RESUME 3 : Resources, Condition, and Indicator Organism

As the biological studies develop many scientifics question come to the surface. One of the most common question that comes to the ecologist’s mind is ‘what are the factors that determine the distibution and abundance of species ?’. So in this resume will be discussed the determining factors of distribution and abundace of species.  There are two mains factor, which are, tolerance of conditions, and the availibility of cerain resources. Conditions can be defined as every abiotic component influencing the organism, their surrounding, such as air, dilute O₂ in water, temprature, light and so on. While resources can be defined as something needed by the organism, such as nutrients, food, water, and even money.

For the example in studying the proper condition and resources for the distribution and abundace of species, let’s take a closer look on our small friend, tarsius. The existance of tarsius is a kind of interesting topic to e discussed nowadays. Tarsius mainly found in the Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Philipines. Experts suggest that tarsius only dwell in the dense forest, only in spesific forest which consist only high-three with many branches. Since tarsius belongs to noctrunal animal, they hunt on bugs, and other insects during the night falls. So on of  the condition that influence the abundat and the distribution of tarsius is the light while the resources are the forest density and the food availibility.

One of the most important fact that there will be always limiting the existance of such organism, called limiting factor. It can control population, decreasing or even extending the diversity. For example as we take a journey to the far Egypt, we can see the vast-hot-desperating dessert. There are only several population strives the condition. The extreme condition of dessert such the high temprature and the high intensity of sunlight become the limiting factor for some specieses. There only be several organism that can well-adapt survive cactus, and camel. Both have a specials form of adaptation in order to conserve water as they live.

And so the implication of limiting factors can be used for the indicator of certain condition. For example the pressence of some bacteria or other organism can reflect the certain resources due to their environmental. Certain bacteria can be used as indicator organisms in particular situation. The presence of bacteria in human feces, coliform bacteria, for example E coli, can be used for fecal contamintaion indicator.

Resume 2 : Scope of Ecology

    SCOPE OF ECOLOGY

     

     Ecology as one of biology branch has a very broad scope from the lowest organismal ecology, until the highest global ecology. In other word, ecology studies every level of organization, and of course every level of organization has their own scientific problem. The major ecology sub-discipline and their problems are such mentioned below

·         Global Ecology

The biosphere is the global ecosystem. Global ecology examines how the regional exchange of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple landscape.

·         Landscape Ecology

A landscape or a seascape, is a mosaic of connected ecosystem. Reasearch in landscape ecology focuses on the factors controlling exchang of nergy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystem.

·         Ecosystem Ecology

An ecosystem is the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which those organisms interact. Ecosystem ecology emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and the environment.

·         Community Ecology

A community is a group of population of different species in an area. Community ecology examines the interaction between species, such as predation, competition, affect the community structure and organization.

·         Population Ecology

A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in an area. Population ecology analyzes factors that affect popullation size and how and why it changes through time

·         Organismal Ecology

    Organismal ecology, ehich includes the subdisciplines of physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology, is concerned with how an organis’s structure, physiology, and behavior meet the challanges posed by its environment

Ecology is a multi-disciplinary science, drawing on many other branches of science. Ecology relations are not restricted in the the natural science itsel but also related with the social science. For example the environmental problem on fresh hygine water availibility related to the enermous growth of human in a certain area. The problem can be solved with population ecology and helped with the sociobiology and geography. Ecologist sociobiologist and geographist may search the major priority to solve the water availibility while ecologist may search the way out to inhibit the fast growth of population. Another case that include ecology and another science may be found in the research about the checkerboard patterns, interspesific competition, and distribution patterns of Tarsius sp in insular Southeast Asia. Since the distribution and origin of tarsier remains a mistery, there are many uncertain factors related to it. Many researchers are confused due to the unclear fossil record dating and the geographical checkerboard pattern of its distribution. Thus in the solving this case there is no individual branch of science can stand alone in the way, so there are many science branches such as ecology, paleontology, genetics, geographist, and historist. Every effort from every discipline hold  a key role on unvailing this mistery curtain and discover the truth.