Ecology
The
word Ecology is derived from a Greek
word "Oikos: dwelling place or home, Logos: study”. The major components of the
nature are the organisms and environment which are interrelated and interdependent with each other.
Ecology is the
study of inter relationship between living
organisms and their environment
(or) the study of interaction of organisms
with other organisms with their physical
environment.
The term ecology has been defined by various scientists; some of them are
given below:
ü Ernst Haeckel (1866) said that the ecology
is the science which deals with the mutual relations of organisms.
ü Eugene Warming (1895) said that the
ecology is the study of organisms in relation to their environment.
ü Frederick Clemente (1916) said that the
ecology is the science of community.
ü Bron Taylor (1936) said that the
ecology is the science of relation of all living organisms and their
environment.
ü Eugene Podum (1963) said that the
ecology is the study of structure and function of the nature.
ü Ramdeo Misra (1967) said that the
ecology is the study of interaction of forms, functions and factors.
ü Roman Margalef (1968) said that the
ecology is the study of ecosystems.
ü Charles Krebs (1985) said that he
ecology is the study of interaction which determines the distribution and
abundant of organisms.
Branches of Ecology
Ecology
has been divided into three sub-divisions based on three main aspects as
follows:
Ø Taxonomic affinities
·
Plant
Ecology: The study which deals with the interaction among a nd between the
members of plant species with the environment.
·
Animal
Ecology: The study which deals with the distribution, abundance and relatin
of organisms with the environment.
Ø Habitat
·
Habitat
Ecology; The study which deals with the pants and animals in relation to
the environment.
Ø Levels of Organization
·
Autecology/Species
ecology: The study which deals with the relationship between the individual
species and the environment.
·
Synecology:
The study which deals with the relationship between community and the
environment and is divided into 4 types as follows:
o
Ecosystem
Ecology: The study which deals with abiotic and biotic components in an
area and the environment.
o
Population
Ecology: The study which deals with the interaction of differen individuals
in the same population and the environment.
o
Community
Ecology: The study which deals with the interaction between different
individuals of different species and the environment.
o
Biome
Ecology: The study which deals with the interaction of different types of
communities and the environment.
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