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ECOLOGY

ECOLOGY. THE INTRODUCTION. Ecology. Study of the interactions of living organisms with each other and with their physical environment Concerned with distribution and abundance of organisms at several different levels. Organismal ecology.

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ECOLOGY

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  1. ECOLOGY THE INTRODUCTION

  2. Ecology • Study of the interactions of living organisms with each other and with their physical environment • Concerned with distribution and abundance of organisms at several different levels

  3. Organismal ecology • How organisms are affected by, and affect, their environment • How organisms can tolerate where they live (environmental stresses) • Physiological ecology

  4. Population ecology • Groups of individuals of the same species within a particular geographical area • Factors that affect population distribution, size

  5. Community ecology • All species that inhabit a particular area • Concerned with competition, predation, other interactions

  6. Ecosystem ecology • All living organisms within an area, plus that part of the physical environment with which they interact • Concerns flow of energy, matter, biogeochemical cycling

  7. Goals of Ecology???

  8. Goals of ecology • 1) To understand or explain how nature functions • 2) To develop some degree of predictability concerning how natural ecosystems will respond to changing conditions • Especially important given the influences that humans often have on the environment

  9. Scientific rigor • Science differs from other activities because statements are based on conclusions: • that are results of investigations meant to derive those conclusions (directed activity); • to which a level of confidence can be attached (statistics: Box 1.2, pp. 12-14; Box 1.3, pp. 14-15).

  10. Think ahead! • Analysis plan is a part of experimental design

  11. Conclusions • Based on representative samples from a larger group/habitat • Estimates from representative samples (Box 1.4, pp. 16-17) • Free from human bias

  12. Diversity of Ecological Evidence • 1) Observations (descriptive data) • Careful monitoring within the natural environment to detect patterns

  13. Diversity of Ecological Evidence • 2) Field experiments • Manipulative experiments in the field to establish cause of observed patterns

  14. Diversity of Ecological Evidence • 3) Laboratory experiments • Controlled conditions • Simplified system • Address specific questions

  15. Diversity of Ecological Evidence • 4) Mathematical modeling • Computer-aided

  16. “Seek simplicity, but distrust it.” - Whitehead 1953

  17. Can simple experiments and models explain complex interactions in nature?

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