Ecology: What is, its branches and what do each study study

Given its scope, ecology can Study living organisms, compare them with each other or relate them to the components of their habitat. One of the greatest interests of ecology is that of the study of the variation, distribution and abundance of certain organisms and their collaboration or competence relationships between them or between ecosystems. In this way, ecology is important for Understand the evolution and life of our planetmore than the environment itself. The development of ecology also has an impact on the conservation and well -being of the human being as a species.

Ecology can be studied at several levels, covering from the individual base of each organism, to the study of ecosystems or biosphere, through population and community levels. Thus the different Ecology branches.

We recommend you take a look at this other ecology article about the history of ecology.

Hierarchical ecology

Hierarchical ecology is responsible for studying the organization of biological beings. Hierarchical ecology analyzes the different orders in which living beings are classified, from atoms to cells, their tissues, organs, organisms, populations, ecosystems and, finally, the biosphere.

Individual ecology

Study organisms individually and also compare them with other living beings to observe similarities and differences between them. In addition, it analyzes the vital features of the species, reproductive systems, metabolic processes and other systems.

This type of ecology is responsible, for example, to determine how much a turtle lives, how is its way of life or when it is and how much its reproductive cycle lasts.

Population ecology

This branch takes care of studying the population of a species, its life cycle, its behavior and their relationships with other species. Population ecology analyzes the behavior of several species that inhabit the same habitat.

This study is carried out taking into account variables such as births, emigration, immigration and deaths. For example, this branch is the one that deals with the study of the behavior of a kind of birds and analyzing their trips at different times of the year.

Community ecology

Community ecology studies a set of species and its interactions within the same environment. For example, community ecology is the branch responsible for the study of predator-prison dynamics and competition dynamics within an ecosystem. In this field, for example, food networks or trophic relationships enter.

Ecosystem ecology

Ecosystem ecology is responsible for studying the interactions between the species and the ecosystem in which they live, as well as biotopes, among other related aspects. This is the branch responsible for measuring the flows of existing elements in nature such as phosphorus, magnesium or iron. For example, an organic matter producing plant needs a decomposing organism, which can be a fungus or a bacterium.

Approach more to this theme with this other ecology article about what an ecosystem is.

Behavioral ecology

This branch of ecology studies the behavior of organisms within their habitat. For example, this branch studies behavioral characteristics such as hunting, camouflage, rest, whether a climb or if it escapes predators.

• Cognitive Ecology: This branch studies the way in which a species perceives its environment and how the environment influences its behavior.
• Social ecology: This branch studies the species of eusocial animals, that is, those species that form complex societies where each individual plays a specific role for the common good, as is the case of humans or ants. The factors studied by these societies are coexistence, the selection of links, interactions to achieve mutual benefits or survival.
• Coevolution: This branch studies the interaction between two species associated with each other by a reciprocal good. As an example, we have the association of fungi and plants in mycorrhizae, the bacteria of the digestive system of humans to improve digestive processes or the association between photosynthetic algae and fungi in the lichens.

Molecular ecology

This branch of ecology uses advances in the fields of genetics or molecular biology to study how it relates to the environment.

Biogeographic ecology

This branch of ecology studies the geographical distribution of species and how they change over time, that is, their evolution throughout their existence.

To finish and expand more information about the world of ecology, we indicate some of the Names of famous ecologists What should know:

• González Bernáldez, Fernando
• Margalef, Ramón
• Ernst Haeckel
• ODUM, Eugene P.
• Miguel Ángel de Quevedo and Zubieta

Now that you know what ecology, its branches and what they study is, we recommend you read this other article about what is environmental and its difference with ecology and this other about integral ecology: what is and examples.

If you want to read more articles similar to Ecology: What is, its branches and what do each study studywe recommend that you enter our category of other ecology.