Life Science

29 January 2008

Ecology and Ecological Relationships

Ecology is the study of living things and their relationships to

1. their environment
2. each other
3. other organisms

The word “ecology” came about in 1869 by Ernst Haeckel. It comes from “ecos”(greek:
oikos)- homes, and “ology”- the study of.

Humans are one species. There are approximately 10 million species. We have a
disproportionate impact on the environment.
1. The human population is growing exponentially.
2. Limiting factors do not affect the human population the same way they affect
other populations.
a. Disease-medical care has diminished the effect of disease on humans
b. Climate- we can live in nearly any climate
c. Predators- we have overcome the ability of predators to catch/harm us

Humans thrive on 17% of the Earth’s surfaces.

Biosphere- all life on Earth

Populations

Populations consist of only one species.

Characteristics of populations
1. Size- expressed as a number
2. Density- expressed as a number per area, or number per volume
3. Distribution
a. Uniform-Species are almost NEVER found in uniform distribution in
nature.
b. Random
c. Clumped- Typically the way species are found in nature, because it
results from the availability of resources
4. Dispersal rate- rate at which things disperse, or migrate
5. Growth rate and pattern- This can be figured using the formula R= B-D
N
where R= rate, B= birth rate, D= death rate, and N= number of species. If R is
positive, rate is increasing. If R is negative, rate is decreasing. If R is 0, there
is no growth. This condition of no growth is known as Zero Population
Growth (ZPG)
 Population Patterns:

Density dependent: As density increases,

limiting factors act in the following ways:
disease increases, food decreases, water
decreases, shelter decreases, parasitism
increases, predation increases

Density independent: limiting factors such as

hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, fires, droughts,
blizzards

6. Age distribution-tells how the age of populations are distributed

Population age distribution charts are valuable

because they are predictive- by examining
them, it is possible to predict the probably
population numbers in the future.

7. Populations interact with other species.

a. Predator/Prey- both species benefit. Predators benefit from food
source, prey benefit from the removal of the sick and weak in their
population.
b. Parasite/Host- one species benefits at the other’s expense. Host is
typically larger than the parasite. The longer this relationship exists
over time, the less detrimental it typically is to the host.
 c. Symbiosis
i. Commensalism- one species is generally unaffected, while the
other species benefits. Ex: buffalo and cow birds, sharks and
remora
ii. Mutualism- both species benefit, the are so closely related that
the species cannot survive without the other. This relationship
can exist in huge numbers of species, and is not limited to pairs
of species.
d. Niche Overlap and Competitive Exclusion - Gauze’s Principle of
Competitive Exclusion- “No two species may occupy the same niche
at the same time in the same place”

This is acceptable, because

the two species do not
occupy the same niche in the
same place.

This is unacceptable, and the

two species will compete
until one drives the other
away.

Nocturnal- awake and active predominantly during the night

Diurnal- awake and active primarily during the day
Crepuscular- awake and active primarily at dusk and dawn

This makes it possible for animals to occupy the same niche at the same place, as
long as they aren’t active at the same time.