eco

1. INTRODUCTION TO
ECOLOGY

2. Science
• from the Latin scientia, meaning
"knowledge" or "knowing“
• any systematic knowledge-base or
prescriptive practice that is capable of
resulting in a prediction or predictable
type of outcome
• is a process
• is a method of learning more about the
world
• constantly changes the way we
understand the world 2

3. The Scientific Method
1 Define the
Problem 2 Gather
Data 3 Formulate
Hypothesis
4 Test
Hypothesis 5 Draw
Conclusion

4. Ecology
• Greek word “oikos” – house &
“logos” – study of
• The study of the relationships /
interactions /
interconnectedness /
interdependence
between organisms and their
environments
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5. Ecosystem
• A community of interdependent
organisms along with the
inorganic components of their
environment
• An interacting collection of
organisms (biotic) and the abiotic
factors that affect them
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6. Abiotic factors
• The non-living components of an
ecosystem
• Consists of the elements which
may be found in the environment
• Physical and Chemical factors that
influence living organisms
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7. Physical factors
• Sunlight and shade
• Temperature and wind
• Amount of precipitation
• Altitude and latitude
• Nature of soil
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8. Chemical factors
• Salinity of water
• Level of dissolved O2 and other
gases
• Level of plant nutrients
• pH of soil and water
• Level of natural or artificial toxic
substances
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9. Biotic factors
• The organisms in an ecosystem are
either:
Autotrophs (producers)
Heterotrophs (consumers)
• Autotrophic organisms may be
photoautotrophic or chemoautotrophic
• The heterotrophs include humans,
animals and microorganisms
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10. Autotrophs
• Photoautotrophs possess chlorophyll
that captures energy and convert CO2,
H2O to sugar through photosynthesis
• Chemoautotrophs are bacteria that
obtain energy from the oxidation of
inorganic compounds such as
ammonia, nitrites and sulfides
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12. Heterotrophs
• Heterotrophic organisms get their
energy and source of pre-formed
nutrients by consuming tissues of
other organisms
• Consumers are classified according to
the type of food they eat
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13. Herbivores (plant eaters) – feed directly
on producers

14. Carnivores (meat / flesh eaters) –
feed on other consumers

15. Omnivores – eat both plants and
animals

16. Decomposers – simple oorganisms that
obtain their energy from the chemical
breakdown of dead organisms as well
as from animal and plant waste
products

17. Detrivores – complex / multi-cellular
organisms that feed on waste matter,
breaking down organic material into
inorganic substances that then can
become available to the biosphere in the
form of nutrients for plantson dead organic
matter

18. Scavengers – feed on dead
organisms that were killed by other
organisms or died naturally

19. Homeostasis
• from Greek: ὅ μος, hómos, "similar";
and ιστημι, histēmi, "standing still”
• is the property of a system, either open
or closed, that regulates its internal
environment and tends to maintain a
stable, constant condition
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20. Control Mechanism
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