What do ecology study

Fortunately, researchers have used ecological studies to advise on the effects land-conversion has on native species. Mangroves play a number of ecological roles from fixing sediments to acting as nursery site for young fish. Mangrove forests are also a source of food, medicine and firewood for local populations.

Support our mission and help develop the next generation of ecologists by donating to the British Ecological Society. We use cookies to make our website work properly and get anonymous information about how the site is used. Diversity and the BES What is ecology?

What is ecology? Like what we stand for? Share this on. Choose wisely and align your study programme with the goals you want to achieve. To obtain a PhD degree you will undertake a significant amount of academic research in an area of your choice. Most PhD programmes last at least three years and require you to work independently, meeting high academic standards. Going for an Ecology PhD is not a decision you should make lightly.

And you should make sure that whichever area of Ecology you want to focus on relates to things you learnt and explored during your Bachelors and Masters. University rankings can be of help when choosing a university. One helpful subject-focused overview is provided in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities' Ecology ranking. Numerous factors are relevant when deciding which university is the right choice to study Ecology. University rankings can serve as an inspiration , especially subject rankings for Ecology, Biology, Environmental Sciences or related discipline.

If you have an idea of the career you want, then look for a university that has connections to that career path. For example, if you want a career working in environmental protection, then find universities that are actively involved in green initiatives. If you already have an idea what aspects of Ecology you are most interested in, this may also narrow down the locations where you should study. Want to focus on marine ecology? Choose a university close to the sea! Want to be involved in forest management?

Choose one in a less urban area with access to forests. If you are considering a career in academia, it is also a good idea to look at the kinds of research projects the university is involved in, and what current PhD students are working on.

Biology is the umbrella term for the study of all aspects of living organisms. From processes at the cellular level, to morphology, physiology, behaviour, and everything in between. Ecology is the branch of Biology that studies how an organism interacts with the environment and how the environment impacts the organism. Unlike Ecology, a Biology degree curriculum generally will not include abiotic topics such as geography, the climate, or the human impact on biological organisms and systems.

If you want to make a very real impact on the natural world, then Ecology is a great choice for you! Aa Aa Aa. The Web of Life. Scientists estimate that there are between five to fifty million species of organisms on Earth, of which less than two million have been officially named May Many organisms are small: including microbes that inhabit almost every crevice of the Earth; tiny worms that help build soils; and insects that spend their entire lives in tree tops.

Alongside these small denizens coexist larger, flashier species that have drawn human attention throughout the ages: multicellular plants and fungi, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fellow mammals. These species, as well as many smaller ones, are consumers that depend for sustenance on energetic biochemical compounds generated from light energy by photosynthesizing producer species, or from inorganic chemical reactions by chemosynthetic species.

The diversity of producer species, on which all life depends, is immense, and ranges from cyanobacteria to towering trees in tropical and temperate rainforests. Nutrients from terrestrial systems wash into lakes and oceans, where additional primary production by phytoplankton and algae helps support large communities of zooplankton, fish, sea mammals, and birds.

Over time, nutrients are returned from the oceans to the land through the movements of organisms, atmospheric gaseous exchange, or slower geological processes, such as the uplift of ocean sediments Schlesinger Approaches to Ecology. Figure 1: A flock of Ibis visits a flooded rice field in California. Years of ecological research have helped rice farmers adopt cropping strategies that simultaneously promote rice production and expand habitat for waterfowl.

The Environment Shapes Organisms. Figure 4: Gibbon demonstrating the use of flexible forelimbs for swinging in trees. Organisms Shape the Environment. References and Recommended Reading Beerling, D. Burger, W. Flowers: How They Changed the World.

Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, Cowen, R. History of Life. Gaston, K. Global patterns in biodiversity. May, R. How many species are there on Earth? Sea Otters. Article History Close. Share Cancel. Revoke Cancel. Keywords Keywords for this Article. Save Cancel. Flag Inappropriate The Content is: Objectionable.

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