Community Ecology Community Ecology Looks at The Interactions

Community Ecology
Community ecology looks at the interactions

between populations of organisms.
Community ecologists study how the various
species in a community interact with each
other. A community is made up of populations
of different species, or animals, plants, fungi,
and bacteria, living in the same area. In
Nanortalik, the Inuit people share their land
with polar bears, whales, seals, marine birds
such as puffins, fish, crabs, willow trees, and
lichens, among others. Together, these
populations form a biological community,
interacting and sharing natural resources.
Habitat
A habitat is a place where an organism makes

its home. A habitat meets all the environmental
conditions an organism needs to survive. For
an animal, that means everything it needs to
find and gather food, select a mate, and
successfully reproduce.For a plant, a good
habitat must provide the right combination of
light, air, water, and soil. For example,
the prickly pear cactus, which is adapted for
sandy soil, dry climates, and bright sunlight,
grows well in desert areas like the Sonoran
Desert in northwest Mexico. It would
not thrive in wet, cool areas with a large
amount of overcast (shady) weather, like the
U.S. states of Oregon or Washington.
The main components of a habitat are shelter, water, food, and space. A habitat is said to have
a suitable arrangement when it has the correct amount of all of these. Sometimes, a habitat can
meet some components of a suitable arrangement, but not all.
Niche
An ecological niche is the role and

position a species has in its environment;
how it meets its needs for food and shelter,
how it survives, and how it reproduces. A species' niche includes all of its interactions with the
biotic and abiotic factors of its environment. Biotic factors are living things, while abiotic
factors are nonliving things. It is advantageous for a species to occupy a unique niche in an
ecosystem because it reduces the amount of competition for resources that species will
encounter.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is a term used to describe the

enormous variety of life on Earth. It can be
used more specifically to refer to all of
the species in one region or ecosystem.
Biodiversity refers to every living thing,
including plants, bacteria, animals, and
humans. Scientists have estimated that there
are around 8.7 million species of plants and
animals in existence. However, only around
1.2 million species have been identified and
described so far, most of which are insects.
This means that millions of other organisms
remain a complete mystery.
Much of the Earth’s biodiversity, however, is in jeopardy due to human consumption and other

activities that disturb and even destroy ecosystems. Pollution, climate change, and population
growth are all threats to biodiversity. These threats have caused an unprecedented rise in the
rate of species extinction. Some scientists estimate that half of all species on Earth will be wiped
out within the next century. Conservation efforts are necessary to preserve biodiversity and
protect endangered species and their habitats.
Interrelationships among Plants and Animals
Plants and animals evolved together, so it is not surprising that there are many complex
plant/animal relationships. This process of interdependent evolution of two or more species is
called coevolution. Some relationships are beneficial to both parties, while others have a clear
benefit for one at the expense, or even death, of the other. Four important plant/animal
interactions are explored here: plant/herbivore, plant/pollinator, plant/disperser, and other
examples of mutualism.
PLANT/HERBIVORE RELATIONSHIPS
Herbivory is an interaction in which a plant or portions of the plant are consumed by an animal.
At the microscopic scale, herbivory includes the bacteria and fungi that cause disease as they
feed on plant tissue. Microbes that break down dead plant tissue are also specialized
herbivores. Browsers and grazers, from aphids and caterpillars to deer and bison, are more
familiar herbivores. Even insects and animals that eat seeds are considered herbivores.
PLANTS AND THEIR POLLINATORS
Pollination is the transfer of the pollen from one flower to the stigma, or female reproductive
organ, of another, which results in fertilization and, ultimately, the formation of seeds. The
earliest plants were pollinated by wind, and for some modern plants this is still the most
expedient method. Many trees, all grasses, and plants with inconspicuous flowers are designed
for wind pollination. Bright, showy flowers evolved for another purpose—to attract a pollinator.
PLANTS AND THEIR DISPERSERS
No two plants can occupy the same spot. In order to have room to grow, seeds must be
dispersed away from the parent plant. Seed dispersal is accomplished by a variety of means,
including wind, water, and animals. Animal dispersal is accomplished by two different methods:
ingestion and hitch-hiking. Animals consume a wide variety of fruits, and in so doing disperse
the seeds in their droppings. Many seeds benefit not only from the dispersal, but the trip through
the intestine as well. Digestive acids scarify seeds, helping them to break out of thick seed
coats.
MUTUALISM
Mutualism is an obligate interaction between organisms that requires contributions from both
organisms and in which both benefit. There are many examples in nature. Pollination and
dispersal, discussed above, are mutualistic because both plant and pollinator or disperser
benefit from the relationship. The relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and many higher
plants is another common example of mutualism. The bodies of the fungi, called hyphae, live on
or in the tissues of plants, and make nutrients available for the plants to absorb. The plants
provide the fungi with amino acids and other complex compounds.
Ecological Succession
Ecological succession is a series
of progressive changes in the
species that make up a community
over time. Ecologists usually
identify two types of succession,
which differ in their starting points:
 In primary succession,
newly exposed or newly formed rock is colonized by living things for the first time.
o For example, primary succession may take place following the eruption of
volcanoes, such as those on the Big Island of Hawaii. As lava flows into the
ocean, new rock is formed. On the Big Island, approximately 32 acres of land are
added each year.
 In secondary succession, an area that was previously occupied by living things is
disturbed, then re-colonized following the disturbance.
 A classic example of secondary succession occurs in oak and hickory forests cleared by
wildfire. Wildfires will burn most vegetation and kill animals unable to flee the area. Their
nutrients, however, are returned to the ground in the form of ash. Since a disturbed area
already has nutrient-rich soil, it can be recolonized much more quickly than the bare rock
of primary succession.
REFERENCES:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/community-ecology-definition-types-quiz.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/habitat/
https://study.com/academy/lesson/ecological-niche-definition-lesson-quiz.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/biodiversity/
https://www.bbg.org/gardening/article/plant_animal_relationships
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/ecology/community-structure-and-
diversity/a/ecological-succession

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Community Ecology

Community ecology looks at the interactions

A habitat is a place where an organism makes

An ecological niche is the role and

Biodiversity is a term used to describe the

Much of the Earth’s biodiversity, however, is in jeopardy due to human consumption and other

Interrelationships among Plants and Animals

PLANTS AND THEIR POLLINATORS

PLANTS AND THEIR DISPERSERS

of progressive changes in the

species that make up a community

over time. Ecologists usually

identify two types of succession,

which differ in their starting points:

added each year.

 In secondary succession, an area that was previously occupied by living things is

disturbed, then re-colonized following the disturbance.

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