assemblage of all biotic and abiotic components within a particular geographic area. The community plus the physical environment. Biome: A large geographic area in which environmental conditions and ecosystems are similar. Ex. Tundra, Tropical Rainforest, and Temperate deciduous forest. Biosphere: All assemblage of all organisms and environments on our planet. Ex: Every biome, every ecosystem, community, population, every organism |
SYMBIOSIS (INTERSPECIFIC INTERACTIONS)
“Sym” means with
“Bio” means living
Symbiosis: A long-term close interaction between members of two different species.
Below are a few examples:
“Bio” means living
Symbiosis: A long-term close interaction between members of two different species.
Below are a few examples:
mutualismLeaf-cutter ant. Ant obtains food from fungus (+)
Fungus. Fungus obtains food (leaves) from ants (+) |
amensalismHumans air pollution (0) Lichens and plants severe damage (-) |
commensalismMonarch butterfly stores these poisonous chemicals in its body throughout its lifespan. (+)
Milkweed doesn’t get affected. (0) |
Exponential & Logistic population growth
Exponential population growth: Continuously accelerating growth of a population under ideal conditions (abundant food, reproduction at maximum physiological capacity. )
Logistic population growth (S curve) This is the most common pattern of growth in most natural population.
Pattern in which the rate of pop. growth is initially rapid, but decreases to zero as the population size reachers carry capacity.
Logistic population growth (S curve) This is the most common pattern of growth in most natural population.
Pattern in which the rate of pop. growth is initially rapid, but decreases to zero as the population size reachers carry capacity.
Helpful resources
Pictures Cited: http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/world-population-may-reach-11-billion-130614-670x440.jpg
http://www.howitworksdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Ocellaris_clownfish_Flickr1.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/10/a9/85/10a9859bf51d3fdee33589e76b94ba6d.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcxAHfs8ZYg4MmnkLNU5Cus7gq73LW4OsCOvO9CegbmmwI2BlexCGfidU
http://www.amentsoc.org/images/leaf-cutting-ant.jpg
http://ste.india.com/sites/default/files/2016/02/13/460116-air-pollution.jpg
http://media.buzzle.com/media/images-en/gallery/mammals/flying-insects/600-139713675-butterfly-on-flower.jpg
http://cnx.org/content/m44872/latest/Figure_45_03_01.jpg
http://www.howitworksdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Ocellaris_clownfish_Flickr1.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/10/a9/85/10a9859bf51d3fdee33589e76b94ba6d.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcxAHfs8ZYg4MmnkLNU5Cus7gq73LW4OsCOvO9CegbmmwI2BlexCGfidU
http://www.amentsoc.org/images/leaf-cutting-ant.jpg
http://ste.india.com/sites/default/files/2016/02/13/460116-air-pollution.jpg
http://media.buzzle.com/media/images-en/gallery/mammals/flying-insects/600-139713675-butterfly-on-flower.jpg
http://cnx.org/content/m44872/latest/Figure_45_03_01.jpg