WHAT IS ECOLOGY?

Ecology is the study of interactions among living things

and their environment. It provides new understanding of
these vital systems as they are now, and how they may
change in the future.
Ecology is a  branch of science, including human
science, population, community, ecosystem and
biosphere. Ecology is the study of organisms, the
environment and how the organisms interact with each
other and their environment. It is studied at various
levels, such as organism, population, community,
biosphere and ecosystem.
An ecologist’s primary goal is to improve their
understanding of life processes, adaptations and
habitats, interactions and biodiversity of organisms.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors
The main aim of ecology is to understand the distribution
of biotic and abiotic factors of living things in the
environment. The biotic and abiotic factors include the
living and non-living factors and their interaction with the
environment.
Biotic components

Biotic components are living factors of an ecosystem. A

few examples of biotic components include bacteria,
animals, birds,  fungi, plants, etc.

Abiotic components
Abiotic components are non-living chemical and physical
factors of an ecosystem. These components could be
acquired from the atmosphere, lithosphere and
hydrosphere. A few examples of abiotic components
include sunlight, soil, air, moisture minerals and more.
Living organisms are grouped into biotic components,
whereas non-living components like sunlight, water,
topography are listed under abiotic components.

Types of Ecology
Ecology can be classified into different types. The
different types of ecology are given below:
Global Ecology
It deals with interactions among earth’s ecosystems,
land, atmosphere and oceans. It helps to understand the
large-scale interactions and their influence on the planet.
Landscape Ecology
It deals with the exchange of energy, materials,
organisms and other products of ecosystems. Landscape
ecology throws light on the role of human impacts on the
landscape structures and functions.
Ecosystem Ecology
It deals with the entire ecosystem, including the study of
living and non-living components and their relationship
with the environment. This science researches how
ecosystems work, their interactions, etc.
Community Ecology
It deals with how community structure is modified by
interactions among living organisms. Ecology community
is made up of two or more populations of different
species living in a particular geographic area.
Population Ecology
It deals with factors that alter and impact the genetic
composition and the size of the population of organisms.
Ecologists are interested in fluctuations in the size of a
population, the growth of a population and any other
interactions with the population.
In biology, a population can be defined as a set of
individuals of the same species living in a given place at a
given time. Births and immigration are the main factors
that increase the population and death and emigration
are the main factors that decrease the population.
Population ecology examines the population distribution
and density. Population density is the number of
individuals in a given volume or area. This helps in
determining whether a particular species is in endanger
or its number is to be controlled and resources to be
replenished.
Organismal Ecology
Organismal ecology is the study of an individual
organism’s behaviour, morphology, physiology, etc. in
response to environmental challenges. It looks at how
individual organisms interact with biotic and
abiotic components. Ecologists research how organisms
are adapted to these non-living and living components of
their surroundings.
Individual species are related to various adaptations like
physiological adaptation,  morphological adaptation, and
behavioural adaptation.
Molecular Ecology
The study of ecology focuses on the production of
proteins and how these proteins affect the organisms
and their environment. This happens at the molecular
level.
DNA forms the proteins that interact with each other and
the environment. These interactions give rise to some
complex organisms.
Importance of Ecology
The following reasons explain the importance of ecology:
Conservation of Environment
Ecology helps us to understand how our actions affect
the environment. It shows the individuals the extent of
damage we cause to the environment.
Lack of understanding of ecology has led to the
degradation of land and the environment. It has also led
to the extinction and endangerment of certain species.
For eg., dinosaurs, white shark, mammoths, etc. Thus,
the study of the environment and organisms helps us to
protect them from any damage and danger.
Resource Allocation
With the knowledge of ecology, we are able to know
which resources are necessary for the survival of
different organisms. Lack of ecological knowledge has led
to scarcity and deprivation of these resources, leading to
competition.
Energy Conservation
All organisms require energy for their growth and
development. Lack of ecological understanding leads to
the over-exploitation of energy resources such as light,
nutrition and radiation, leading to its depletion.
Proper knowledge of ecological requirements prevents
the unnecessary wastage of energy resources, thereby,
conserving energy for future purposes.
Eco-Friendliness
Ecology encourages harmonious living within the species
and the adoption of a lifestyle that protects the ecology
of life.
Examples of Ecology
Following are a few examples of ecology:
Human Ecology
It focuses on the relationship between humans and the
environment. It emphasizes the impact human beings
have on the environment and gives knowledge on how
we can improve ourselves for the betterment of humans
and the environment.
Niche Construction
It deals with the study of how organisms alter the
environment for the benefit of themselves and other
living beings. For eg, termites create a 6 feet tall mound
and at the same time feed and protect their entire
population.
WHY IS ECOLOGY IMPORTANT?
Ecology enriches our world and is crucial for human
wellbeing and prosperity. It provides new knowledge of
the interdependence between people and nature that is
vital for food production, maintaining clean air and
water, and sustaining biodiversity in a changing climate.
CAN WE PREDICT THE ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF
POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE?
Governments and citizens around the world are
increasingly aware of the consequences of atmospheric
pollution and climate change. In large-scale experiments,
plants and animals are exposed to carefully controlled
atmospheres and different ecological conditions.
Scientists use this information to understand how they
respond to pollution levels, and make predictions about
future climate change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ecology?
Ecology is the branch of science that deals with the
relationship of organisms with one another and with
their physical surroundings.
What are the different levels of ecology?
The different levels of ecology include- organisms,
communities, population and ecosystem.
What are the different types of ecology?
The different types of ecology include- molecular
ecology, organismal ecology, population ecology,
community ecology, global ecology, landscape ecology
and ecosystem ecology.
How are ecology and evolution related?
Ecology plays a significant role in forming new species
and modifying the existing ones. Natural selection is one
of the many factors that influences evolutionary change.
Who devised the word ecology?
Ecology was first devised by Ernst Haeckel, a German
Zoologist. However, ecology has its origins in other
sciences such as geology, biology, and evolution among
others.
What is habitat ecology?
Habitat ecology is the type of natural environment in
which a particular species of an organism live,
characterized by both physical and biological features.
What is a niche?
An organism free from the interference of other species
and can use a full range of biotic and abiotic resources in
which it can survive and reproduce is known as its
fundamental niche.