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Ecology BIO 340

Ecology BIO 340. What is Ecology The scientific study of the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. Introduction. What is not ecology?. Biological Disciplines Relating To Ecological Study. PHYSIOLOGY. BEHAVIOR. GENETICS. Applied Ecology; Management.

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Ecology BIO 340

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  1. Ecology BIO 340 • What is Ecology • The scientific study of the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms

  2. Introduction • What is not ecology?

  3. Biological Disciplines Relating To Ecological Study PHYSIOLOGY BEHAVIOR GENETICS Applied Ecology; Management EVOLUTION

  4. 18th Century Thomas Malthus Exponential Growth

  5. 19th Century Natural History Human Demography

  6. Ernst Haeckel • Defined “ecology” • Coined phrase “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny” • Studied Foraminiferans • Controversial ideas

  7. 20th Century • Lotka & Volterra (1920’s) • Model population growth • Gause (1920’s) • Manipulative Experiments

  8. 20th Century • Leopold (1930’s) • Natural Resources • MacArthur (1960’s) • Mathematical Ecology • Geographical Ecology

  9. 20th Century • Lindeman (1942) • Trophic Dynamics • Hutchinson (1950’s) • Niche Concept

  10. 20th & 21st Century ? • Charles Krebs • Populations/Cycles • Monica Turner • Landscape • Ecology • BIO 340 Student

  11. Introduction • Major Questions • Where are organisms found? • Where aren’t organisms found?

  12. Introduction • Major questions • How many are found there?

  13. Introduction • Major questions • Why are organisms found here and not there? alvar

  14. Introduction • Levels to ask questions • Individuals • Behavior • Physiology

  15. Introduction • Levels to ask questions • Populations • Change in size • Temporal & Spatial

  16. Introduction • Levels to ask questions • Communities • Biotic interactions

  17. Introduction • Levels to ask questions • Ecosystems • Community & Physical Environment

  18. Introduction • Levels to ask questions • Landscapes • Spatial patterns

  19. Introduction • Levels to ask questions • Biosphere

  20. Organization of Biological World INCREASED KNOWLEDGE Biosphere Landscape Ecosystem Community Population Individual Organ Tissue Cell Organelle Atom INCREASED COMPLEXITY

  21. Types of Ecological Study • AUTECOLOGY • Study of individuals • Physiology /Environment

  22. Types of Ecological Study • SYNECOLOGY • Study of groups of organisms • Community level and above

  23. Introduction • How to look at a question • Proximate explanation

  24. Introduction • How to look at a question • Ultimate explanation “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution” Theodosius Dobzhansky

  25. Introduction • Major Advances • Mathematical Models

  26. Introduction • Major Advances • Evolution

  27. Introduction • Major Advances • Hypothesis Testing • Testing ideas about how the natural world works • A hypothesis is developed to explain an observed phenomenon. • Example: giraffes have long necks because the long necks enable them to reach food that is unavailable to others.

  28. Testing Ideas about How the Natural World Works • Null Hypothesis • Hypothesis of no difference • Example: The length of a giraffe’s neck does not influence the height at which it forages. • Alternative Hypothesis • Example: The length of a giraffe’s neck does influence the height at which it forages.

  29. Most feeding is done below neck height. Males Females 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 Feeding height (meters) 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 20 40 0 20 40 Percentage of feeding bites

  30. Testing Ideas about How the Natural World Works • Null Hypothesis • Hypothesis of no difference • Example: The length of a giraffe’s neck does not influence the height at which it forages. ACCEPT • Alternative Hypothesis • Example: The length of a giraffe’s neck does influence the height at which it forages. REJECT

  31. Testing Ideas about How the Natural World Works • Null Hypothesis • Hypothesis of no difference • Example: The length of a giraffe’s neck does not influence the height at which it forages. ACCEPT • So why do they have such long necks? • Alternative hypotheses • suggest a different explanation • Example: giraffes have long necks because long necks are effective weapons for one male against another during mating (Simmons and Scheepers).

  32. Hypothesis Testing and Experimentation • Testing Ideas about How the Natural World Works • The predictions made by each hypothesis are determined • Observations are made and/or an experiment is designed to obtain data regarding the predictions

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