Ecology - Meaning, Types, and Importance
Ecology is the study of organisms and how they interact with the environment around them. Check this article to know more about the Meaning, types and Importance.
Jasdeep Bhatia10 Apr, 2024
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In an ecosystem, each organism is surrounded by various abiotic and biotic factors with which they interact. The study of this ecosystem is called ecology. It deals with how organisms interact with their biotic and physical surroundings and is also sometimes referred to as environmental biology. Here, let us learn about the concept of ecology in detail.
What is Ecology?
The term "ecology" is derived from the Greek words "oikos" (house) and "logos" (study). This study of the ‘house’ (environment) encompasses all of the organisms in it as well as all of their functional activities that make the house habitable. Thus it can also be defined as the study of the structure and function of the ecosystem. Ecology was initially introduced by Reiter in 1868. But German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1869, was the first to define the phrase and coin the term properly. He also made considerable use of this concept in his books. The study of ecology includes different communities, populations, ecosystems, and different levels of organisms. Thus it entails the research of biological interactions between these communities, individuals, and populations.Disorders of the Circulatory System
Components of Ecology
In an ecosystem or ecological system, the non-living environment (abiotic) and the biotic communities work together. The basic purpose of ecology is to understand the distribution of these abiotic and biotic components in an environment. Thus the two main components that make up the ecological system are:- Biotic components - This includes the living factors of our ecosystem. Producers, consumers (both herbivores and carnivores), and decomposers.
- Abiotic components - This includes the non-living factors that govern our ecosystem. Climatic factors (air, light, etc.), edaphic factors (soil), and topographic factors (altitude, elevation, etc.).
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Branches of Ecology
The science of ecology is broadly divided into two branches:- Autecology - It is concerned with the study of a single organism or species (species ecology). This often places a strong emphasis on life histories and behavior as a mechanism of environmental adaptation.
- Synecology - It is the study of groupings of organisms that are linked together as a unit ( community ecology). This often includes terrestrial and aquatic ecology.
Types of Ecology
Aside from these primary divisions, ecology has been divided into the following branches based on the level of organisation, kind of environment or habitat, and taxonomic position. Thus the different types of ecology are as follows:- Landscape Ecology - It deals with exchanging energy, living forms, materials, and other ecosystem components. It also portrays the impact and function of humans on a landscape.
- Global Ecology - It studies the interactions between the Earth's habitats, including land, air, and sea.
- Ecosystem Ecology is the integrated study of non-living and living components of ecological systems. It also covers their relationships within an ecosystem.
- Habitat Ecology - It is concerned with studying various biosphere habitats. It includes forest ecology, grassland ecology, freshwater ecology, marine ecology, etc.
- Organismal Ecology - The study of an organism’s physiology, morphology, conduct, etc., in relation to the environment.
- Human Ecology - It specifically deals with the interaction between humans and their surroundings.
- Community Ecology - It deals with interactions between the abiotic and biotic world. It also includes the vast diversity of interaction that happens between species.
- Population Ecology - It deals with understanding, predicting, and explaining the rise and fall of a species as well as their distributions.
- Behavioral Ecology - It explores the numerous ways in which animals evolve and respond to changes in their own habitat.
- Molecular Ecology - It applies genomics, molecular phylogenetics, molecular population genetics, and many more modern molecular concepts to traditional ecological concepts.
Importance of Ecology
Man, like other animals, is impacted by the physical elements of his surroundings. He is completely dependent on other species for food, clothing, medicine, etc., Also, he must adjust to other members of his own species. Thus ecological knowledge adds to our understanding of the interdependence of humans and nature, which is critical for food production, clean air and water, and biodiversity preservation in a changing climate. In general, it is important in terms of- Energy conservation
- Resource allocation
- Conservation of the environment
- Eco-friendliness
Difference Between Plant Cell And Animal Cell
Environmental Studie s vs Ecology
Ecology has come to mean anything and everything related to the environment. The science of ecology is concerned with the surroundings of all plants and animals as well as humans. As a result, ecology has a lot to say about humans and their environments in depth. Therefore, ecology should be to environmental science like what physics is to engineering. Thus, just as humans are restricted by physical laws when building airplanes and bridges, we should be constrained by ecological principles when altering the environment.Related Links -
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Define ecology with two examples.
Ecology studies the interaction of living things with their environment or surroundings. Two classic examples of ecology are -
Human ecology - It is a study of the interaction of humans with their surroundings.
Niche construction - It is the study of how organisms alter their surroundings to benefit themselves and other living species.
Who coined the term ecology?
The term ecology is thought to have been originally coined by German scientist Ernst Haeckel in 1869. However, its first documented use was by Reiter in 1868.
Who is the father of ecology?
Eugene Odum is the father of modern ecology. He defined ecology as the structure and function of nature. Whereas Ramdeo Misra is known as the ‘father of Indian ecology’. He was the one to lay the foundation of environmental science and ecology in India.
What is a niche in ecology?
The phrase ecological niche refers to both the physical area occupied by an organism and its role in the ecosystem.
What is the difference between ecology and ecosystem?
An ecosystem is the functional and structural unit of ecology. An ecosystem is defined as an ecological unit that comprises all of the species that live in a specific area as well as all of the abiotic (nonliving) components in the environment. At the same time, ecology studies an organism's interactions with its biotic and physical surroundings.
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