Introduction

Course overview

Ecology – Defined

Branches of Ecology
1. Based on organism in question
2. Based on levels of organization
3. Based on overlap

Basic Science vs. Applied Science

Applied Ecology
 

OVERHEADS:
 

Population = all individuals of the same species living in one place at one time
Population ecology = study of environmental factors that affect popn. growth, stability or decline

Community = all organisms of all species living in one place at one time
Community ecology = Study of how different species affect each other in the community – predation, parasitism etc.

Ecosystem = all the interacting organisms living in an area and their physical environment
Ecosystem Ecology  = Study of how organisms affect and are affected by their physical environment.
 

Physiological ecology = study of the influence of environmental factors on physiology of organisms

Behavioral ecology = study of behavioral aspects of interactions between organisms and their environment

Evolutionary ecology = study of role of natural selection in shaping interactions between organisms and their environment
 
 

1. Natural resource management
- forests, rangelands, wildlife, and fisheries

2. Landscape ecology = study of human impacts and disturbance on spatial patterns across the landscape

3. Restoration ecology = concerned with restoration of highly disturbed ecosystems
- strip mining lands, drained wetlands, etc.

4. Conservation biology = concerned with global reduction in biological diversity