Lecture 1 What is Ecology

1
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• I. Introduction
• A. What ecology is not.
• B. The difference between ecology and
  environmental science.
• C. Definitions of ecology
• 1. Oekologie (Ernst Haeckel 1866)
• 2. Study of relationships among ____________
  and between organisms
• and their ___________________.
• 3. Study of interactions that determine the
  _______________ and
• ___________________ of organisms.

2
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• I. Introduction
• A. What ecology is not.
• Environmentalism, recycling, green movement,
  ecophilosophy, ecotheology, ecofeminism,
  ecotourism, ecoterrorism. Ecology is not even
  the same as environmental science.
• B. The difference between ecology and
  environmental science.

3
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• I. Introduction
• A. What ecology is not.
• Environmentalism, recycling, green movement,
  ecophilosophy, ecotheology, ecofeminism,
  ecotourism, ecoterrorism. Ecology is not even
  the same as environmental science.
• B. The difference between ecology and
  environmental science.
• Environmental science is concerned with human
  impacts on organisms, ecosystems, and the
  environment.

4
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• I. Introduction
• A. What ecology is not.
• Environmentalism, recycling, green movement,
  ecophilosophy, ecotheology, ecofeminism,
  ecotourism, ecoterrorism. Ecology is not even
  the same as environmental science.
• B. The difference between ecology and
  environmental science.
• Environmental science is concerned with human
  impacts on organisms, ecosystems, and the
  environment. Ecology is to environmental science
  as physics is to engineering.

5
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• I. Introduction
• A. What ecology is not.
• Environmentalism, recycling, green movement,
  ecophilosophy, ecotheology, ecofeminism,
  ecotourism, ecoterrorism. Ecology is not even
  the same as environmental science.
• B. The difference between ecology and
  environmental science.
• Environmental science is concerned with human
  impacts on organisms, ecosystems, and the
  environment. Ecology is to environmental science
  as physics is to engineering. Engineers apply
  principles of physics to design structures.
  Environmental scientists apply principles of
  ecology to solve environmental problems.

6
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• I. Introduction
• C. Definitions of ecology
• 1. Oekologie (Ernst Haeckel 1866)
• 2. Study of relationships among ____________
  and between organisms
• and their ___________________.
• 3. Study of interactions that determine the
  _______________ and
• ___________________ of organisms.

7
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• I. Introduction
• C. Definitions of ecology
• 1. Oekologie (Ernst Haeckel 1866) Famous
  German zoologist.
• Oikos home logie study of. Study of
  our home (Earth)
• 2. Study of relationships among ____________
  and between organisms
• and their ___________________.
• 3. Study of interactions that determine the
  _______________ and
• ___________________ of organisms.

8
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• I. Introduction
• C. Definitions of ecology
• 1. Oekologie (Ernst Haeckel 1866) Famous
  German zoologist.
• Oikos home logie study of. Study of
  our home (Earth)
• 2. Study of relationships among organisms and
  between organisms
• and their environment.
• 3. Study of interactions that determine the
  _______________ and
• ___________________ of organisms (FIG. 1).

9
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• I. Introduction
• C. Definitions of ecology
• 1. Oekologie (Ernst Haeckel 1866) Famous
  German zoologist.
• Oikos home logie study of. Study of
  our home (Earth)
• 2. Study of relationships among organisms and
  between organisms
• and their environment.
• 3. Study of interactions that determine the
  distribution and
• abundance of organisms (FIG. 1).

10
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11
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• I. Introduction
• C. Definitions of ecology
• 1. Oekologie (Ernst Haeckel 1866) Famous
  German zoologist.
• Oikos home logie study of. Study of
  our home (Earth)
• 2. Study of relationships among organisms and
  between organisms
• and their environment.
• 3. Study of interactions that determine the
  distribution and
• abundance of organisms (FIG. 1).
• D. Famous ecologists (FIG. 2).

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Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• A. Ecological levels of organization
• 1. Organism
• 2. Population and Species
• 3. Community and Ecosystem
• 4. Biosphere

16
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• A. Ecological levels of organization
• 1. Organism
• Functional ecology, autecology,
  physiological ecology. Study of relationship
  between organisms and their environment.
• 2. Population and Species
• 3. Community and Ecosystem
• 4. Biosphere

17
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• A. Ecological levels of organization
• 1. Organism
• Functional ecology, autecology,
  physiological ecology. Study of relationship
  between organisms and their environment.
• 2. Population and Species
• Population ecology, population biology,
  ecological genetics. Study of population
  dynamics of all species (including humans). Also
  begin study of relationships among
  organisms.
• 3. Community and Ecosystem
• 4. Biosphere

