Biology 2483A Lecture : General Terms Lectures 1-11
27 Feb 2014
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Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and environment and deals with the distribution and abundance of species within specific environments. (not environmental science). Species don"t each have a specific role to play. When a species is removed they can always be replaced; although major influences can affect the environment greatly. The ecological maxims: organisms interact and are interconnected, everything goes somewhere. Ecology likes to monitor where: pollution, nutrients, energy, etc: no population can increase in size forever. Every species has a carrying capacity: finite energy and resources result in tradeoffs. A species will select where to ration their energy which they think will be most beneficial to survival: hunting, defense, camouflage, etc: organisms evolve: evolution. Adaptation: a characteristic that improves survival or reproduction. Natural selection: individuals with certain adaptations tend to survive and reproduce at a higher rate than other individuals.
