Have you ever stepped into your garden and noticed the incredible display of nature, from ladybirds crawling on leaves to worms burrowing in the soil to bees buzzing around flowers? Show Or have you been to the beach and seen the variety of marine organisms that get washed ashore, like crabs, barnacles, or seaweed? If yes, then you have witnessed ecology in action! Ecology refers to how living organisms interact with each other and their physical environment. Ecology DefinitionLet's start our journey by looking at the definition of ecology. Ecology is the branch of biology that helps us to understand everything from the surrounding organisms to the environment that they live in. It helps us understand how these organisms interact with each other and the surrounding environment. People who study, and research, ecology are called ecologists. Ecologists seek to explain:
Ecology SystemEcological relationships depend on the dynamics between abiotic and biotic factors. Biotic factors are living things within an ecosystem. They also include organisms that were once-living. Examples of biotic factors include animals, fungi, plants, bacteria, and more. Abiotic factors are non-living factors in the environment. This includes weather conditions, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and light intensity, among many other factors. A major part of ecology is to understand how and why living organisms live in the places they do or why their populations increase or decrease. Biotic factors and abiotic factors influence these patterns.
To understand what biotic and abiotic factors are, let’s take the example of woodlice. Woodlice prefer damp environments, such as moist soils. This is why you may find them crawling in the soil in your garden. Soil moisture is an example of an abiotic factor, a non-living component of the environment that affects how living organisms are distributed (spread). In terms of feeding, woodlice feed on organic matter like plants. This is why woodlice are found in gardens. Plants are biotic factors, a living component of the environment that affects how living organisms are distributed. Ecological NicheNow, let's talk about ecological niche. Ecological niche describes the role that an organism plays within a community. This includes all biotic and abiotic factors that influence this organism. When talking about the ecological niche of an organism, we have to consider factors such as:
Competition can be interspecific or intraspecific. Interspecific competition refers to a situation where organisms have to compete with organisms of another species for resources. Intraspecific competition refers to a situation where organisms have to compete with organisms from their own species for resources. There are many types of relationships behind organisms that we have to consider when thinking about an ecological niche. +/- relationships involve relationships where one organism benefits, whilst the other suffers. We call such relationships parasitic. Examples of this would be predator/prey interactions or competition. Another type of relationship is a +/+ relationship, which is a relationship where both organisms benefit. Such relationships are called mutualistic. An example of this is the relationship between the spider crab and algae. Spider crabs live in shallow areas of the ocean floor, while greenish-brown algae live on the crabs' backs, camouflaging the crabs from predators by allowing them to blend into the ocean floor. By helping the crabs, the algae get a place to live. The third type of relationship, +/O is where one organism benefits from one organism while neither benefitting nor harming the organism. Such relationships are called commensal relationships. An example of this may be between barnacles and whales. Barnacles attach themselves to whales and use them as protection from predators.
Did you know that the difference between a parasite and a predator is the time over which they cause damage?
Both of these interactions are +/- relationships. Population EcologyEcologists study ecology at six levels, increasing from small to large (see figure on levels of ecology). These are listed in the table below: Table 1. Showing ecological hierarchy and the importance of each ecological level
Ecological SuccessionSuccessionis the process by which biotic and abiotic factors change over time in an ecosystem. There are two main types of ecological succession:
Primary SuccessionIn primary succession, a newly formed rock is colonized by living organisms for the first time. The first species that colonize the region is called the pioneer species. These species are specially adapted to living in very hostile environments with little soil depth, water availability, or other resources. An example of primary succession is the succession that occurs after a volcanic eruption. Secondary SuccessionIn secondary succession, an area that was previously already colonized is recolonized. An example of when secondary succession occurs is after a wildfire. Secondary succession happens much faster than primary succession, as the area used to be colonized before the new species appeared. As succession progresses, the following trends happen;
The following trends happen up until a climax community is reached. The climax community is the point where both biotic and abiotic factors can coexist in a stable environment. There are two types of climax communities, a climatic climax, and a biotic climax.
Insert figure on the levels of ecology Ecology - Key takeaways
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This term describes the study of the relationship between organisms and their physical environment
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