...The Fluidity of Ecology. Gender Norms & Racial Bias in the Study of the Modern "Ecology" Ecology is the scientific analysis and study of interactions among organisms and their environment. It is an interdisciplinary field that includes biology, geography and Earth science. Ecology includes the study of interactions organisms have with each other, other organisms, and with abiotic components of their environment. Topics of interest to ecologists include the diversity, distribution, amount, and number of particular organisms, as well as cooperation and competition between organisms, both within and among ecosystems. Ecosystems are composed of dynamically interacting parts including organisms, the communities they make up, and the non-living components of their environment. Ecosystem processes, such as primary production, pedogenesis, nutrient cycling, and various niche construction activities, regulate the flux of energy and matter through an environment. These processes are sustained by organisms with specific life history traits, and the variety of organisms is called biodiversity. Biodiversity, which refers to the varieties of species, genes, and ecosystems, enhances certain ecosystem services. Ecology is not synonymous with environment, environmentalism, natural history, or environmental science. It is closely related to evolutionary biology, genetics, and ethology. An important focus for ecologists is to improve the understanding of how biodiversity affects ecological function...
Words: 279 - Pages: 2
...In this essay I will give a brief overview of the natural ecosystem of Cedar Hill State park. I will examine the major structural and functional dynamics of that ecosystem and how it has evolved over time, how humans may have affected biogeochemical cycles in that ecosystem, how knowledge about that ecosystem’s structure and function can help or has helped to develop plans for its management and restoration. Cedar Hill State Park is a 1,826 acre nature preserve located on the Joe Pool Reservoir. Cedar Hill State Park has a climax ecosystem meaning that the environment consists of a variety of plants and animals which through the process of succession the development of vegetation has reached a steady rate. The park is dominated by upland forests that include cedar elm, honey locust, mesquite and juniper trees. This park host a variety of common animals that include bobcat, coyote, fox, and raccoon, as well as aquatic species ranging from large- mouth bass, white bass, and crappie. Over the years this ecosystems functional dynamics have changed because of the development of homes and retail shopping centers that have diminished the cedar forest that covered the land. The Golden-cheeked Warbler suffered due to habitat destruction and was on the verge of extinction but because of the unique habitat found at Cedar Hill State Park the Golden-Cheeked Warbler was spotted in 2004. The tall grass prairie was a migratory habitat for the Eskimo Curlew now thought to be extinct. These are...
Words: 751 - Pages: 4
...Established in 1920, Ecology publishes research and synthesis papers on all aspects of ecology, with particular emphasis on papers that develop new concepts in ecology, that test ecological theory, or that lead to an increased appreciation for the diversity of ecological phenomena. Theoretical, analytical, experimental, empirical, historical, and descriptive approaches are all appropriate, though preference is given to research and synthesis that leads to generalizations potentially applicable to other species, populations, communities, or ecosystems. Included within the journal are papers on physiological responses of individual organisms to their biotic and abiotic environments, ecological genetics and evolution, the structure and dynamics of populations, interactions among individuals of the same or different species, the behavior of individuals and groups of organisms, the organization of biological communities, landscape ecology, and ecosystems processes. Papers reporting ecological research on all kinds of organisms and ecosystems are welcome. New methodologies with a potential for broad use in ecology are also of interest. Papers that are well grounded in ecological theory and have broad implications for environmental policy or resource management may be well suited for publication in Ecological Applications, but are also welcome in Ecology if they meet the general criteria described above. Papers must be original and not be work previously published in the primary literature...
Words: 334 - Pages: 2
...File name: 25085500 Ecology and Populations 1. Explain how human activities can cause an imbalance in biogeochemical cycling and lead to problems such as cultural eutrophication and fish kills? Well there could be many reasons on how human activities can lead to an imbalance of biochemical cycling. Like anything that the natural environment is not familiar with can throw off the balance. One of the negative eutrophication is a loss of available oxygen known as anoxia. The conditions can kill fish and other aquatic organisms such as amphibians. 2. Compare and contrast the traits and growth patterns of opportunistic versus equilibrium populations. Provide one example of each. Opportunistic species use the “r-strategy”. “r” is the species instrinsic rate of increase. They produce millions of eggs and sperm since only a small percent will then meet, join and become actual offspring. Example : most insects, corals , scallops , oysters and clams that fertilize their eggs in the water. Opportunistic species are often the first to colonize a new environment and their population growth is exponential. Equilibrium species use the “k-strategy”, “k” is the carrying capacity of the environment. They produce fewer offspring and take care of them in other ways. Example: birds, mammals, and some live bearing fish. 3. Compare and contrast indirect versus direct values of biodiversity and also provide examples: biodiversity provides indirect benefits to human beings which support...
