What is Ecology?
Ecology is the scientific study of organisms' interactions with one another and with the environment. This includes both biotic and abiotic factors and the impact they have each other.
Ecosystems
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An ecosystem is a community of species and the nonliving components that work as a unit. There are a diversity of ecosystems because of the variety of species that live in an area and ecological processes that occur in different physical settings. Biomes, which are large geographical areas that form at specific latitudes on the earth's surface. Higher latitudes receive slanted rays from the sun and therefore, more diffused energy. While, at lower latitudes, the sun's rays are more concentrated. The climate (temperature and precipitation) also makes up a biome. For example, the tundra is known for being cold and dry while the taiga is cold and wet.
Community interactions
Predator/Prey:
Within an ecosystem, different species interact with one another to survive. The main way is predation, which includes predator/prey relationship. To survive and reproduce, individuals must have food resources while simultaneously avoiding becoming food for an individual. The organism eating is the predator and the organism being eaten is the prey. This is also important because it helps control the population of species within an ecosystem. For example, lions hunt zebras and depend on them to survive. However, the population of zebras also depends on lions because if they weren't there to stabilize the population, then the zebras would overpopulate. This would lead to the plants that zebras eat to diminish because there are too many zebras that need to eat. The population of the predator is related and somewhat follows the population of the prey and vise versa.
Within an ecosystem, different species interact with one another to survive. The main way is predation, which includes predator/prey relationship. To survive and reproduce, individuals must have food resources while simultaneously avoiding becoming food for an individual. The organism eating is the predator and the organism being eaten is the prey. This is also important because it helps control the population of species within an ecosystem. For example, lions hunt zebras and depend on them to survive. However, the population of zebras also depends on lions because if they weren't there to stabilize the population, then the zebras would overpopulate. This would lead to the plants that zebras eat to diminish because there are too many zebras that need to eat. The population of the predator is related and somewhat follows the population of the prey and vise versa.
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Competition:
Organisms that occupy the same niche, or position in an ecosystem, often have to compete to survive. This happens when organisms have the same requirements for a limited supply of resource like food, nesting area, or water. The outcome of this is that the stronger survive and the weaker don't. There are two categories of competition. Intraspecific competition is when individuals of the same species fight one another for the same resources. On the other hand, interspecific competition is between different species.
Organisms that occupy the same niche, or position in an ecosystem, often have to compete to survive. This happens when organisms have the same requirements for a limited supply of resource like food, nesting area, or water. The outcome of this is that the stronger survive and the weaker don't. There are two categories of competition. Intraspecific competition is when individuals of the same species fight one another for the same resources. On the other hand, interspecific competition is between different species.
Symbiosis:
Organisms often have relationship with those of another species that can either benefit, harm or not affect them. These three main types of symbiosis are called mutualism, parasitism and commensalism.
Organisms often have relationship with those of another species that can either benefit, harm or not affect them. These three main types of symbiosis are called mutualism, parasitism and commensalism.
Mutualism
Both organisms in this situation benefit from the relationship. An example of this is the crocodile and the plover bird. The plover cleans the crocodile's teeth after it eats so that it stays healthy. In return, the bird gets to eat the leftover food. This shows that different species are able to help one another. Parasitism In this relationship, there is a parasite that is living of its host and causing harm to it. One organism benefits while causing damage to the other. However, it is in the parasite's best interest not to kill its host because it has to stay alive in order to benefit from it. Mosquitoes are an obvious example because they feed off of human blood, which leaves a bite on the skin that is itchy and sore. The mosquito could also carry diseases like malaria or yellow fever. Commensalism One organism in this relationship benefits while the other neither benefits or is harmed. For instance, barnacals attach themselves to whales and receive nutrients and a habitat. This does not affect the whale in any way. |
Ecology of the Tortoise Beetle
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There are many different types of tortoise beetles that live in a variety of biomes. The palmetto tortoise beetle can be found in temperate forests in areas with a lot of foliage. They prefer to live on palmetto plants and feed off of them. They can live in seasonal temperatures where there is enough rainfall for plants to grow. Tortoise beetles are primary consumers; they are herbivores and eat only plants, often leaving holes.
When tortoise beetles are born, they are unable to leave the shoots they were hatched on, which causes intraspecific competition for food. They also compete with other species of insects that feed on the same plants as them. Tortoise beetles have many predators because they are always in an open area. Some of these predators include the tachinid fly, the wheel bug and damsel bugs.
When tortoise beetles are born, they are unable to leave the shoots they were hatched on, which causes intraspecific competition for food. They also compete with other species of insects that feed on the same plants as them. Tortoise beetles have many predators because they are always in an open area. Some of these predators include the tachinid fly, the wheel bug and damsel bugs.