Ecology : Study of inter-relationship between living organism and environment is called as ecology. Ecology may be called Environmental Biology. The term ecology was proposed by Reiter in 1865 (a zoologist). In 1866 Haeckel defined ecology as the study of reciprocal relations between organisms and environment. Charles Elton (1927) defined ecology as "scientific natural history". Eugene Odum (1963) described ecology as "study of structure and function of nature". Modem ecologists such as Smith (1977) have defined it as "a multi disciplinary science which deals with organisms and its place to live and focuses on the ecosystem".
The term bioecology was coined by V.E. Shelford and Clements. Bioecology refers to integrated study of plant ecology and animal ecology Prof. R. Misra is known as "Father of Ecology in India."
Classification of Ecology
Kirchner and Schroter (1896) divided ecology into following main divisions:
1. Autecology : It deals with the study of interrelationships between individual species or its population and its environment is called autecology.
2. Synecology : It deals with the study of interrelationships between groups of various types of organisms (communities) along with their environment. Synecology may be classified as fallowing types:
(a) Habitat ecology : It is study of habitat and their effect on the organism. It may be
- Terrestrial ecology : It deals with the study of terrestrial organisms such as forests, grasslands and the deserts.
- Fresh water ecology (Limnology) : It deals with study of fresh water organisms.
- Marine ecology (Oceanography) : It deals with study of organisms of marine habitat e.g., sea, ocean.
(c) Population ecology : A group of individual of a single species is called population. It deals with study of growth rate and size of population of any organisms.
(d) Biome ecology : In biome ecology, the units of study are different communities of an area with specific climatic condition and the study involves examination of these units and their interactions. In nature, several communities grow under more or less similar climatic conditions.
(e) Ecosystem ecology : In ecosystem ecology, the units of study are whole systems each system involving living (biotic) as well as non-living (abiotic) components and their interactions with each other. These systems are called ecosystems or ecological complexes or ecological systems.
Branches of Ecology
These are following branches of ecology:
- Terrestrial Ecology : When flora (Plants) and fauna (animals) of land are studied in relation to their environment is called Terrestrial ecology.
- Marine Ecology : When flora and fauna of sea are studied in relation into their environment is called marine ecology.
- Fresh Water Ecology : The water which is without salt is called fresh water. River, pond, lake, pool and steams etc. are fresh water sources. Study of flora and fauna of these fresh water sources is called fresh water ecology.
- Estuarine Ecology : Rivers fall into sea. River water is fresh and sea water is salty. Where rivers falls into sea, in some area fresh water and salty water are mixed. This mixed water is called estuarine water. Study of flora and fauna of estuarine water in relation to their environment is called habitat ecology.
- Habitat Ecology : The place where an organism lives is called its habitat. Every habitat has specific geographical features. Flora and fauna of the habitat are according to its geographical features. Study of different habitats is called ecology.
- Pollution Ecology : Pollution is the great problem of today. The study of effect of pollution on flora and fauna is called pollution ecology.
- Human Ecology : Man is the super animal of his ecosystem. His activities influence the whole ecosystem. The study which is based on human activities is called human ecology.
- Chemical Ecology : Different chemicals have become the part of daily life. Study of effect of chemicals on life is called chemical ecology.
- Pedo-Ecology : Pedo means soil. Soil is not only important for plants but also provides home to so many animals. Humus nutrients, water absorbing capacity, acidity and basidity of soil influence flora as well as fauna. Study of soil in relation to flora and fauna is called peo-ecology.
- Palaeo-Ecology : Many organisms of past are not present today but their remaining are obtained in different forms. The body remaining are called fossils. Study of these fossils in relation to their past environment is called palaeo-ecology.
- Radiation Ecology : Radiation is the main problem of today. Effect of different rays on life is called radiation. Day by day sources of radiation are increasing. Study of effect of radiation on flora and fauna is called Radiation Ecology.
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