Environment Class 01 Notes
Topics that would be covered:
- Basic Concepts
- Ecosystems
- Biomes
- Biodiversity
- Water-related Ecological Concepts
- Air/Atmosphere and Climate Change
- Land Degradation
BASIC CONCEPTS (5:39 PM)
- The concept of ecology was given by Haeckel in 1869.
- Ecology is an applied science that studies the relationship between the living and non-living components.
- Carlyle explains the environment as everything that surrounds a life form throughout its life.
- It includes both living and non-living materials.
- Autecology investigates the relationship of one species with its habitat.
- Synecology is the study of the interaction of a group of species with their habitat.
- Biotic potential is the capacity or potential of a species to maximize its rate of multiplication or population growth.
- Ecotype: The variation in characteristics of the members of the population is because of variation in the genetic
makeup.
- When genetic factors are responsible for differences in characteristics of the members of the population, it is called
genotype determinant.
- Ecad is the variation in characteristics in the members of a given population who have the same genetic makeup;
therefore, the variations are introduced by environmental factors. This reflects phenotypes.
- Species plasticity: The capacity of a species to adjust to a different environment structurally, without making a special
effort. It is mostly determined biologically.
- Adaptation is the capacity of the life form to exist under the given conditions of its habitat.
- Tolerance factors: These are the limiting factors of the habitat which allow a given life form to exist and survive. Life
forms come under stress if the tolerance factors are exceeded. The options are to adapt, migrate, or perish.
- Habitat refers to the physical settings of the environment of a life form.
- Range is a broader term than habitat and may comprise different environments.
- Bioclimatic frontier is the geographic boundary marking the range limit of a species. These boundaries are usually
determined by climatic factors.
TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION (7:00 PM)
- Scientific classification of life forms is called taxonomy.
- Taxonomical classification starts with Domain, the origin of life.
Three domains:
1. Archaea
2. Bacteria
3. Eukarya
Whittaker classified kingdoms:
1. Plantae
2. Animalia - the largest kingdom
3. Fungi
4. Protista
5. Monera
- Plantae is divided into Divisions.
Environment Class 01 Notes
- Animalia is divided into Phyla.
- Phylum: Same structural plan and common ancestry.
- Class: More specific characteristics than phylum.
- Example: Chordata (backbone), Mammalia (milk-producing), Reptilia (scaly, don't feed young).
- Order: More common traits than class.
- Example: Carnivora (flesh-eating mammals).
- Family: Similar external characteristics.
- Example: Felidae (cat family).
- Genus: Structurally related species, cannot interbreed.
- Species: Defined by gene pool, interbreeding, and offspring resembling parents.
ECOSYSTEM (7:40 PM)
- Biosphere is a spatial unit with components from lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
- Ecosystems unify living and non-living elements through interactions.
- Biodiversity focuses on the variety of organisms and habitats.
Three components of an ecosystem:
1. Energy (solar)
2. Biotic (living)
3. Abiotic (non-living)
- Biotic parts form a trophic structure.
- R.C. Lindeman gave the trophic structure concept.
- Max four trophic levels: Producers, Primary consumers, Secondary consumers, Tertiary consumers.
- Autotrophs (e.g., green plants) make food via photosynthesis.
- Chemotrophs use chemicals to produce food.
- Heterotrophs feed on others.
- Decomposers digest food externally and absorb nutrients.
- Saprophytes secrete liquid into dead tissue to absorb food.
Next Class Topics:
- Food chains and food webs
- Positive and negative interactions
- Keystone and endemic species
- Energy pathways
- Ecosystem productivity
- Abiotic components