Question

Differentiate between the different hierarchical levels at which ecology can focus on the interaction between organisms and their biotic and abiotic environment.

Identify the different types of studies and tools that may be used in ecology and their interdisciplinary nature

Answer 1

An ecosystem is all the living things (organisms or biotic parts) in an area interacting with all of the abiotic parts of the environment. Hierarchical levels at which ecology is organized and the difference in between them are:

Level 1- Organism – contains only the individual organism.

Level 2- Population – contains similar organisms, which form a population. A population is a group of individuals of the same species that live together in the same area at the same time.

Level 3- Community – contains different populations, which form a community. A community consists of all of the populations of different species that live and interact in an area.

Level 4- Ecosystem – contains a community and its abiotic environment which form an ecosystem. An ecosystem is made up of a community of organisms and its abiotic environment.

Level 5- Biosphere – contains all ecosystems, which form the biosphere. The biosphere is the part of the Earth where life exists. It includes every ecosystem.

The biotic part of the ecology is all of the organisms that live together and interact with one another. The abiotic part of the ecology includes all of the physical factors such as water, soil, light, and temperature that affect organisms living in a particular area. Different types of studies and tools that is used in ecology in measuring biotic factors include DNA molecular markers, estimating population size, identify the level of biomass in the community, etc. Different types of studies and tools that is used in ecology in measuring abiotic factors include thermometers, altimeters, pH meters, anemometer and many other devices.