Eugene Odum
The term ecology was first used by German zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1869), however, this science has its origins in other sciences such as biology, geology and evolution among others.
Ramdeo Misra is considered as the ‘Father of ecology’ in India.
These expeditions were joined by many scientists, including botanists, such as the German explorer Alexander von Humboldt . Humboldt is often considered as father of ecology. He was the first to take on the study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.
The different types of ecology include- molecular ecology, organismal ecology, population ecology, community ecology, global ecology, landscape ecology and ecosystem ecology .
Ecology is the branch of science that examines the relationships organisms have to each other and to their environment. Scientists who study those relationships are called ecologists. There are many different ways to study ecology. Some types are landscape ecology, population ecology, and behavioral ecology .
Figure 2. Sir Arthur G. Tansley coined the term ecosystem in 1935.
The word ecology was coined by the German zoologist Ernst Haeckel, who applied the term oekologie to the “relation of the animal both to its organic as well as its inorganic environment.” The word comes from the Greek oikos , meaning “household,” “home,” or “place to live.” Thus, ecology deals with the organism and its ...
Some of the most important Specialized Branches of Ecology are as follows: Early ecologists have recognized two major subdivisions of ecology in particular reference to animals or to plants, hence animal ecology and plant ecology .
The First Law of Ecology: Everything Is Connected to Everything Else . It reflects the existence of the elaborate network of interconnections in the ecosphere: among different living organisms, and between populations, species, and individual organisms and their physicochemical surroundings.
Our definition of ecology
The scientific study of the processes influencing the distribution and abundance of organisms , the interactions among organisms, and the interactions between organisms and the transformation and flux of energy and matter.
These levels are organism, population, community, and ecosystem . In ecology, ecosystems are composed of dynamically-interacting parts, which include organisms, the communities they comprise, and the non-living (abiotic) components of their environment.
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.
The World Ocean is the largest existing ecosystem on our planet. Covering over 71% of the Earth’s surface, it’s a source of livelihood for over 3 billion people.
The ocean is the most stable ecosystem. It is stable due to its natural liquid nature (saline), dissolved oxygen, light and temperature. Note: An environment is considered to be stable when its structure and function remain unchanged for a long period of time.
