NR216

Introductory Ecology
Winter, 2011
Lecture #1 January 11
Chapter 1 E&FB
Today’s Class :
 Technical Report # 1 due at beginning of
scheduled lecture February 15
 Midterm in scheduled lecture
February 22
 Twig Collection due at beginning of
scheduled lab March 22, 23 or 24
 E & FB Textbook overview
 What is Ecology?
 Biosphere 2
What is Ecology?
 ECOLOGY
 eco = oikos (Greek)
 household
 home
 place to live
 ECOSYSTEM

 “Total assemblage
 of living organisms
 along with non-living
environment
 in a particular area.” Kimmins,
Balancing Act, p.28
“The Economics of Nature”
Haekel 1869 more

 the study
 of the interaction of organisms
 with each other
 and with their environment

ECOSYSTEM more
 ENERGY from the sun

 BIOTIC FACTORS :
 plants
 animals
 decomposers
 (fungi, bacteria, some insects))

 ABIOTIC FACTORS :
 atmosphere (gases, weather, wind)
 soil (nutrients, water, substrate)
 + PROCESSES
 living & dying
 photosynthesis,
 nutrient cycles & decomposition
 water cycle
 disturbances
 fire, wind, flood, urbanization, insects & disease
 population & community interactions
ECOSYSTEMS ARE DYNAMIC

 Disturbances like
 fire, windthrow, flood & forest harvesting
 Change the stage of development
 seral stage
 Don’t destroy it
 secondary succession
 HISTORY :
 Plant ecology 1st
 plant geographers saw world-wide similarities
 Asked – why?

 Climate?
 Led to study of plant communities or
associations (esp. forests)
 In Europe – described different
associations (Humbolt)
 In N.A. looked more at how they
develop, or plant succession (Clements)
 PLANT ECOLOGY

Autecology :
 “the study of individual species/organisms
 in relationship to their environment”
 (eg. physiology, response to competition)
 Also called physiological ecology or
ecophysiology
 PLANT ECOLOGY

Synecology :
 “The study of plant communities,
 their ecology,
 distribution &
 environmental relationships”
 Basis for ecosystem (eg.forest)
management
 Studies combined to help
develop science of ecology
 Classification & Taxonomy more
 morphological patterns

 Plant Geography more

 patterns of plant distribution
+
 Theory of evolution (Charles Darwin book )

 Genetics (Gregor Mendel more )

 Animal Ecology

 1920’s
 behavioural ecology
 the science of communities &
populations
 Ecosystem Ecology
 initially, strictly terrestrial – biomes
 1942 –
 “The Trophic-Dynamic Aspect of Ecology”
 succession described in terms of energy flow
through a lake ecosystem
 trophic/energy levels
 organic nutrient cycling & feeding levels
 producers & consumers
 Added processes to abiotic & biotic factors
 Applied Ecology
 1930’s ~ 1970’s
 Public awareness of environmental problems grew
 Rachel Carson :Silent Spring (1962) more
 Conservation Biology
 maintain biological diversity
 Restoration Ecology
 reclamation & management of disturbed lands
 Landscape Ecology
 ecosystem management
 Added in social component
 Ecology

 Is a science with no value judgment

 Add in society’s value judgments about

the environment –

 Leads to acceptable/successful
conservation policies & strategies
(Kimmins, Balancing Act p.28,29)
 Environmental Science
 “Investigates questions related to :
 rapidly increasing human population,
 the use and abuse of resources,
 damage caused by pollution &
disturbance,
 and the endangerment & extinction of
species and natural ecosystems.”
(Freedman, Environmental Science :A Canadian Perspective )
 Environmental Science
“Study of how we and other species
 interact with one another
 and with the non-living environment (matter and energy).

 It is a physical and social science that integrates knowledge from

a wide range of disciplines, including :
 physics, chemistry, biology (especially ecology),
 geology, geography, resource technology & engineering,
 resource conservation & management,
 demography (the study of human population dynamics),
 economics, politics, sociology, psychology and ethics.

 In other words, it is a study of how the parts of nature and human

societies operate and interact – a study of connections and
interactions.”
(Miller, Sustaining the Earth, 2002)
 Environmental Scientist
Scientist who uses information from the
physical sciences and social sciences to :

 1. understand how the earth works

 2. learn how humans interact with the

earth, and

 3. develop solutions to environmental

problems.
Miller, Sustaining the Earth, 2002
Literature Cited

 Freedman, W. 2004. Environmental

Science: A Canadian Perspective 3/e
672 pp. Pearson Education.
ISBN 0-13-139863-6
 Kimmins, J.P. (“Hamish”). 1997.
Balancing Act, 2/e. BC Press.
ISBN 0-7748-0574-9
 Miller, Sustaining the Earth, 2002
 Biosphere II

 WEBSITE
 Report on Biosphere 2
 Interview one of participants

 More about Biospheres Video