Words: 405 - Pages: 2
...Part 1: The Producers Go to http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/interactives/ecology/food_web.php Challenge Try to get two plants to happily co–exist. In any given ecosystem, most organisms will carve out a niche for themselves where they can obtain all of the necessities to survive. Often, different species within the ecosystem will compete for the resources that a niche provides. However, certain species live well together—symbiotically, parasitically, or by staying out of each other's way. For example, lichen and moss, often the primary colonizers of a new ecosystem, tend to live fairly harmoniously in each other's vicinity. Let's see what happens in this model. Step 1 Imagine the ecosystem is newly forming—the previous ecosystem has been destroyed by fire or flood—and the first colonizers of the successive ecosystem are, of course, producers. Given the two fictitious species of plants in the simulator, predict what will happen in this young system and record your prediction in the Data Table. Then run the simulator to 100 time steps and record the population numbers for both plants. Answer the following: 1. What assumptions does this model make about co-dominance as well as the general terrain of the ecosystem? 2. Do you find one producer to be dominant? Why might one producer be dominant over another? Step 2 Now you'll introduce an herbivore into the environment. In theory, an herbivore native to the ecosystem should feed primarily on the dominant species...
Words: 807 - Pages: 4
...There are numerous impactful reasons the environment is suffering, the 1st I feel comes from human population. The increase in human population adds to the problem being that we use various resources that are considered to be harmful to the environment. As the population increases so does usage as well as demand for more innovative ways that can keep up with these demands. People naturally pollute the environment, there are things in place that help to offset and educate around this however the issue still remains. “Factories are another cause of pollution, with factories in operation the pollutants that come from them are harmful to not only our air space but the eco system overall” (Robert J. Carson 2016). There have been a lot of factories shut down as a result of this; however it seems that machines continue to take over in place of manual labor jobs in order to cut cost. Industrialization exist solely on the basis of convenience, there is more focus on how to get something done quickly instead of safer. Sprays such a deodorants and various aerosols have an effect on the environment too such as the ozone layer. The various things that I described all help to provide convenience, however this comes at a cost to our environment that we live in as these shorts cuts hurt or echo system. The convenience is great; the realization is that our planet is slowly suffering so there are now stricter regulations that help to control these things. Looking at the ways this impacted the...
Words: 908 - Pages: 4
...Ecology Booklet Project Trey FitzMorris 1/6/2014 2rd Period Interrelationships Among Organisms In An Ecosystem Ecosystem – community of living and nonliving things that interact with one another to function as a system Stable Ecosystem – an ecosystem that is able to maintain its structure and function over a long period of time Niche – an individual’s place within an ecosystem, or a species location in an ecosystem relative to other species Predation Predation – one animal killing and eating others to provide themselves with adequate nutrients Predation is an important relationship between animals. It provides the predator with a source of energy that allows it to exist in that certain ecosystem. Predation also limits the predator and prey relationship because if the prey did not exist the predator could not exist, and if the predator did not exist the population of the prey would be able to become overpopulated. Competition Competition – individuals of a species fighting each other for a limited amount of resources needed to survive Competition is an important interspecies interaction, because it limits the size of a population. Animals that do not have a predator do not have to worry about their population being limited by another species. However what the limit lacks in predation it makes up in competition. When individuals of a species do not have enough resources to go around they must compete with one another to obtain these resources...
