Just like the many connections of spider—silk that makes up the spider web, organisms are connected through a chain of life. Organisms both aquatic and terrestrial, depends on each other as well as plants. The symbiotic dependence of both plants and animals to each other aid their life/biological processes.
Plants depend on animals, as such, do animals depend on plants. Plants makes use of carbon dioxide (C02) which is given out by animals, for respiration, in the same process, animals depend on the Oxygen gas(O2) from plants for their own respiration.
A WEB is a complex connection of many units. It often makes up a complex cycle or chain for the transfer of energy from one organism to another through feeding processes or other interaction (A complex network of interaction).
The web of life contains both living and nonliving things (organisms). They come together to make up the entire ecosystem or world at large.
Now, as an introduction to ECOLOGY, we are required to learn some basic terminologies used in ecology. But before then, we'll try to understand how this WEB OF LIFE functions.
What then is ECOLOGY??
Ecology, has been defned in different ways only to encompass all that happens or all the kinds of interaction that exists between organisms. Scientists that studies the ecosystem are known as ECOLOGISTS..!
Ecology, has been defined as the study of organisms and their environment. In the same sense, ECOLOGY, was defined as the study of living organisms, their distribution and abundance in an environment.
Note: Ecology was defined by Odum,(1974); As the study of the ecosystem. Amongst many other definitions, ecology was first defined by Ernest. H, (.....). It was also defined by Andrewartha & Birch,(1954).
A more generalized definition of ECOLOGY; Ecology is defined as the scientific study of processes or factors influencing the distribution and abundance of living organisms, relationship between organisms, amongst organisms and the transformation of the inflow of energy and matter.
The interaction between different organisms in a community is known as BIOLOGICAL INTERACTION.
Explicitly, organisms in the same group or organisms of the same species interact with each other (intra—specific interaction). This type of interaction, connects organisms of the same species and could lead to other forms of interaction within the food chain. The type of interaction or relationship that exists between different species is termed (inter—specific interaction).
Since no organism exist in an absolute isolation, they must interact with their environment, be it the micro habitat and other organisms, which makes up the Community (Ecosystem). We're already on our way to learning the basic terminologies in ECOLOGY ..!!
TERMINOLOGIES USED BY ECOLOGISTS......
1. Ecosystem.
2. Organisms(living and nonliving).
3. Population.
4. Community.
5. Habitat
6. Micro—Habitat.
7. Consumers.
8. Producers.
9. Detritivores
10. Parasites.
11. Biotic factors.
12. Abiotic factors.
13. Biosphere.
14. Symbiosis.
15. Transect.
16. Homeothermic organisms
17. Poikilothermic organisms
18. Predators.
19. Flagellates.
20. Quadrant.
21. Niche.
22. Community dynamics.
23. Biomes.
24. Mortality rate.
25. Natality rate.
26. Competition.
27. Mutualism.
28. Food chain.
29. Food web.
30. Torpor.
Above are about Thirty (30) amongst the terminologies used by ecologist. In our next post, we'll talk about each of the aforementioned.
summarily, the necessity for organisms to interact with one another in an ecosystem brings about ECOLOGY. Organisms are connected in a complex form of interaction called The web of life. Each organisms, play a vital role in food chains and subsequently, in the ecosystem.
Plants are useful to animals and vice versa. Other organisms (non—plant & non—animal) also depends on each other directly or indirectly for survival to be sustained. In this way (web), life Continues .........!!!!
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