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Mount Usu / Sarobetsu post-mined peatland
From left: Crater basin in 1986 and 2006. Cottongrass / Daylily
HOME > Lecture catalog / Research summary > Glossary > Biology > Ecology
The derivation of word 'ecology'Ecology (Oecology, Oekologie) = Eco + logy =
Oikos (=household or at home) + Logos (logics) Cf. economy: ecology surveys energy flow and economics surveys money flow; viz. "Economics" deals with functional housekeeping, and "Ecology" deals with environmental housekeeping. DefinitionThe totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environmentIf there are 100 ecologists, there are 100 kinds of definitions.
Classification (分類)Principles and concepts pertaining to the ecosystemScale or levelSynecology: Community ecology, ecosystem ecology, production ecology, etc.Autoecology: Population ecology, genecology, sociobiology, etc. MaterialsAnimal ecology, plant ecology, fungal ecology, bacterial ecology, etc.Study areaOcean ecology, terrestrial ecology, alpine ecology, wetland ecology, etc. |
[Lectures: environmental conservation, environmental sicences, HUSTEP]
Hierarchy (階層)The focus of ecology is on the levels of organization from organisms to ecosystems (or nature).Table. Levels of organization spectrum. Ecology focuses on the top-and portion of the spectrum; viz. the levels of organization from organisms to ecosystems (modified from Odum 1971 & Krebs 2000). Any more level aids in the study of another level, but never completely explains the phenomena occurring at that level.
Top-down
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A study of the relationships of animals to their environments ☛ Estimation of population density (個体数推定) Def. territoriality (縄張り制): the pattern of behavior associated with defending a territory from others, especially conspecifics 1934 Saint-Quentin: monitored dragonflies by marking method
defending a hunting territory (ein Jagdrevier)
territorial behavior: interaction starting once the separation ≤ 20 cm
territories acquired in order of individual maturity Def. Territory (縄張り): any defended area by an organism or a group of similar organisms (Noble 1939) Purposes: mating, nesting, roosting, feeding, etc. 1868 Altum: Der Vogel und seinLebendiscovered territories established by birds 1903 Moffat: firstly used the term, territory1930 Howard: employed as a term suggestive of defense-related actions 1947 Armstrong: territory used only for intra-specific interactions 1956 Hinde: territory observed in inter-specific interactions However, territory reflects intraspecific interactions should be emphasized Def. Home range (s.s., 行動圏): not associated with aggressive behaviour, as seen in territory (parts of the home range may be defended) 1940/1943 Burt: proposed that teritorry is a part of home rangeterritory = defense-related actions can be seen |
Def. Group (群れ): a set of individuals-usually of the same species-that maintain spatial proximity and engage in social interactions over time Summary as general use:Herd: a group of herbivorous animals in a species living and feeding together Ex. Elephants, deer and moose, giraffes (also used tower), hippo, whales, antelope. Sea urchins Pride: lions, peacoks (also used muster and ostentation)Pack: dogs, including coyotes, wolves and hounds, weasels Clowder: cats (kindle for kittens) - not so common Litter: kittens, uppies and pigles (at one time) Troop: monkeys, apesFlock: brids, including geese. livestock such as goats and sheep
Murder: crows and ravens. Parliament: owls. Gang: turkeys. Army: frogs, ants School (shoal): fish Herd behavior: the behavior of individuals in a group acting collectively without centralized direction ☛ Economics (Dominance) hierarchy (順位制)Def. a structured ranking system within a social group, where individuals are organized based on their ability to assert control over others - typically through aggression, intimidation or ritualized displays
Ex. boss > sub-boss > males > … reflecting asymmetries in aggression, submission, or access to resources 1913 Schjelderup-Ebbe: pecking order1946 Douglis: Homarus americanus (American lobster) ranked structure with multiple levels, shown by lab-experiment 1953 Bovbjerg: Orconectes viridis - linear rank |
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Def. (in ecology): a group of individuals in the same species interacting and coexisting within a shared environment
Interaction: cooperation, competition, and various forms of social organization that influence survival and reproduction |
Def. Parental care (子育て): parental investment being made to the evolutionary fitness of offspring Paternal care (父親保育), by the father Maternal care (母親保育), by the mother Biparental care (両親保育), by the parents Alloparental care (他子保育), by individuals other than the biological parents of an offspring |
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1959 Butenandt AFJ (1903-1995): C16H30O extracted from Bombyx mori
CH3(CH2)2CH=CHCH=CH(CH2)8CH2OH, named bombykol → |
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Structure and dynamics of urban environments
urban ecosystem - bioecological approach |