Words: 1916 - Pages: 8
...Abstract In the original Greek “oikos” means, “house”. So ecology is “the study of the house” the place where you live, or the environment which technically includes all those factors, both nonliving and living, that affect an organism. Ecology then is the study of the interactions of organisms in their environment includes both the living (biotic) and physical (abiotic) factors of the environment. It is also the science, which formulates and test hypotheses about environment. Keywords: ecology, environment, organisms, science, interaction, affects, temperate deciduous forest Ecology is the relationship, identification and analysis of problems common to all areas. Ecology studies the relationships between organisms and their environments and its responses to environmental change (Ecology.com Aug. 2011). Ecology encompasses a wide range of considerations, such as the position of organisms in the food chain and the ability of organisms to survive and reproduce. There is a variety of environmental issues that impact ecosystems and the organisms that live within them. Biomes are large, distinctive complex of plant communities created and maintained by climate, also known as ecoregions. A study published in 1999 concluded that there are 150 different "ecoregions" in North America alone (Biologypages.com August 2011). The temperate deciduous forest biome occupies most of the eastern part of the United States, including Ohio and a small strip of southern Ontario. The temperate...
Words: 878 - Pages: 4
...Ecology (from Greek: οἶκος, "house", or "condition"; - λογία, "think about of") is the logical examination and investigation of collaborations among life forms and their condition. It is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates science, topography, and Earth science. Ecology incorporates the investigation of collaborations that life forms have with each other, different living beings, and with abiotic parts of their condition. Subjects important to biologists incorporate the assorted variety, appropriation, sum (biomass), and number (populace) of specific living beings, and additionally participation and rivalry between creatures, both inside and among ecological communities. Ecological systems are made out of progressively interfacing...
Words: 1676 - Pages: 7
...Solman Nasseri Professor Vanderklein BIOL 213-04 30, September 2015 Newspaper Article 2: Sports The world is a very cruel and dark place that can sting really badly at times, especially in regards to sports. The article written by Victor Mather Another Injury For Derrick Rose, More Waiting By the Bulls can be seen as an allegory, which means it can be either seen from two different perspectives, one from a sports analyst or one from an ecologists perspective and in this case we will relate it to Ecology. One of the NBA’s most famous and notorious franchises in NBA history the Chicago Bulls, has had another setback with the upcoming season. Their star point guard Derrick Rose has suffered a facial fracture. Now we might ask ourselves how this could be seen to relate to ecology. First and foremost “The N.B.A. is a superstar-driven league” (1 Mather). With this said I can relate it to ecology in the sense that this sport like any other is survival of the fittest (not in regards to reproduction of course, but to which team and its players can stay the healthiest and thrive to move on). Secondly, the teams always with more talent and superstars always have gone the furthest and have always succeeded while the weaker teams have gone unnoticed and eventually die off. Exactly how nature works as well the stronger live and the weaker die off. Now Derrick Rose is that key link for the Bulls to cross that line between strong and weak. Every time he has managed to stay healthy he has...
Words: 556 - Pages: 3
...Environment, Resources, and Competition University of Phoenix Ecology and Evolution BIO 315 January 14, 2011 Environmental Ecology The ecosystem I choose to analyze is the tropical rain forest. These forests contain large trees and dense vegetation with warm temperatures year round accompanied by frequent rainfall. Tropical rain forests also have very diverse species of plants and animals; there is a very high level of biodiversity present there as well. Most trees have very short roots, particularly taller trees, while others have deeper roots. The soil is very thin because the tree branches and leaves keep the ground shaded and void of sunlight. This also makes it more challenging for smaller plant life to thrive, due to a lack of rich soil needed for them to flourish. Thus, small plants and shrubs that do survive must have qualities that make living without much tillable land possible. Moreover, animal diets must not rely solely on small plants and shrubs, because they are of limited supply. The temperatures of the tropical rain forests are typically warm with an average yearly low of 20C and an average yearly high of 34C. These temperatures are often accompanied with constant rainfall. Tropical rain forests get an average yearly low of 200 cm of rainfall and an average yearly high of 400 cm of rainfall; this combination create humid conditions under the trees and at ground level (Smith & Smith...