18
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• A. Ecological levels of organization
• 1. Organism
• Functional ecology, autecology,
  physiological ecology. Study of relationship
  between organisms and their environment.
• 2. Population and Species
• Population ecology, population biology,
  ecological genetics. Study of population
  dynamics of all species (including humans).
  Begin the study of relationships among
  organisms.
• 3. Community and Ecosystem
• Community ecology, synecology, ecosystem
  ecology, conservation biology, restoration
  ecology, microbial ecology. Study of
  relationships among organisms.
• 4. Biosphere

19
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• A. Ecological levels of organization
• 1. Organism Functional ecology, autecology,
  physiological ecology. Study of relationship
  between organisms and their environment.
• 2. Population and Species Population ecology,
  population biology, ecological genetics. Study
  of population dynamics of all species (including
  humans). Begin the study of relationships among
  organisms.
• 3. Community and Ecosystem Community ecology,
  synecology, ecosystem ecology, conservation
  biology, restoration ecology, microbial ecology.
  Study of relationships among organisms.
• 4. Biosphere Landscape ecology, ecosystem
  ecology, paleoecology, ecotoxicology. Study of
  global processes and problems.

20
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• B. Temporal and spatial scales of ecological
  studies
• 1. Spatial
• 2. Temporal

21
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• B. Temporal and spatial scales of ecological
  studies
• 1. Spatial
• Microscopic (physiological responses of
  organisms to their environment) to
  global.
• 2. Temporal

22
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• B. Temporal and spatial scales of ecological
  studies
• 1. Spatial
• Microscopic (physiological responses of
  organisms to their environment) to
  global.
• 2. Temporal
• Seconds or less (physiological ecology)
  to millennia (paleoecology)

23
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.
• 6.

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25
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.
• 6.

26
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2. Why are some butterflies brightly colored
  and others drab?
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.
• 6.

27
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2. Why are some butterflies brightly colored
  and others drab?
• Brightly colored males attract females.
  Females drab for camouflage.
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.
• 6.

28
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2. Why are some butterflies brightly colored
  and others drab?
• Brightly colored males attract females.
  Females drab for camouflage.
• 3. Why (how) do pesticides reduce reproduction
  in some bird species?
• 4.
• 5.
• 6.

29
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2. Why are some butterflies brightly colored
  and others drab?
• Brightly colored males attract females.
  Females drab for camouflage.
• 3. Why (how) do pesticides reduce reproduction
  in some bird species?
• Cause females to produce shells that are
  thin and fragile.
• 4.
• 5.
• 6.

30
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2. Why are some butterflies brightly colored
  and others drab?
• Brightly colored males attract females.
  Females drab for camouflage.
• 3. Why (how) do pesticides reduce reproduction
  in some bird species?
• Cause females to produce shells that are
  thin and fragile.
• 4. Why are amphibian populations declining in
  many parts of the world?
• 5.
• 6.

31
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2. Why are some butterflies brightly colored
  and others drab?
• Brightly colored males attract females.
  Females drab for camouflage.
• 3. Why (how) do pesticides reduce reproduction
  in some bird species?
• Cause females to produce shells that are
  thin and fragile.
• 4. Why are amphibian populations declining in
  many parts of the world?
• Disease, pollution, habitat loss.
  Probably many factors.
• 5.
• 6.

32
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2. Why are some butterflies brightly colored
  and others drab?
• Brightly colored males attract females.
  Females drab for camouflage.
• 3. Why (how) do pesticides reduce reproduction
  in some bird species?
• Cause females to produce shells that are
  thin and fragile.
• 4. Why are amphibian populations declining in
  many parts of the world?
• Disease, pollution, habitat loss.
  Probably many factors.
• 5. How much CO2 do tundra ecosystems absorb
  from the atmosphere?
• 6.

33
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2. Why are some butterflies brightly colored
  and others drab?
• Brightly colored males attract females.
  Females drab for camouflage.
• 3. Why (how) do pesticides reduce reproduction
  in some bird species?
• Cause females to produce shells that are
  thin and fragile.
• 4. Why are amphibian populations declining in
  many parts of the world?
• Disease, pollution, habitat loss.
  Probably many factors.
• 5. How much CO2 do tundra ecosystems absorb
  from the atmosphere?
• Not known exactly but substantial.
  Important for global climate.
• 6.

34
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2. Why are some butterflies brightly colored
  and others drab?
• Brightly colored males attract females.
  Females drab for camouflage.
• 3. Why (how) do pesticides reduce reproduction
  in some bird species?
• Cause females to produce shells that are
  thin and fragile.
• 4. Why are amphibian populations declining in
  many parts of the world?
• Disease, pollution, habitat loss.
  Probably many factors.
• 5. How much CO2 do tundra ecosystems absorb
  from the atmosphere?
• Not known exactly but substantial.
  Important for global climate.
• 6. How many species are there on Earth?

