SEMINOR TOPIC

ECOLOGICAL EQUILIBRIUM

Presented by, Ancy Jacob Jincy Joseph

INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY
LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

ECOLOGY
Derived From logos(study).
Branch of Science Ecology is the scientific study of the relationship to their habits and habitats Habitat Place where the population of an species lives.

Greek

work

oikos(home)

and

ECOLOGY DEFINED IN NUMBER OF WAYS :

According to Odum "Ecology is the study of structure and functions of nature and ecosystems. According to Colinvauk, "Ecology is the study of animals and plants in situations to their habits and habitats".

ECOSYSTEM
An ECOSYSTEM can be described simply as the collection of all living and non-living components in a particular area. The living components of the environment are known as BIOTIC factors. Biotic factors include plants, animals, and micro-organisms. The non-living components of the environment are known as ABIOTIC factors. Abiotic factors include things such as rocks and water.

OBJECTIVES OF ECOLOGY
Presence of man in the ecosystem. To understand the dynamics of our surroundings and to take proper measures to conserve it if and when required.
1. The local and geographic distribution and abundance of organisms (habitat, niche, community, biogeography). 2. Temporal changes in the occurrence, abundance, and activities of organisms (seasonal, annual, successional, geological). 3. The interrelations hips between organisms in populations and communities (population ecology). 4. The structural adaptations and functional adjustments of organisms to their physical environment (physiological ecology). 5. The behaviour of organisms under natural conditions (ethology). 6. The evolutionary development of all these interrelations (evolutionary ecology). 7. The biological productivity of nature and how this may best serve mankind (ecosystem ecology). 8. The development of mathematical models to relate interaction of parameters and predict effects (systems analysis).

DIVISION OF ECOLOGY
Main Divisions Physiological Ecology (Eco-physiology) and Behavioural Ecology Population Ecology or Autoecology Community Ecology or Synecology Ecosystem Ecology Landscape Ecology Also subdivided as Animal ecology,plant ecology,insect ecology,space ecology etc

ECOLOGICAL BALANCE
Balance between the production and consumption of each component in the ecosystem.
To Explain the Stability of Ecosystem Theory of Diversity or Stability Homeostatic Mechanism Models

Issues Affecting Ecological Equilibrium

Climatic Factors
Light Heat Water Rainfall Wind Humidity Atmospheric gases pH

 Topograhic Factors
Altitude Slope and direction of mountain chain and valleys

Edaphic Factors

 Biotic Factors
Symbiosis Commensalism Parasitisim Epiphytism Competition

Limiting Factors

LIMITING FACTORS
Limiting factors denote the amount of substance that is either least abundant or over abundant in the relation to the need of the living organism. Density Dependent Density Independent

LAWS OF LIMITING FACTORS

LIEBIGs law of minimum
BLACKMANs law of limiting factor SHELFORDs law of tolerance
Limit or Zone of tolerance

Every Environmental factors has 2 zones :

Zone of tolerance Zone of intolerance