Words: 758 - Pages: 4
...Ecosystem • An ecosystem is a collection of all of the organisms that live in a particular place along with their nonliving or physical environment o School as an ecosystem Ecology • The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment • Levels: individual organism (Species), population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere Energy Flow • In ecosystem, energy flows from sun or inorganic compounds to producers (make own food) to consumers (rely on other organisms for food) • In one direction: Sun → Autotrophs → Heterotrophs o Sunlight is main energy source for life Autotrophs (Producers) capture energy from sunlight or inorganic compounds • I.e. plants, certain bacteria, some algae • Autotrophs either use photosynthesis: CO2 + H2O & light energy → O2 + C6H12O6 • Or chemosynthesis: certain bacteria use chemical energy to produce carbs Heterotrophs (Consumers) - rely on other organisms for energy and food • Types: herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, detritivores, decomposers Energy Flow - Ecosystems o Food Chain – series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten o Food Web – links together all food chains in an ecosystem o Trophic Level – each step in a food chain or web Ecological Pyramids – diagram showing the relative amount of energy in each level or a food web or food chain • Energy pyramids – show how much energy available at ea. Trophic level o 90% used for life processes or lost as heat...
Words: 411 - Pages: 2
...Ecology Background Information Ecology means the environment as it relates to living organisms. This relates with the different organisms working together in the stream with its surroundings. Ecology also means the study of interactions of organisms with their environment. It studies how environmental factors determine distribution and abundance of populations. At the creek the surrounding factors of the stream determined how many fish and water invertebrates we found in the different areas. Introduction / Purpose The section of Kickapoo Creek we were at was located off of Loxa Rd. between Mattoon and Charleston. Group C was about a fourth of a mile down the creek. It was very hot (about 84-85 degrees) with a slight breeze. The stream was wide but shallow, and felt cool in the hot air. The stream was curved shaped and had no slope to it. It had a lot of leaves, twigs, and logs in the water. There were also some tires at the bottom of the creek in different places. Shaping the creek was a cliff sort of thing and at the top of it was a bean field. To get down to the stream we had to go down this windy path near the bridge. The stream had a bunch of schools of fish and other water creatures. In the stream there were fish, clams, rocks, sand, algae, bugs, invertebrates, and grass all over. The flow of the water was kind of a run/ripple in different areas. The purpose of going to the creek was to figure out the physical and chemical characteristics of the stream, to observe organisms...
Words: 745 - Pages: 3
...Karen J. warren in "Feminist Environmental Philosophy" states that Norwegian philpsopher Arne Naess coined the term "deep ecology" "to refer to the (deep) conceptual roots of the environmental crisis". (Naess 1973 in Warren 2015: 6) Naess contrasts deep ecology with 'shallow ecology'. Both are concerned with environmental problems as the pollution of air and water, the misuse of natural resources, and destructive human-nature relationships. But, according to Naess, "only deep ecology provides an understanding of these issues in terms of false or problematic underlying assumptions, concepts, beliefs and values of canonical philosophy". (Warren, 2015: 6) While trying to define deep ecology, Donelle Dreese quotes what Annie Booth and Harvey...
Words: 1104 - Pages: 5
...POPULATION Population – a group of organisms, usually of the same species, occupying a defined area during a specific time. Populations have characteristics not possessed by individual animals. Density – a population has density, meaning a certain number of individuals per unit area. Birth Rate/natality – a population has a birth rate, the number of births per thousand, per hundred, or per individual per year. Death rate/ mortality – the number of deaths per number of individuals per number of individuals per year Age structure – a distribution of numbers of individuals of various ages Sex ratios – influence the reproductive potential Fecundity – the number of eggs produced per female or to the number of sperm produced per male Fertility – the percentage of eggs that are fertile Production – the actual number of offspring produced, whether born or hatched, by a population during a specific period of time. LOGISTIC EQUATION The equation for growth is ∆N/∆t= rN ∆N = change in number ∆t = change in time r = the “per head” maximum potential growth rate N = number of individuals in a population BIRTHS AND DEATHS A population grows according to the simple equation r = b – d r = actual growth rate of the population b = birth rate d = death rate In some populations, animals moving in or dispersing from a population may also play a role in its growth rate. r = (b –d) + ( i – e) i = immigration e = emigration...
Words: 506 - Pages: 3
