What is Ecology About, Anyway?

Ecology is the relationship of living things to each other and to whats around them. So, if you are
learning about what kinds of relationships fish have with other animals (including us!) and plants in
their neighborhood, then you are learning about ecology.
The word ECOLOGY comes from Greek words meaning study of the household. That means that
ecology is the study of the household of living things: their neighbors and neighborhood.
Ecology includes not only how living things interact with each other, but how they interact with their
physical environment: things such as climate, water, and soil. Both nonliving and living organisms
come together to form what we call an ecosystem which is a biological community of interacting
organisms and their physical environment.
One type of organism is called a producer (also know as an autotroph) which has the ability to
convert solar or chemical energy into a useable form of energy. The most common producers are
plants that use the process of photosynthesis to convert solar energy into glucose, which can be
consumed and used by other organisms. These organisms that feed on or consume other organisms
are called consumers (also known as heterotrophs) which must get their energy from other
organisms.
Heterotrophs are the most diverse group because there are many different ways in which to
consume food. The first group is known as carnivores, which is a group that feeds only on other
organisms and not on producers (think of them as meat eaters). An example of a carnivore is a lion
which feeds primarily on other organisms such a zebra or wildebeests. The second group is called
herbivores because they feed only on producers (including plants). An example of an herbivore is
cattle or horses that depend on grains and grasses. The last group is a mixture of the two and is
called omnivores because they feed on both other organisms and producers. An example of an
omnivore is a human being or bears which can eat both meats and plants. Another type of
heterotrophs is called a detrivore, and these organisms feed on dead or decaying matter. One type
of detrivore is a scavenger which moves around feeding on dead material, and includes organisms
such as coyotes and vultures. The other type of detrivore is a decomposer that grows on dead or
decaying matter, and includes organisms such as fungi and bacteria.
Ecologists are the scientists who study ecology. They are curious and like to learn about living things
by observing them, seeing what happens, and recording what they find. This is all part of the
scientific method.
Some ecologists study a specific species or habitat. The habitat is the natural home or environment
of an animal, plant, or other organism. Within a habitat, there are several populations, which are a
specific group or type of animals or organisms living within an area. They might study the behavior
of a single species to see how it interacts with other organisms and the environment. Or, an ecologist
might study many different species that either depend on each other (a food web, for example), or
compete with each other for food and space.

What is Ecology About, Anyway?

Ecology is the relationship of living things to each other and to whats around them. So, if you are
learning about what kinds of relationships fish have with other animals (including us!) and plants in
their neighborhood, then you are learning about ecology.
The word ECOLOGY comes from Greek words meaning study of the household. That means that
ecology is the study of the household of living things: their neighbors and neighborhood.
Ecology includes not only how living things interact with each other, but how they interact with their
physical environment: things such as climate, water, and soil. Both nonliving and living organisms
come together to form what we call an ecosystem which is a biological community of interacting
organisms and their physical environment.
One type of organism is called a producer (also know as an autotroph) which has the ability to
convert solar or chemical energy into a useable form of energy. The most common producers are
plants that use the process of photosynthesis to convert solar energy into glucose, which can be
consumed and used by other organisms. These organisms that feed on or consume other organisms
are called consumers (also known as heterotrophs) which must get their energy from other
organisms.
Heterotrophs are the most diverse group because there are many different ways in which to
consume food. The first group is known as carnivores, which is a group that feeds only on other
organisms and not on producers (think of them as meat eaters). An example of a carnivore is a lion
which feeds primarily on other organisms such a zebra or wildebeests. The second group is called
herbivores because they feed only on producers (including plants). An example of an herbivore is
cattle or horses that depend on grains and grasses. The last group is a mixture of the two and is
called omnivores because they feed on both other organisms and producers. An example of an
omnivore is a human being or bears which can eat both meats and plants. Another type of
heterotrophs is called a detrivore, and these organisms feed on dead or decaying matter. One type
of detrivore is a scavenger which moves around feeding on dead material, and includes organisms
such as coyotes and vultures. The other type of detrivore is a decomposer that grows on dead or
decaying matter, and includes organisms such as fungi and bacteria.
Ecologists are the scientists who study ecology. They are curious and like to learn about living things
by observing them, seeing what happens, and recording what they find. This is all part of the
scientific method.
Some ecologists study a specific species or habitat. The habitat is the natural home or environment
of an animal, plant, or other organism. Within a habitat, there are several populations, which are a
specific group or type of animals or organisms living within an area. They might study the behavior
of a single species to see how it interacts with other organisms and the environment. Or, an ecologist
might study many different species that either depend on each other (a food web, for example), or
compete with each other for food and space.