Ecology Lecture Notes

Introduction to the Course

• Instructor: Dr. Ancora Vidya, Indian Forest Service
• Course Structure: 12 modules, 3 lectures each
• First Module: Introduction to Ecology
  • Lecture 1: Introduction to the Course
  • Lecture 2: Historical Overview of Ecology
  • Lecture 3: Ecology and Evolution

Story Illustrations

• Miss X's Village Incident
  • Beautiful village with diverse bird species
  • Spraying insecticides for mosquitoes leads to bird deaths
  • Highlights indirect effects of chemicals on the ecosystem
• PCBs in Breast Milk of Inuit Women
  • High levels found in Inuit women in Arctic Quebec
  • Chemicals travel despite isolation of the region
  • Ecological and human health concerns

Defining Ecology

• Roots: Greek words - Oikos (home) and Logos (study)
• Definition: Scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment
  • Interactions within species (intraspecific) and between species (interspecific)

Types of Ecology

• Human Ecology: Study of human populations
• Population Ecology: Study of species populations
• Marine Ecology: Study of marine organisms
• Forest Ecology: Study of forest organisms
• Lake Ecology: Study of lake organisms

Key Concepts

• Interactions: Study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment
• Distribution and Abundance: Factors determining where and how many organisms live
• Example: Mountain zones with varying temperatures show different organisms at different levels

Factors in Ecology

• Physical Factors:
  • Temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, soil depth, sunlight
  • Marine contexts: salinity, sediment load, water speed
• Biological Factors (Biotic):
  • Food availability, presence of predators, parasites, diseases

Study Areas in Ecology

• Habitats: Study of natural homes or abodes of organisms
• Biodiversity: Variety and variability of organisms in different habitats
• Population Interactions: How individuals of the same species interact
• Community Interactions: Interactions between different species
• Effects of Changes: Impact of human activities like desertification

Approaches to Ecology

1. Theoretical Approach:
   • Uses equations and models to understand interactions
   • Example: Predator-prey dynamics
2. Laboratory Approach:
   • Formulates and tests hypotheses through experiments
   • Example: Studying factors limiting algae population in a pond
3. Field Approach:
   • Observations in natural settings
   • Example: Longer-Chital association in nature

Course Outline

• Module 1: Introduction, Historical Overview, Ecology and Evolution
• Module 2: Ecological Structure - Levels of Organization, Abundance and Distribution
• Module 3: Ecological Interactions - Positive and Negative Interactions, Behavioral Ecology
• Module 4: Ecological Energetics - Food Chains, Primary Production, Nutrient Cycles
• Module 5: Population Ecology - Parameters, Demographics, Growth and Regulation
• Module 6: Community Ecology - Community Nature and Parameters, Succession
• Module 7: Distribution and Abundance - Analysis, Regulation, Push and Pull Factors
• Module 8: Management of Threatened Species - In-situ and Ex-situ Conservation
• Module 9: Human Ecology - Population Growth, Food Requirements, Sustainable Development
• Module 10: Ecology of Change - Climate Change, Plastics, Oil Spills
• Module 11: Applied Ecology - Optimum Yield, Biological Control, Pollution Management
• Module 12: Revision of all topics

Assessment

• Continuous Assessment: Assignments (MCQs based on weekly topics)
• Final Exam:
  • Multiple Choice Questions (computer-based)
  • Three types of questions: Recall, Assignment-based, Open-type

Key Takeaways

• Ecology is a comprehensive study of how organisms interact with each other and their environments.
• There are multiple approaches to studying ecology: theoretical, laboratory, and field-based.
• The course will cover a wide range of topics including population dynamics, ecological structures, human impacts, and conservation strategies.