Ecology:

How to define?

• The study of the

interactions of
organisms with their
environment and with
each other
• The branch of sociology
that is concerned with
studying the relationships
between human groups
and their physical and
social environments. Also
called human ecology.
•The study of the
detrimental effects of
modern civilization on the
environment, with a view
towards prevention or
reversal through
conservation. Also called
human ecology
The word ECOLOGY is derived from the
Latin term “Oikos”, added up with
“logos”

Oikos – Home / Dwelling

Logos – Study

So,

ECOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF DWELLING

UNITS OF LIVING ORGANISMS
 Land

LIFE on Earth Water

Air
 AIR
ATMOSPHERE

LAND
LITHOSPHERE

WATER BIOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
 ECOSYSTEM
How to define it?

An ecosystem is a natural unit

consisting of all plants, animals and
micro-organisms (biotic factors)….

…..in an area functioning together

with all of the non-living physical
(abiotic) factors of the environment.
No Plant or animal inhabits a place
as single….

They exist as a collection termed

as

COMMUNITY

Several similar individuals form a

Community
Examples of Ecosystems

Aquatic ecosystem
Coral reef
Desert
Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem
Human ecosystem
Large marine ecosystem
Marine ecosystem
Rainforest
Savanna
Microbial Ecosystem
Tundra
Urban ecosystem
• No ecosystem is self sustaining

• Each ecosystem has a self regulatory

mechanism HOMEOSTATIS

•Energy needed for all the ecosystems

comes from the sun – Solar

• The solar energy is trapped and

transformed into other forms – to all
levels of existence
 PRIMARY
CONSUMERS
PRODUCERS

DECOMPOSERS

NUTRIENT
POOL
SECONDARY
CONSUMERS
• Energy flow is Unidirectional

•Nutrient flow is cyclic

•Balance of Nature: Equilibrium is

maintained in each ecosystem for it to
function well

• For any component too, is affected, it

destabilizes the whole equilibrium, since all
the components are inter-related
 BIO-DIVERSITY
What is this?
• A very wide range of organisms and plant life
exists in all ecosystems – interrelated to one
another

• If one community is wiped off, it affects the

whole ecosystem

• Our knowledge of plant & animal life is still

limited of the 2 million plant species estimated
on earth, among which only 60,000 have been
identified and documented
•We do not know which community would be
of importance to us, later…… hence
conservation of our biodiversity becomes
important

• All living beings have an ecological

amplitude or tolerance level to temperature
variations, water regime, etc.

• Fussy / Exotic species – have narrow

amplitude

•Native species – have wide amplitude

In-situ: National Parks,
Sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves,
etc.

Ex-situ: Zoos, Tissue culture,

Seed banks, embryo banks,
botanical gardens
 Human Intervention
What is this?

• Every ecosystem has a carrying capacity.

It can tolerate a certain load only

• Sunlight is abundant. Water & nutrients

are supplemented by irrigation and
fertilizers which in turn absorbs lot of
energy.

• Decomposers are not adequate

•Inputs, (fertilizers and
irrigations) keep on adding to the
ecosystem

•The residue left by the chemical

fertilizers are non-biodegradable.
They become redundant and
could take upto 40 – 60 yrs to
degrade
Eutrophication:

 Excess of fertilizers used on land find their way

into water bodies through surface run-off

 They initiate a sudden increase in aquatic plant

life, like water hyacinths.

On inadequate supply of dissolved oxygen, they

start dying

 This dead organic matter accumulates – pungent

smell emanates, water becomes acidic and its
potability reduces