• Write a critical note on the principles of ecobalance.
Ans : By its very nature, ecology is a rnultidisciplinary science. It involves plant and animal biology, taxonomy, physiology, genetics, behavioral science, meteorology, pedology, geology, sociology, anthropology, physics, chemistry, mathematics and electronics. Often, it is very difficult to draw a sharp line between ecology and any of the above disciplines since all impinge on it. Exactly the same situation exists also within ecology, In order to understand the interactions between the organism and the environment, or between organisms, it is often difficult to separate behavior from physiology, adaptation from evolution and genetics, or animal ecology from plant ecology.
Historically, ecology developed along two lines, viz., the study of plants (plant ecology) and the study of animals ( animal ecology ). Plant ecology focuses on the relationship of plants to other plants and their environment. The approach of plant ecology is largely descriptive of the vegetational and floristic composition of an area and usually ignores the influence of animals on the plants. Animal ecology, deals with the study of population dynamics, population distribution, animal behavior and the relationships of animals and their environment. Because animals depend upon plants for food and shelter, animal ecology cannot be fully understood without a considerable background of plant ecology. This is particularly true in the areas of applied ecology like wildlife management.
Both plant and animal ecology may be approached as the study of the interrelations of an individual organism with its environment ( autecology ), or as the study of groups of organisms ( synecology ). In many ways, autecology is the classical study of ecology, which is experimental and inductive. Because autecology is usually concerned with the relationship of an organism to one or more variables like humidity, light, salinity or nutrient levels, it is easily quantified and lends itself to experimental design both in the laboratory and in the field. Autocology has, therefore, borrowed experimental techniques from physics, chemistry and physiology.
Synecology, is philosophical and deductive in nature. It is largely descriptive and not easily quantified. Some of the important concepts developed by synecology are those concerned with nutrient cycles, energy budgets and ecosystern developments. Synecology has strong ties with geology, meteorology and cultural anthropology. Synecology may be subdivided according to environmental types, e.g., terrestrial oraquatic ecology. Terrestrial ecology maybe further subdivided into forest, grassland, desert and arctic ecology. It concerns with such aspects of terrestrial ecosysterms as microclimate, soil chemistry, soil fauna, hydrologic cycles, ecogenetics and productivity. Terrestrial ecosystems are more influenced by organism and arc subject to much wider environmental fluctuations than aquatic ecosystems. Because the physical environment is so important in controlling the aquatic ecosystern, considerable attention is paid to the chemical and physical characteristics of the ecosystem, such as the current and the chemical composition of the water. By convention, aquatic ecology (known as limnology) is limited to stream ecology and lake ecology. Stream ecology concerns life inflowing waters, while lake ecology deals with life in relatively still water. Marine ecology, on the other hand, concerns life in open seas and estuaries.
Other ecological approaches concern specialized areas. The study of the geographic distribution of plants and animals is known as ecological plant and animal geography. The study of population growth and mortality, is known as population ecology. The study of the genetics and ecology of local races and distinct species is called ecological genetics. The study of the behavioral responses of animals to their environment is known as behavioral ecology. Investigations of the interactions between the physical environment and the organism belong to ecoclimatology and physiological ecology. The study of the groups of organisms is known as community ecology. The part of ecology concerned with the analysis and understanding of the structure and function ofecosystems by using applied mathematics, mathematical models and computer programs is known as systems ecology. Applied ecology, on the other hand, is concerned with the applications of ecological principles to the management of natural resources, agricultural production and problems of environmental pollution.
7.2 Write a short note on biosphere cycles.
Ans: The bio-sphere cycle may be defined as “the flow of various elements of the biosphere from environment to the organisms i.e., plants and elements and vice-versa.” In soil 90% of the nitrogen is organic obtained from decay of dead plants (biomass), animals and plants residue, faeces and urine of animals etc. It is hydrolyzed ammonium ion (NH4+)which is oxidized to no33. The bio-sphere cycle are broadly of three types as mentioned below :
1. Hydrological cycle 2. Gaseous cycle 3. Sedimentary cycle
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