Tag: basics of ecology

The basic unit of ecological hierarchy is individual because a community starts building from an individual which grows onto form an entire ecosystem. 

The biosphere is made up of the parts of Earth where life exists, but there is uneven distribution of living organisms in the biosphere. The biosphere extends from the deepest root systems of trees, to the dark environment of ocean trenches, to lush rain forests and high mountains.
Scientists describe the Earth in terms of spheres - Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere. Since life exists on the ground, in the air, and in the water, biosphere overlaps all these spheres. Biosphere has existed for about 3.5 billion years.

A.An organism is an individual living thing. It can be as simple as a single-celled Amoeba or it can be as complex as a human being.
B.A tissue is a collection of structurally similar cells acting together to perform a specific function.
C.An organelle is a small constituent of a cell that has a specific function. For example, mitochondria (called as powerhouse of the cell) aids in generating energy for cell functions.
D.An organ is a group of tissues that performs a specific function. For example, stomach and kidney are organs. 

The biosphere is a global ecosystem composed of living organisms (biotic) and the nonliving (abiotic) factors from which they derive energy and nutrients. It is a relatively thin life-supporting stratum of Earth's surface, extending from a few kilometres into the atmosphere to the deep-sea vents of the ocean. 

All the biotic and the abiotic components together form biosphere or ecosystem. A biosphere is composed of all living organisms and nonliving things. The population is the number of individuals in a given area. Biome includes all flora and fauna. A trophic level is defined as the position of an individual in the food chain. So, the correct answer is option C.

The biosphere is the biological component of earth systems, which also include the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, etc. The biosphere includes all living organisms on earth, together with the dead organic matter produced by them. 

The term biocoenosis means ecological community. It was coined by Carl Mobius. It describes an association of populations of different species living together in a defined habitat with some degree of interdependence and community ecology is the description and analysis of patterns and processes within the community.

The different populations of the same organism present in particular geographical areas are called as local populations or demes. A local population adapted genetically to its particular environment is called as ecotype. There may be several ecotypes of the same organism, which show variations amongst them.

Biological or biotic community is an assemblage of populations of different species of bacteria, fungi, plants and animals, which live in a particular area and interact with one another through competition, predation, mutualism etc. Each biotic community has a specific composition and structure. 

Synecology is the ecological study of  interactions between species in communities.