Introduction to Ecology and Environment, Ecosystem

Ecology (from Greek: οἶκος, "house"; -λογία, "study of") is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount (biomass), number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems. Ecosystems are hierarchical systems that are organized into a graded series of regularly interacting and semi-independent parts (e.g., species) that aggregate into higher orders of complex integrated wholes (e.g., communities). Ecosystems are sustained by the biodiversity within them. Biodiversity is the full-scale of life and its processes, including genes, species and ecosystems forming lineages that integrate into a complex and regenerative spatial arrangement of types, forms, and interactions. Ecosystems create biophysical feedback mechanisms between living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components of the planet. These feedback loops regulate and sustain local communities, continental climate systems, and global biogeochemical cycles.

Ecology is a sub-discipline of biology, the study of life. The word "ecology" ("Ökologie") was coined in 1866 by the German scientist Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919).   Ancient philosophers of Greece,  including Hippocrates  and Aristotle, were among the earliest to record notes and observations on the natural history of plants and animals. Modern ecology branched out of natural history and matured into a more rigorous  science in the late 19th century. Charles Darwin's  evolutionary  treatise including the concept of adaptation, as it was introduced in 1859, is a pivotal cornerstone  in modern ecological  theory. Ecology is not synonymous with environment, environmentalism, natural history or environmental science. It is closely related to physiology, evolutionary biology, genetics and ethology. An understanding of how biodiversity affects ecological function is an important focus area in ecological studies. Ecologists seek to explain:

§  Life processes and adaptations

§  Distribution and abundance of organisms

§  The movement of materials and energy through living communities

§  The successional development of ecosystems, and

§  The abundance and distribution of biodiversity in context of the environment.

Ecology is a human science as well. There are many practical applications of ecology in conservation biology, wetland management, natural resource management (agriculture, forestry, fisheries), city planning (urban ecology), community health, economics, basic and applied science and human social interaction (human ecology). Ecosystems sustain every life-supporting function on the planet, including climate regulation, water filtration, soil formation (pedogenesis), food, fibers, medicines, erosion control, and many other natural features of scientific, historical or spiritual value.

Environment

1.      Environment can be defined as the natural surroundings of that organism which directly or indirectly influences the growth and development of the organism.

2.      Environment is defined as the surroundings in which an  organization operates  including  air, water,  land and  natural  resources,  flora, fauna, humans and their inter relations”– ISO Definition

3.      Environment is the sum total of all living and nonliving factors that compose the surroundings of man

          The word environment is derived from the French word “environ”. The meaning of the French word is somewhat related to “encompass”  “encircle” etc. It is believed to have been introduced into the subject by biologist Jacob Van Erkul  In the early 1900s.

COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT

Though air, water and land are the components of environment, the British and American scientists put in two different manners

Components of Environment as per British literature

Here the components are classified in terms of biotic and abiotic based upon life. The biotic components are further listed as producers, consumers and decomposers and the abiotic components are classified as climatic (water, air)and edaphic (land). It is from this component system that the study of structure of ecosystem was evolved.

2. Components of Environment as per American literature

As per American literature, the components of environment are listed as

1. Hydrosphere (Water)

2. Atmosphere (Air)

3. Lithosphere (Land)

4. Biosphere (Flora/Fauna/Microbes)

5. Anthrosphere (man made things)

ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEM

Environment, Ecology and Ecosystem are three different terms. But they are inter related. The natural surroundings of an organism, both living and physical is its environment. Let’s say you are an organism. Light, Water, Air, Land etc are your physical surroundings. Humans, Rats, Lizards, Dogs etc are your livingsurroundings. They are your environment. Scientists believe that naturalenvironment is a better word to use given the common use of the word environment..

Ecology is a branch of study of the interrelationships with the organism and its environment. It is a basic fact that the Earth includes a tremendous variety of living things which depend in some way on other living and nonliving things in its Environment. Definitely, as an organism, camel has a relationship with its environment. Humans have a working relationship with cows, chickens, bees etc. This study of how the existence and activity of organism influences its environment and the vice versa is ecology. Ecology comes from the GreekWords OIKOS (house or place where one lives) and LOGOS (study of) andwas formed by Ernst Haeckl in 1869. Thus Ecology means house study or Study of the “House” (the scientist referred the earth as house in all hisworks) in which we Live. Ecology involves collecting information aboutorganisms and their environment, looking for patterns, and seeking to explain these patterns. It can be confidently established that Environmental Science is more or less Ecology. The ecology that takes place in a defined area is called ecosystem. Say your relation with water, light, humans, dogs etc in a city, or in a forest, sea etc. Ecosystem is a functional unit of dynamic system of organisms interacting with each other (biotic) and the inanimate environment (abiotic).

.