Understanding Ecology and Its Interactions
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding Ecology and Its Interactions
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ScribdTranslationsEcological plot
Ecology is the branch of thebiologythat studies the relationships of the differentliving beingsbetween each other and with their
environment: "thebiologyfrom theecosystems» (Margalef, 1998, p. 2). It studies how these interactions between the
organisms and theirenvironmentthey affect properties such as distribution or abundance. The environment includes the
physical and chemical properties that can be described as the sum of local abiotic factors, such as theweathery
thegeologyand the other organisms that share that habitat (biotic factors). Ecosystems are
composed of parts that interact dynamically with each other along with the organisms, the communities that
integrate, as well as the non-living components of their environment. Ecosystem processes, such as production
primary schoolpedogenesis, the cycle of nutrientsand the various habitat construction activities regulate the flow
of energy and matter through an environment. These processes are supported by organisms with specific traits
historical records of life, and the variety of organisms that are referred tobiodiversityThe integrating vision of the
ecology involves the scientific study of the processes that influence the distribution and abundance oforganisms,
as well as the interactions between organisms and the transformation of flowsenergyEcology is a field
interdisciplinary that includes biology and Earth sciences.
Ecology evolved from the natural history of the [Link] philosophers,
howHippocrates, AristotleyTheophrastus, laying the foundations of ecology in his studies on natural history.
The foundational principles for modern ecology were established in the early works of plant physiologists.
and animals. The evolutionary concepts of adaptation and natural selection became cornerstones
from modern ecological theory, transforming it into a more rigorous science in the 19th century. It is closely
related to theevolutionary biology, thegeneticsand theethologyUnderstanding how biodiversity affects the
Ecological function is an important area focused on ecological studies. Ecologists try to explain:
The processes of life, interactions and adaptations
The movement of materials and energy through living communities
The successional development of ecosystems
The abundance and distribution of organisms and biodiversity in the context of the environment.
There are many practical applications of ecology in conservation biology, wetland management, management of
natural resources (theagroecology, theagriculture, theforestry, theagroforestry, thefishing) the planning of the
city (urban ecology), community health, economy, applied basic science, and human social interaction
(human ecology). Organisms (including humans) and resources make up the ecosystems that, at their
they maintain the biophysical feedback mechanisms that are components of the planet that moderate the
processes that act on life (biotic) and non-living (abiotic). Ecosystems support functions that
sustain life and produce natural capital such as the production ofbiomassfoods, fuels, fibers and
medications), global biogeochemical cycles, water filtration, soil formation, erosion control, the
protection against flooding and many other natural elements of scientific, historical, or economic interest.
Object of study
Ecology is the branch of thebiologythat studies the interactions of living beings with theirhabitatThis includes
factorsabioticthat is, environmental conditions such as:climatological, edaphic, etc.; but it also includes
factorsbioticthat is, conditions derived from the relationships established with other living beings. Meanwhile
what other fields deal with lower levels of organization (from thebiochemistryand molecular biology passing
for thecell biology, thehistologyand thephysiologyuntil thesystematicthe ecology deals with the higher level than these,
dealing with the populations, thecommunities, theecosystemsand thebiosphereFor this reason, and for taking care of the
interactions between individuals and their environment, ecology is a multidisciplinary science that uses tools
from other branches of science,
especiallygeology, meteorology, geography, sociology, physics, chemistryymathematics.
Research work in this discipline is different from most work in others.
branches of Biology due to their greater use of mathematical tools, such as thestatisticsand themathematical models.
Furthermore, the understanding of ecological processes is heavily based on the [Link](Dobzhansky,
1973).
Relationship with other sciences
Ecology is the branch of theBiologythat studies the relationship between living beings and their environment, and how that
interaction is affected by the interaction between organisms and theirenvironment.
The environment made up of physical properties that can be described as the sum of local abiotic factors,
like theweatherand thegeologyand the other organisms that share that habitat (biotic factors).
The environment refers to everything that surrounds living beings, it is composed of biophysical elements (soil,
water, climate, atmosphere, plants, animals, and microorganisms, and social components referring to the
derivatives of the relationships that manifest through culture, ideology, and economics. The relationship that
establishes among these elements is what, from a comprehensive perspective, conceptualizes the environment as a
system.
RELATIONSHIP OF ECOLOGY WITH OTHER SCIENCES
Ecology is a multidisciplinary science that uses tools from other branches of science, such as: Physics
relate that all biotic processes are related to the transfer of energy, from producers, which
They take advantage of light energy to produce complex organic compounds, even bacteria, which obtain
chemical energy through the disintegration of the molecular structures of other organisms.
Chemistry is used in Ecology because all metabolic and physiological processes of biosystems depend on
chemical reactions. In addition, living beings make use of the chemical substances found in the
environment.
Ecology is related to Geology because the structure of biomes depends on the geological structure of the
environment. Living beings can also modify the geology of a region.
For Ecology, Geography is a very important discipline due to the specific distribution of living beings.
living beings on Earth.
Mathematics is essential for Ecology, for example for calculations, statistics, projections and
extrapolations when Ecologists deal with specific information about the number and distribution of the
species, the assessment of biomass, demographic growth, the extension of communities, and biodiversity,
and to quantify the environmental pressures in a given biome.
LaClimatologíay laMeteorologíason disciplinas significativas que ayudan a los Ecólogos a entender cómo las
Variations in the climate conditions of a given region influence biodiversity. Climatology and the
Meteorology helps Ecologists to understand how regional or global climate changes increase or reduce
the survival probabilities of individuals, populations, and communities in a given region, and for
relate the regional climate to the distribution of organisms across the planet.
Laéticapromotes the values contained in scientific environmentalism.
There are many more disciplines related to Ecology. Only the disciplines that are most mentioned.
intimately related to Ecology.
Research work in this discipline differs from most work in others.
branches of Biology for their greater use of mathematical tools, such as thestatisticsand themathematical models.