Aguilar BEED IV-1GE, Overview of Ecology - Docx Version 1

Carlos Hilado Memorial State College
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus
Author:
Aguilar, Shaira Inah T.
BEED IV-1
Topic/s:
Overview of Ecology
and Historical Foundations
Introduction
Ecology is more than just the understanding of the interrelationships between organisms and
their environment; it also has social, political, economic and technological dimensions. Similarly, ecology
is a study of evolutionary development of organisms, the biological productivity and energy flow in the
natural system.
In the topic/s Overview of Ecology and Historical Foundations, the definition of ecology and
ecosystem will be discussed as well as the level of ecological organization and the historical aspect of
ecology.
Content
What is Ecology?
The word ECOLOGY was given by German Biologist Ernst Hackle in 1869.
 derived from Greek words:
 ‘Oikos’ meaning house, habitat or place of living and
 ‘Logos’ meaning to study
 Literally, it means the study of Earth’s house
Historical Foundations of Ecology

o Theophrastus described the interrelation between organisms and their environment.
o 1866 – Ernst Haeckel a German Biologist coined the word “OECOLOGIE” for this relationship.
o Early man as a Hunter – they know how to make use of their environment.
o Man changed from nomad to settle- they learned to shape his environment to fit his needs.
o The rise of Agriculture – they were able to cultivate larger areas and plant crops years after year.
o In the Philippines – Numerous areas of virgin forest and land have been denuded under the guise
of economic and cultural development.
o 12th Century
 Albertus Magnus – a naturalist devoted his work on plants and their environment
o Late 16th Century
 Robert Boyle known as the Modern chemist related chemistry to vital processes in plant
and animals as low air pressure on various animal.
o Prior to the 17th century – Ecological knowledge began with the development of biology and
medicine as scientific disciplines
 Aristotle – the father of Biology, classified animals according to their habitats and habits
 Theophrastus – systematically studied plant types and forms in relations to altitude,
moisture and light exposure
 Hippocrates – the father of medicine emphasized environmental factors in his “On Airs,
water and Places”
o 17th century to 19th Century – Certain fields of study contributed to the development of ecology as
an independent discipline in the 20th century.
Overview of Ecology
 Ecology is defined as the study of interrelationship of different organisms with each other
and with their environment. It is concerned with the general principles that apply to both
animals and plants.
Classification of Ecology
 Based on study area:

1. Autecology: It deals with the study of an individual species of organisms and its population. The
ecologists study the behavior and adaptations of particular species to the environmental condition at every
stage of that individual’s life cycle. It is also called the Species ecology.
2. Synecology: It deals with the study of communities, their composition, their behavior and relation with
the environment. It is also called as Ecology of communities. It is further divided into 3 types: 1)
Population Ecology 2) Community Ecology 3) Ecosystem Ecology
 Based on Environment or habitat

1) Aquatic ecology: The study of interaction of organisms in the water
 Marine water ecology – Ocean, Deep Sea, Estuary
 Freshwater Ecology - Lotic (Running water) like River, Stream, Spring, and Lentic (Standing
Water) like Pond, Lake
2) Terrestrial Ecology: The study of interaction of organisms on land
a. Grassland Ecology
b. Forest Ecology
c. Desert Ecology
 Based on Advancement in the field of ecology

a. Productive ecology
b. Population ecology
c. Community ecology
d. Ecosystem ecology
e. Microbial ecology
f. Radiation ecology
g. Pollution ecology
h. Space ecology Forest Ecology
Ecosystem
The term Ecosystem was first proposed by A.G. Tansley in 1935. He defined it as the system resulting
from the interaction of all the living and non-living factors of the Environment.
Types of Ecosystem
1. Natural Ecosystems: These operate under natural conditions without any major interference by
man.
 Terrestrial Ecosystem: Forest, grassland, desert, etc.
 Aquatic Ecosystem:
a. Fresh water: Lotic (running water like spring, stream, or rivers) or Lentic (standing
water as lake, pond, pools, etc.)
b. Marine water: Such as deep bodies as ocean or shallow ones as Sea or an estuary.
2. Artificial (Man Engineered) Ecosystems: These are maintained artificially by man where by
addition of energy and planned manipulation, natural balance is disturbed regularly e.g., crop land
ecosystem.
Levels of Organization
 Organism - an individual belongs to a species. Species are groups of organisms so similar to one
another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring.
 Population - groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area. Ex:
pod of whales, pride of lions
 Community - consists of all the organisms living in one area. Ex: Pride of lions, hyenas, antelope,
grass, etc. What do all of these things have in common?
 Ecosystem - includes all of the organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic factors (nonliving)
with which they interact. Ex: pride of lions, rocks, water, grass, antelope, soil, sunlight, wind,
etc.
 Biomes - a particular physical environment that contains a characteristic assemblage of plants and
animals. Ex: tropical rain forest, tundra, desert, etc.
 Biosphere - contains the combined portions of the planet in which all of life exists. Includes the
land, water, and atmosphere.
Examples:
Organism Population
Community Ecosystem
Biomes Biosphere
Test Questions:
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. A German Biologist who coined the word “OECOLOGIE”
a. Albertus Magnus
b. Ernst Haeckel
c. Robert Boyle
d. Theophrastus
2. He was known as the Modern chemist who related chemistry to vital processes in plant and
animals as low air pressure on various animal.
a. Albertus Magnus
b. Ernst Haeckel
c. Robert Boyle
d. Theophrastus
3. He systematically studied plant types and forms in relations to altitude, moisture and light
exposure.
a. Hippocrates
b. Theophrastus
c. Aristotle
d. Robert Boyle
4. The father of medicine who emphasized environmental factors in his “On Airs, water and Places”
a. Aristotle
b. Theophrastus
c. Hippocrates
d. Robert Boyle
5. A naturalist who devoted his work on plants and their environment
a. Ernst Haeckel
b. Robert Boyle
c. Theophrastus
d. Albertus Magnus
6. It is defined as the study of interrelationship of different organisms with each other and with their
environment. It is concerned with the general principles that apply to both animals and plants.
a. Ecosystem
b. Ecology
c. Autecology
d. Synecology
7. These operate under natural conditions without any major interference by man.
a. Ecosystem
b. Natural Ecosystems
c. Artificial Ecosystems
d. Community
8. It is the system resulting from the interaction of all the living and non-living factors of the
Environment.
a. Ecosystem
b. Ecology
c. Autecology
d. Synecology
9. The groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
a. Organism
b. Population
c. Community
d. Biomes
10. It contains the combined portions of the planet in which all of life exists. Includes the land, water,
and atmosphere.
a. Biomes
b. Ecosystem
c. Community
d. Biosphere

Aguilar BEED IV-1GE, Overview of Ecology - Docx Version 1

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Carlos Hilado Memorial State College

Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus

Historical Foundations of Ecology

 Based on study area:

 Based on Environment or habitat

 Based on Advancement in the field of ecology

Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

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