Ecology is the study of how living organisms interact with each other and their environment. It focuses on the relationships between plants, animals, microorganisms, and their surroundings, including air, water, and land. Ecology is essential because it helps us understand how ecosystems function and how human activities impact nature.
Key Concepts in Ecology
Ecosystems – A system where living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements interact. Examples:
Forests (trees, animals, soil, air)
Oceans (fish, coral reefs, water, sunlight)
Grasslands (herbivores, predators, weather)
Biodiversity – The variety of life on Earth, including different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. Greater biodiversity makes ecosystems more resilient.
Food Chains & Food Webs –
Producers (plants) convert sunlight into energy.
Consumers (herbivores & carnivores) eat plants or other animals.
Decomposers (bacteria, fungi) break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients.
Natural Cycles – Essential cycles that sustain life:
Water Cycle – Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
Carbon Cycle – Movement of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, plants, and animals.
Nitrogen Cycle – How nitrogen moves through soil, plants, and the air.
https://www.biomassthermal.org