Introduction to ecology
What does "ecology" mean?
The study of relationships between organisms and their environment.
Define ecological community.
Populations of different species interacting in a shared habitat.
Define ecosystem
A system of biotic and abiotic factors interacting in a specific area.
Define pollution
Presence of pollutants that cause ecological imbalance.
Define sustainable development
Development that meets present needs without compromising future generations.
Who coined the term ecology?
Ernst Haeckel (1869)
What is physiognomy?
The visual appearance of a community, shaped by dominant species.
What is primary productivity?
Organic matter produced by autotrophs via photosynthesis.
What % of freshwater is for agriculture?
70%.
What are the 3 R’s?
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Name one abiotic factor.
Examples: climate, soil, water, temperature.
Difference between primary & secondary succession?
Primary starts on bare substrate with no soil; secondary occurs where soil and some species remain.
Give an example of a trophic level.
Producers (plants), primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores).
Example of air pollution in India (2024).
New Delhi environmental alert due to fine particles from traffic and burning.
Name one international environmental agreement.
Montreal Protocol, Paris Agreement, CITES, etc.
What is an emergent property?
A characteristic that arises from interactions in a community, e.g., diversity or trophic structure.
Example of secondary succession in Mexico?
Forest regeneration in Sierra Tarahumara after fires.
What is ecological efficiency?
Only ~10% of energy transfers between trophic levels.
What is hazardous waste?
Waste with CRETIB characteristics (corrosive, reactive, explosive, toxic, flammable, biological‑infectious).
Example of Mexican law protecting environment.
Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y Protección al Ambiente.
Which scientist linked evolution & ecology?
Charles Darwin.
What is ecological restoration?
Human actions to accelerate recovery, e.g., mangrove rehabilitation in Cancun.
Name one megadiverse country besides Mexico.
Brazil, Colombia, China, Indonesia, etc.
Case of river contamination in Mexico.
Lerma‑Santiago River, linked to kidney disease and cancer.
What are the SDGs
17 global goals for sustainable development by 2030.