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Ecology: Concepts and Principles

Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. It examines these relationships at three levels - the individual organism, the population, and the community. An ecosystem is a fundamental concept in ecology, representing all the interacting components, both living and non-living, in a particular area. Key components of ecosystems include food chains and webs, nutrient cycles, carrying capacity, limiting factors, habitats, and biological clocks. Ecosystems provide ecological services like oxygen production, water cycling, disease control, and climate regulation. Industrial ecology applies ecological principles to manufacturing by linking industries and closing resource loops.

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Renjith K Pushpan
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76 views12 pages

Ecology: Concepts and Principles

Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. It examines these relationships at three levels - the individual organism, the population, and the community. An ecosystem is a fundamental concept in ecology, representing all the interacting components, both living and non-living, in a particular area. Key components of ecosystems include food chains and webs, nutrient cycles, carrying capacity, limiting factors, habitats, and biological clocks. Ecosystems provide ecological services like oxygen production, water cycling, disease control, and climate regulation. Industrial ecology applies ecological principles to manufacturing by linking industries and closing resource loops.

Uploaded by

Renjith K Pushpan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Concepts of Ecology

The word ecology comes from the Greek “Oikos” meaning “house” or “place to live”.

Ecology is concerned with the study of organism in various habitats. (Land, oceans, fresh water & air).

Ecology can be defined as the study of the structure & function of nature.

It is the study of interrelations between living organism & their environment.

Ecology proceeds at 3 levels.

1) The individual organism

2) The population

3) The Community
Eco System
Fundamental concept of ecology.
Includes populations & communities each influencing the other.
Ecosystem components are operationally inseparable from the whole.

Eg:A pond, lake or a tract of forest


Ecosystem is in a constant state of change over a period of time.

It leads to the formation of different of another ecosystem.


It is capable of self-maintenance & self-regulation.
Human activities disrupt the natural functioning.
E.g.: Intensive farming
Cycles
Duracel
environment-to–
From theof cycle
Varta inofUK-
Another concept
Circulation certain
E.g.
elementsCarbon
relates to recycle &
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like water
recycling process for
organisms &
[Link]
varta-
dioxide
or carbon in the
conservation of natural
ultimately back to
resources in production
atmosphere.
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2recycle.
environment.
process.

org
Community
Any assemblage of population living in a habitat that has
characteristics in addition to its individual & population
components.

Interdependence is the principle of existence.

Natural method to control a particular


organism which is harmful to human or
plants is not to kill it directly but by
modifying the community in which it
lives.
E.g. Controlling mosquitoes.
Food Chain
Transfer of food energy initially from plants through
a series of organism where eating & being eaten
occurs is referred it as the food chain.
Carrying Capacity

Ecosystem has limits in terms


of various populations it can
support.
Limiting factor

Any factor that


is in short
supply or
oversupply
may be a
limiting factor.

Temperature, light, water


etc.
Habitat

Place where an organism,


Land (Terrestrial including
population or community
subterranean)
lives.

Aerial ( Trees & plants


Water ( both fresh water &
where birds, insects,
marine)
retiles etc lives)
Biological Clock
System which controls
natural rhythms in living
organism including humans
by measuring time through
an internal mechanism.

Operates through signals


arising within the organism
of from the environment
like temperature, light or
seasonal changes.
Ecological Services
Resources-

Oxygen,water,food,other minerals.

Cyclic mechanism –

Water cycle, Nutrient cycle, Carbon cycle.

Regulatory & other controlling services-

Flood control, Disease control, temperature regulation,pollination,climate control.


Industrial Ecology
Application of Linking the
ecosystem activities of one
concept to enterprise to that
industry. of another.

Concept of
closed-loop
level.

Recycled for DuPont


further production
or sent back to -[Link]
ecosystem. [Link]

Interface

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