35
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• II. What Ecologists Study
• C. Types of questions that ecologists ask.
• 1. Why are red kangaroos absent from some
  parts of Australia? (FIG. 1)
• Eat particular grass species that doesnt
  grow in desert or forest.
• 2. Why are some butterflies brightly colored
  and others drab?
• Brightly colored males attract females.
  Females drab for camouflage.
• 3. Why (how) do pesticides reduce reproduction
  in some bird species?
• Cause females to produce shells that are
  thin and fragile.
• 4. Why are amphibian populations declining in
  many parts of the world?
• Disease, pollution, habitat loss.
  Probably many factors.
• 5. How much CO2 do tundra ecosystems absorb
  from the atmosphere?
• Not known exactly but substantial.
  Important for global climate.
• 6. How many species are there on Earth? Very
  difficult to determine!

36
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• III. Why is Ecology Important Today?
• A. Early history of ecology
• B. When did ecology gain public recognition?
• C. Important ecological issues today

37
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• III. Why is Ecology Important Today?
• A. Early history of ecology
• Began in earnest in late 1800s in Europe and
  U.S. Until 1960s ecology was esoteric science
  that attracted little public attention. Physics
  and molecular biology were more glamorous.
• B. When did ecology gain public recognition?
• C. Important ecological issues today

38

39
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• III. Why is Ecology Important Today?
• A. Early history of ecology
• Began in earnest in late 1800s in Europe and
  U.S. Until 1960s ecology was esoteric science
  that attracted little public attention. Physics
  and molecular biology were more glamorous.
• B. When did ecology gain public recognition?
• In 1962 Rachel Carsons Silent Spring showed
  that pesticides had far- reaching consequences
  in ecosystems. Encouraged public to challenge
  the status quo of resource management and
  industrial operations.
• C. Important ecological issues today

40
Lecture 1 - What is Ecology?

• III. Why is Ecology Important Today?
• A. Early history of ecology
• Began in earnest in late 1800s in Europe and
  U.S. Until 1960s ecology was esoteric science
  that attracted little public attention. Physics
  and molecular biology were more glamorous.
• B. When did ecology gain public recognition?
• In 1962 Rachel Carsons Silent Spring showed
  that pesticides had far- reaching consequences
  in ecosystems. Encouraged public to challenge
  the status quo of resource management and
  industrial operations.
• C. Important ecological issues today (list on
  board)
• - Local and regional issues
• - Global change issues

41
Photo Credits

• Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus). (1) Roger Birkel,
  The Baltimore Zoo. (2,3) www.ism.ac.jpg.
• Thomas Malthus. NNDB Tracking the Entire World.
  2007. Soylent Communications.
• Alexander von Humboldt. Humboldt-kontor. Es
  wirde Licht! www.humboldt-portal.de/cd/Portaes_Av
  H/AvHO2.jpg.
• Victor Shelford. Lefalophodon. From plate in
  Croker, Robert. 1991. Pioneer Ecologist The
  Life and Work of Victor Ernest Shelford,
  1877-1986. Smithsonian Institution Press,
  Washington, D.C.
• Charles Darwin. The C. Warren Irvin, Jr.
  Collection of Charles Darwin and Darwiniana The
  Voyage of the Beagle. www.sc.edu.
• Frederic Clements. Lefalophodon. From plate in
  Croker, Robert. 1991. Pioneer Ecologist The
  Life and Work of Victor Ernest Shelford,
  1877-1986. Smithsonian Institution Press,
  Washington, D.C.
• Henry Chandler Cowles. American Environmental
  Photographs Collection, AEP Image Number, e.g.,
  AEP-MIN73, Department of Special Collections,
  University of Chicago Library.
  www.lib.uchicago.edu
• Eugene P. Odum. From plate in Croker, Robert.
  1991. Pioneer Ecologist The Life and Work of
  Victor Ernest Shelford, 1877-1986. Smithsonian
  Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
• Robert MacArthur. Lefalopholon.
  www.nceas.ucsb.edu/alroy/lefa/MacArthur.html.
• E. Lucy Braun. Mary Huffard. 1994/10/20.
  Library of Congress American Folklife Center.
• Rachel Carson. (Left photo) www.nwhp.org/.../car
  son/carson-bio.html. (Right photo) Digital
  Repository. Digitalrepository.fws.gov. (Book
  photo) The Manhattan Rare Book Company.
  www.manhattanrarebooks-literature.com/carson...